According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Michigan's unemployment rate for December 2007 was 7.6%. The only state in the nation with a higher rate was Puerto Rico, at a rate of 11.2%.
Being Unemployed Lowers the Immune System
While we understand the financial ramifications of being out of work, are we aware of what being unemployed does to our health? Dr. Edward C. Geehr, writer for Life Script reports on two separate studies conducted on unemployed individuals in his article: Can Unemployment Make You Sick? These studies conducted in Sweden and San Francisco concluded that the immune systems of unemployed individuals weaken, and as they weaken the person falls victim to a number of illnesses.
It's Tough to Find a Job & Tougher to Keep it
In a day where companies are constantly downsizing, shutting their doors, or moving to other parts of the country the chances of being unemployed have increased. With more people vying for the same job, it becomes tougher to get a job, and even tougher to keep it. How can we make our position more secure? This topic had been on my mind, when a book caught my eye “How to Keep Your Job in Hard Times: The Indispensable Employee” by Eric Weber.
I want to “beat the odds”, and become “irreplaceable”, so I bought the book, and want to share some highlights with you.
Don't Just be a Paper Pusher
Paper pushers are a dime a dozen. If we want to become the last person the boss would think of letting go, we want to demonstrate our ability to learn the tasks required of us, and perform them in a fashion that is not simply mediocre.
HOW?
Eric interviewed various company presidents to ask them just that, and here are some of their answers:
“ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COMPANY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT RATHER WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COMPANY.”
Sound familiar? I remember a rousing presidential speech with a line very close to this. Eric explains that top executives are tired of selfish employees who whine and belly ache and look out for themselves all the time. Their selfish attitude poisons the work forces, and makes the management staff wonders if this person has made a commitment to the company, or is simply there for “free ride”.
LOOK FOR WAYS TO SOLVE THE COMPANY'S PROBLEMS
Your boss most likely likes to talk, and by keeping your ears open, you can find out what issues the company is up against. By demonstrating that you are concerned about your company's welfare, you show team spirit. As a team player, you may have feedback that will assist the company in addressing these problems, and in showing yourself to be even more valuable.
DON'T LEAD THE COMPANY TO REVOLT
Do you think if you start a campaign against company policy or because you didn't get an expected raise, that management won't realize who stirred up the trouble? I have seen a company where the entire staff was fired. It can happen, but most likely, the individual who stirred up the trouble will be the first to go.
DON'T SHOW THE BOSS UP
There is no crime in being smarter than your boss, but a smart employee knows not to make his boss feel stupid.
YOU CAN MAKE SUGGESTIONS, BUT DO IT HIS WAY
Your boss is probably aware of the fact that you have performed this task hundreds of times, and may know an easier way to do it. You can make a suggestion to him, tactfully, but if he insists it be done his way, he may have a good reason.
Do not argue for the sake of arguing, and most definitely do not argue in front of others.
IF YOU DON'T GET WHAT YOU WANT, TAKE YOUR HIT AND KEEP MOVING
What good does it do to nurse grudges, because you feel that you have been treated unfairly? When energy is being expended on nursing injustices, it distracts from the work performance. Don't let that happen to you.
PERFORM WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
You've been assigned a near impossible job, do you say “No way, or I will do my best”?
Ask questions. Learn all aspects of the job expected and put your all into it.
PRIORITIZE
It is pretty common to have a number of tasks that need performed in any given day, but do one completely (if possible) before attempting to tackle the next. If a piece of paper can be handled once, and the job completed, it is more efficient, than performing small tasks on each paper, and then picking each of them up again to complete them. Stay focused.
ASK FOR MORE WORK
Suppose you find that you have completed all your tasks, do you sit down and do “busy work” trying to appear as if you are doing something? Approach your supervisor and request more work. This demonstrates your ability to complete tasks in a timely manner, your ability to be a team player, and your willingness to take on more responsibility.
Eric gives us one word of caution with this point, however. He warns that you should be certain your supervisor knows that usually you are extremely busy, and will again be busy tomorrow. You would not want him to think that there is not enough work to keep you there.
MEET YOUR DEADLINES
Supervisors give assignments to those they feel are trustworthy. By demonstrating your ability to get the job done in a timely fashion, you show yourself as being dependable.
COME TO WORK ON TIME
This should not even have to be mentioned. If an employer hires you to work from 9:00 to
5:00, they expect you to be at your job ready to perform at that time, not five minutes later.
Come in earlier, just in case something happens on the way to work. Demonstrate your ability to be punctual.
GET TO KNOW YOUR BOSS
If the boss has to decide who to let go, and you have been following all of the above tips, he would rather let a stranger go, then someone he has gotten to know.
This is just a synopsis of the 39 tips included in Eric's book. Eric Weber has had over 30 books published and sold over four million copies. He was the Vice Chairman and Creative Director at Young & Rubicam at the time of the publishing of this book.
In conclusion, these tips are provided for those who are employed in order to make them more valuable to their employee and less likely to be terminated. It is unfortunate and difficult to lose one's job, and sometimes cannot be prevented. My prayers go out to anyone who is seeking employment, especially in Michigan.
