No matter how long you've been with a firm, the recent decade's economic ups and downs have shown that no one is fully secure from being laid off. While no one is ever fully safe from being recognized for dismissal, the following habits have helped professionally astute individuals survive a corporate downturn.
1) Work on key projects: Asking to work on a crucial project is an excellent strategy to gain credibility and progress your career at any moment. However, I have seen numerous underperformers dodge layoffs just by being assigned to the appropriate project at the right moment.
Senior management is generally hesitant to inject any risk into a high-profile, critical project, especially if they are unclear of an individual's genuine worth.
2) Undertake whatever is requested of you. During difficult circumstances, such as when a company's expenditures must be significantly reduced, workers who are prepared to step up and do more work, possibly even outside the scope of their typical responsibilities, are much valued by senior management.
If a difficult decision must be made between two people, it is likely that a manager will battle to maintain the one who performed well and was prepared to wear several hats.
3) Maintain your credentials - In addition to making you more desirable if you need to pursue another employment, some businesses have criteria to retain a qualified employee employed. Some software providers, for example, demand that you have a qualified person on staff in order to market their program.
4) Make yourself indispensable - Don't grow complacent in your work. Always search for new methods to learn and do things, especially if you perceive the company changing course. My colleague was requested to fill in as Chief Security Officer after the previous incumbent quit, despite the fact that it was not his main strength.
When the firm reorganized to save money, they still required a security officer to analyze risk, and my colleague was guaranteed a job.
5) Keep your head down. In business, unlike in entertainment, bad publicity exists. If you are aware that the organization is attempting to minimize expenses, do not strive to stand out.
I've witnessed incidents when someone emailed or dropped in on decision makers uninvitedly, only to be marked for further examination. If you've been performing your work well, you shouldn't have to capture the attention of senior management, and if you haven't, you don't want to now.
6) Maintain your work possibilities: Surviving a layoff does not always imply staying with the same employer or in the same function. I've had colleagues who required a layoff to persuade them to leave a job or role they'd become accustomed to, and they eventually ended up in a better position. Also, if you receive calls from recruiters, take them.
Maintaining network ties, even if you aren't actively seeking jobs, will aid you if you are ever asked to leave your company.
7) Don't destroy bridges. If you are involved in a work action, act professionally and keep positive relationships with your management and colleagues. You never know when you could find yourself back at the same firm or require recommendations from a previous coworker for a future career.
There is no silver bullet that will guarantee you will never be laid off. However, keeping your skill set up to date, being optimistic, and searching for ways to remain helpful and relevant to your employer will help to reduce your risk. And it will make you more marketable if you ever need or want to change jobs.
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