This whole hiring-firing thing is too complicated to capture in a small post as this, but one of the simplest thing I have realized over the last year is this - do something above average if you want to be treated above average - make yourself indispensable - make yourself valuable - do something that makes your peers and bosses remember your face when they compile a list of people who are to be fired (that will be one step towards ensuring that you are not on that list).
As much as organizations want to reduce costs by laying off a bunch of people, they are also aware that they need to be highly efficient when things aren’t as bright as usual - this requires that they NOT layoff their efficient employees (well unless they want to shut down completely .. but that’s a different ball game in itself).
The point is that if you want to be treated as a “special” employee, you have to first ask yourself if you are doing anything “special” for your employer. It’s a very simple thing, but you will be surprised how many people don’t get it. They will come 15 minutes late everyday - spend an hour in the break room everyday - talk about kids and football for about an hour everyday - browse the internet for a couple of hours everyday - leave 15 minutes early everyday - leave an hour earlier on every Friday - and then they will act all surprised and cry foul when they get the pink slip.
Another thing to realize is that most of the bigger corporations hire with some degree of redundancy in mind (especially when the times are good and there is a lot of money flowing around). This means that some of your peers are capable of doing the exact things that you are capable of - now, when it comes to choosing who should stay and who should go, don’t expect to be safe unless you have done something more valuable that your peers.
The message is simple - do average, get average - do special, get special. Don’t just make it a habit, make it a lifestyle.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Golbguru,
Well said.
I was always amazed at the number of people (from new hires to 30+ year veterans) who didn’t understand this relatively simple point.
Hope you’re having fun in the working world
Super,
Always good to see your comment. Yes, I am having fun in the working world - working my ass off; but I am having fun and that’s what matters.
Btw, the new hires in my firm are a little more diligent than the “experienced” folks - I guess people start taking stuff for granted after a while or something like that.
Hi,
Thanks for the tips, I think this will be really helpful for the next recession because it is takes time to build a good reputation.
For many who are already retrenched this time round, I would say they unfortunately unlucky - the wrong job, wrong place and at wrong time. Many I believed are hardworking, diligent and special in the eyes of the employer, but time is bad…. company is closing.
Rendell @ The Brandless Blog
This is so true and I think a lot people know it, but when they are in such a position, they forget about that.
Seems like you may have described me a little there — the one about the slackers. At least, before I ended up quitting the job last year. I was actually just burning out after a while and had to take the break away from corporate life. Couldn’t be a hired gun for much longer. I may want to get back into it eventually though, we’ll see.
I work even harder now, but strangely, i don’t feel so burnt out. I guess blogging doesn’t give me the same sort of pressure.
I am glad things are going so well! We miss chatting with you! I stop over here every so often to catch your posts.
Stand out, make a difference, show them how important you are to the job, that is the best for job security. thanks for reiterating it for me.
Supervisors are always on the lookout for employees who go “beyond the call of duty”. Even in certain performance management models, the competency to diversify or take on new functions are rated higher and marked “has potential for improvement”. Every employee should prefer that rather than the expected “well-placed” rating.
Nice blog!
- Christa
We’re not even talking about the slackers, who are goners in this crisis. But the economic downturn doesn’t spare even the good workers. You need to really stand out. That’s the saddest part — that it’s like the process of natural selection - only the strong species, and in this case the really valuable ones), survive.
I guess one aspect of job security that I have, is that I love my job, and that shows when i interact with my customers, and they have a good experience, and they report that to my managers and owners of the company.
“always glad to be of service” is my motto. sometimes through clinched teeth though
When I wrote a script on in a tough economy, one of my main points is that you have to present, in some way, that you will deliver something of value to your company. The raise has to be seen as an exchange; increased pay for increased value.
In the same way, you point out that you should always be doing above average to be treated above average, which is a great motto to work and live by.
I would agree that I’m hearing people complain less about the work environment and saying that they are happy to be employed. Some of these same people last year were complaining that they were underpaid and deserved a raise. Now that entire groups are being laid off, I think it makes you appreciate what you have more.
Just published at the right time of the year. I totally agree with you as I see collegues around my work place, do exactly what you highlighted in paragraph 3.
I previously wrote an article on two categories of employees in an organisation. One group is the “assets” and the other “liabilities”. Rating an employess based on what the offer can be a bit though as some are more out going than others.
My main point is, when you’re an assets to a company the won’t let you go rather the improve your package. As a liability the look for ways to get rid of you when they have the opportunity. This fits the group of people you mention in paragraph 3. With the recession hitting the nation - change your ethics at work to survive.
Nice post.
Dear golbguru,
That’s true unless you prove you are special and have contributed to your employer you can avoid you name being in the list of lay offs. As you said simple things like coming 15 minutes late leaving early, spending more time in breaks will give a bad picture to the employer. If you prevent those things you can keep you job even in this recession because every company while cutting cost would be looking at retaining their best employees.
Regards,
Micheal Hayes
http://momentumstaffing.wordpress.com/
Hi Golburg,
Thanks for the tips, I think this will be really helpful for the next recession because it is takes time to build a good reputation.
Hello Golburg,
Nice Blog… there’s a lot of competition even with co-workers, the one who always stay on the company are those people that are valuable and trusted by their organization.
Minah of travel hqr
Always work hard and establish relationships. Those are probably the two biggest keys to success at any company.
I think this applies to everything in life, if you want to be somewhere, you have to work for it. I would go on to add that it is alot easier to lose the respect of your employer’s and that it is alot harder to gain the trust and respect. But you can lose it all in one second. Sometimes to be the best employee, you should really put yourself in the shoes of your boss, and analyze yourself as if you were the boss. Would you really give your self High Grades for your work? Would you as the boss like the fact that your employee is goofing off on the job? In the end you are absolutely right, you gotta perform above average, to be above average!
-Randy
We tend to try to hire people that are considered “above average” people simply because we wish to have a lower turnover rate. However, you cannot play favorites with any employee vs another. While above average employees may yield higher productivity in the workplace, a “special” privileged employee can easily cause the rest of the workforce to perform in a slump until either they receive the same treatment or another action is taken.
“make yourself indispensable” I really like those 3 words you have put together, this is one of the strongest things you can do as a employee or anything you are doing in life. If you put yourself as being a quality and high valued worker, you’re bosses will be working for you in a way… Because without you, the day to day operations wouldn’t go as smoothly.
Till then,
Jean
your blog deserves appreciation about working station what kind of charcaters do work there. through your blog, workshy emplyee will get some lesson.
Going that extra mile can help a lot in any job. Being available to submit that extra effort, arrive early and leave late when necessary will always leave you in a good place in any business. Learning from mistakes is also a key to ongoing success.
OMG, this is very true and anyone who ignores this will succumb to their own peril. I have tried to tell my husband this in both a direct and more subtle way by recommending the book , ‘Run With The Bulls, Without Getting Trampled’ but to no avail.
He still believes showing up and just doing his work is enough. His last two jobs showed him the door but he still doesn’t get. I certainly do and am gaining new skills in the event he’s shown the door again.
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