Jan 19, 2009 9:12 pm US/Eastern
5 Tips To Help You Keep Your Job
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
It seems we hear about layoffs almost every day and most experts agree the job outlook is likely to get worse before it gets better. For the short term, your best bet might be to hang onto the job you have. Of course that's a whole lot easier said than done.
Career expert Stephen Viscusi says it's not impossible. In his book,
"Bulletproof Your Job," he outlines a number of strategies to keep your name from ending up on a pink slip.
MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR BOSS
Viscusi says managers find it hard to fire people they know and like so go ahead and make it personal. Talk about your kids and your spouse. Make sure they know you as a person, not just an employee.
NO WHINING
That means no complaining about the size of your workload, the size of your cubicle or anything else for that matter. This is also not the time to ask for a raise or a bonus.
STAY VISIBLE
"Out of site, out of mind," said Viscusi. This is not the best environment to telecommute, take a long vacation or plan any sort of sabbatical or hiatus. Viscusi says take care to manage personal issues. You shouldn't be taking time off to handle issues with children or elderly parents.
LOOK YOUR BEST
It's important to dress professionally. Many experts also agree it can pay to look younger. That can be as simple as whitening your teeth or covering any gray hair.
SPEAK UP
If there's a project that needs to be done, be the first to volunteer. You should also introduce yourself to managers that you might not know.
Read: Finding A Virtually Recession Proof Career
In the end it may be all about perception. "If you come to work five minutes earlier than the boss or stay five minutes later than the boss, all the boss knows is that you are always there," Viscusi said.
If you do get a pink slip, you may want to have a counter-offer ready. You can suggest working part time or even taking a pay cut. You know what they say; it's easier to find another job when you already have one.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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