How to Succeed at Work in Any Economy
Career Tips to Secure Your Career During Economic Uncertainty
Feb 6, 2009
During times of economic uncertainty, you might be quick to dust off your resume and brace yourself for the worst. While it never hurts to keep abreast of potential job opportunities, perhaps before you hit the "apply" button on Monster.com, consider applying these tips to your current position. Showing investment and dedication to your professional growth can help you secure your job, and may even lead to a promotion.
Be an Invaluable Resource
In addition to performing the tasks required of you, research trends and happenings in your industry to share with your colleagues. When passing along information, consider how it affects your company. Be an expert in your field. By taking this extra step, you will show your boss that not only are you passionate about your industry, but you are also invested in producing superior quality work.
Manage Up
The only person looking out for your professional growth is you. If you're lucky, you might have a supervisor who clearly assigns tasks and specifies expectations. Regardless, you can take control of your work situation by managing up – going above and beyond the tasks assigned to you so you can enhance your manager's work.
For example, know what matters to your boss. If your boss is a numbers person, quantify your results. If your boss is customer-focused, frame your results in terms of benefits to customers. Other ways to manage up include jumping in when needed, maintaining a good attitude, keeping your boss informed, staying out of politics, and being a good follower when the situation dictates it, according to the Wall Street Journal article, "What it Means to 'Manage Up."
Add Value
With every phone call, email or document, consider what you can incorporate to add value to the recipient. How will the information affect the recipient, and why should he or she should care? Anticipate any follow-up questions the recipient might ask.
Be Proactive
Always be a step ahead of your boss. Don't wait for him or her to ask for the status of a project. Anticipate what will be asked of you, and offer your services. Be perceived as a "can-do" person.
Learn New Skills
Consider what skills you can learn or hone to do your job better. Large corporations frequently offer free courses in areas including Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint, and they teach skills such as effective communication, working as a team and conflict resolution. If your company does not offer courses, research classes being taught in your area; your company might subsidize the cost if you make a case for it!
Promote Yourself
Think back to when you were hired. What skills did you bring to the table that made you marketable? Remember what makes you unique to your company, and promote your skills. While it's easy to get accustomed to a work routine, think of out-of-the-box ways to leverage your skills to improve your company. Even if your boss doesn't agree with your idea, he or she should respect your initiative.
Manage Expectations
From day one, make sure you and your boss are on the same page with what you are expected to deliver. If you don't know, create your own set of expectations to show your boss, and make changes as needed. If no six-month or yearly evaluations are set in place within your company, check in with your boss every few months to confirm you are meeting expectations. Document everything, including project feedback from your boss and colleagues, so you can use specific ways to measure your progress.
The fear of being laid off is certainly legitimate, and there are a variety of reasons why people lose their jobs. However, before taking a major next step, review these tips, and ensure you have done everything in your power to secure your career and promote yourself within your company.
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