Ways to Save Your Job

These days, everyone is feeling the pinch. Turbulent markets lead to smaller budget, cancelled holiday parties and dinners, and even the closing of long-standing companies, it's natural to feel a little skittish about your job security. Declaring doomsday in your cubicle, though, is the last thing you want to do.

Start working to protect your job instead with the simple strategies that can help you weather the economic storm.


DON'T BE A GRUMBLER

Put simply, your attitude matters. In the midst of fiscal turmoil, there's no room for Divas. Shaky times can sink office morale, and no boss wants a troublemaker around adding to that. Even good performers who are high-maintenance can't escape the prospect of job loss. Arrogance just isn't going to cut it in the workplace anymore.

If you've ever been prone to carping about the incompetent office temp, the lack of company benefits or how your bite-size cube is cramping your style - even in hushed tones - now's the time to adjust your behavior and your outlook.


BE EXTRA USEFUL

Don't let the prospect of layoffs worry you to the point that you stop doing your job. Twiddling your thumbs and waiting for the ax to fall won't do anyone, especially your boss, a snippet of good.

If you're serious about wanting to keep your job, cutting corners on projects and completing items to a good-enough level simply won't do. In hard times, bosses are going to have edicts to let employees go. Put in the extra effort and be the happy, productive employee they'd like to see stick around. Meet your responsibilities - and then some: Look for opportunities to take on a special project or pitch in to help out a colleague or your boss.



REVAMP YOUR FACEBOOK, MYSPACE AND/OR FRIENDSTER PAGE

Employers do look - and regularly. Social media sites provide a fun way of keeping in touch, but remember that people may assume things about you (rightly or wrongly) based on the personal-life details you post online. It's not enough to remove the pictures of the party you went to last weekend or the tattoo convention you stumbled upon in Thailand. Make an effort to understand your corporate culture and how Facebook, Myspace or Friendster relates to that.

Go a step further, by removing snapshots of the luxe accommodations you sprang for in July or the pricey, high-end boots you splurged on. In these times it's easy for employers to say decisions are economy-driven, but unfortunately there may be other surprising reasons job-cut decisions are made - and workers may never hear about them. You don't want to send the message that you're spending money aimlessly because you don't need your paycheck and can afford to lose your job.


By the way, how many of you Facebook with your BOSS? No-no for me.


Thanks to Avatar: If you are interested to attend Ajahn Rahmavamso's talk on "Coping With Challenges In A Turbulent Economic Situation", please click the below picture to enlarge for details. The Buddhist ways?