How to Secure Your Job in a Struggling Economy

Step 1

Stay at your current job. This isn't the time to be a new employee. If your employer is faced with keeping one or two employees, the ones to go will be the inexperienced new ones. Tenure in a position can really help you at a time like this. Forego taking that new job even though it might be a raise.

Step 2

Achieve a degree or licensee in your field. Someone with a degree is more valuable than someone who doesn't have one. If you have a license or certification in your field, this will help you even more. You'll be chosen over those who have not yet become licensed when push comes to shove. Work quickly toward obtaining that license or degree.

Step 3

Practice good work habits, and strive for excellence in your work. If you are the problem child of the office, the boss won't want to keep you around if it comes to laying people off. An efficient employee can do the work of two lazy employees. Don't be late all the time, or always call in sick, or miss deadlines on a consistent basis. If you need help, take a class in improving your work habits and organization skills.

Step 4

Respect your boss. If you and your boss don't get along, you may not be the one chosen to continue in your job. You could be pushed out. This is especially true in employment-at-will states, where the boss needs no justification as to why certain employees go and others stay when there are budget cuts to be made.

Step 5

Show your value and worth. One great way to secure your job in a struggling economy is to show that you are making the company money. If your services are bringing in more income than other employees, you have a good chance of keeping your job. Think of a car salesperson unit. The person who sells the most cars and brings in the most profit will stay over someone who hasn't sold a car all season.

Step 6

Get along with your colleagues. If everyone likes you, the boss will consider you more valuable. For some reason, bosses don't always look at efficiency or excellence in work habits. Some judge an employee's value in how easy the employee makes the boss's daily life. If your coworkers are talking trash about you and complaining that you cause problems, the boss will have an extra reason to choose you to go.

Step 7

Keep a low profile. Stay out of the spotlight. Sometimes, when the boss has to choose someone to lay off or fire due to budget cuts, the unknown quiet employee slips under the radar. If you haven't made a spectacle of yourself, and haven't complained or caused problems, you can sometimes survive because the boss won't think of you when considered who will be fired or laid off.