7 Ways to Improve Your Job Security

As was discussed in our recent article, most companies in the United States are “at-will” companies. This means that a company can dismiss an employee at any time and for any reason, without warning. The prospect of this happening is understandably nerve-wracking, which is why you should never stop growing your network and honing your job search skills. However, there are some things you can do to increase your job security and hopefully prevent this from happening unexpectedly.

1. Know how to communicate with your manager. Having unclogged, clear lines of communication with your manager will help prevent any small issues from developing into larger, career-ending problems. In line with this, know which mode of communication is most preferable for your manager. Are they more comfortable with email, or in-person? How often do they want to hear about project progress? When possible, adapt your mode of communication to fit with their preference.
2. Understand manager and company goals. Making yourself into an indispensable member of a team means proactively addressing problems. If you can come up with a solution to a problem or a new way to address a stated goal, then that’s one less thing for your supervisor to think about. Try and stay ahead of issues, and bring your polished ideas to your manager if you believe they can be helpful. Uncertain how to talk to your manager about developing professionally? Career Solutions Group can offer coaching on how to do this effectively.
3. Stay on top of commitments. Everyone will let something slip professionally at one point or other. The hope, however, is to stay on top of commitments and projects as much as possible. Try not to let anything fall through the cracks, and be willing to own up when you do. If you run into problems with any given project, allow yourself to ask for help early on rather than let the problem fester and turn into an enormous issue.
4. Stand out. Try to always produce work that goes beyond the minimum requirements. If you want to be recognized for your superior performance, then make sure you’re giving your best effort on every (or nearly every) project that comes your way. Approach the task early on, think through the best way to address it, and consider new ways you could apply a solution in the future. Put forth your best effort when you want to be recognized for a good job.
5. Use your expertise. Everyone has things at which they excel. Some people are excellent writers. Others are good at unraveling problems, or looking at things from a big-picture perspective. Others are excellent public speakers, and still others can develop a presentation to knock your socks off. Find your expertise and then find ways to show it off. If you don’t feel you have expertise in an area, then pick something you enjoy doing in your position and become an expert. You can always learn new skills, if you put your mind to it.
6. Grow your skill set. I’m a big proponent of life-long learning, and I truly believe that being a life-long learner will help you develop professionally more effectively than many other things. As your career develops, so too should your skill set. Develop your skills both in and outside of the workplace, by taking classes, practicing new skills, and dusting off old ones.
7. Be willing to help others. This might seem (somewhat) counterintuitive. Wouldn’t it be better to stand out alone than stand out in a group? However, it always helps to have coworkers who will advocate for your skills, and who are willing to help you back. So if a peer is struggling, or needs assistance on certain aspects of a project, be willing to step in and offer that assistance.

Job security is tenuous, but there are things you can do to improve it. If you’re on the job hunt right now and would like professional help to land that next career opportunity, email us at info@careersolutionsgroup.net. We offer free initial consultations, and have proven success formulas to help you succeed.

By: Julia Pillard, Career Solutions Group