Layoffs. Nothing can make workers cringe like that unholy little phrase, but it can happen to the best of us. More than likely it will happen to all of us at least once in our careers. It’s unpleasant, stressful, and a definite blow to the ego. Still, it’s not the end of the world and even may be avoidable if you play your cards right. Many of the common sense strategies for performing well at work can also help you avoid getting laid off.
[Source]1 – Performance
A worker’s performance is a key factor in making a layoff decision, which is excellent for you the employee since this is something you have control over. In this economy, now is not the time to be sloppy. Ideally you should be doing your best all of the time, but if there’s a rumor going round of potential ‘downsizing’ then you definitely need to step up your efforts. No one can ask more of you than your best, and even if you get phased out in the end, you can walk away knowing you’ve done all you could do, and that’s important for your self esteem and valuable for your upcoming job search if the axe does fall in your direction.
2 – Value
Value, value, value. Show your employer that you are valuable to the company and that letting you go would be a mistake. Complete your projects on time—something you should be doing anyway—and when you finish them you might consider asking for more work, or to get involved in another project.
Also, and this isn’t something that most want to hear but stay late to finish up work. Offer to come in early and/or work some overtime to get done what needs to be done. This will show your boss the dedication you have for your work, and they’ll remember that.
3 – Exceed Expectations
Last week we talked about some bad work habits you might not be able to get away with, and one of them was skating by. Doing the minimum amount of work required by your job description is not going to win you any points with management when they start rolling out the layoffs. Go the extra mile and do a little more than what is expected of you and you’ll get noticed-getting noticed sets you apart from the pack!
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4 – Connect
Network! All the cool kids are doing it, so why aren’t you? Seriously though, networking is not just signing up for an account on LinkedIn, and it doesn’t just involve trying to make connections with people outside of where you work. You can network within your organization as well; it can put your finger on the pulse of your workplace and allow you to get to know some movers and shakers while increasing your visibility. The more visible you are, the more your hard work and value can pay off.
In the end, you may not be able to prevent yourself from a layoff ; sometimes there are too many factors beyond your control. But don’t think your efforts were wasted since you can take your hard work and several good recommendations with you, putting them to good use in your search for a new job.
What have you done in your career to avoid a layoff? Let us know in the comments.
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Tags: avoiding layoffs, laid off, layoffs