www.career-related.information
Looking for career information? It's right here!
Avoid Being Fired. Keep Your Job and Prosper!
Can you ever remember a
tougher economic (i.e., jobs) climate than the one we're in now? With
unemployment figures exceeding 15% in some parts of the country, keeping
your current job becomes all-the-more important than it ever was in the
past. Here is the most important piece of information you need to understand
- and act upon - if you want to lessen your chances of being fired.
It's important to understand the basic reason why we have a job - simply
put, to create value. You create that value for a business owner,
stockholder, your immediate boss - whomever. That value can take many forms
- cranking out more widgets than a coworker, applying a special talent that
tangibly improves the business, performing tasks no one else can or will
perform, etc. Whatever that value is, as long as it meets (or, better yet,
exceeds) the amount of money you're compensated with, then your employer
will feel more inclined to keep you on board.
It stands to reason, then, that the more "value" you can create, the less
likely the possibility of your being fired. Understanding what that value
actually is to your employer is the most important key. In addition, the
days of just doing the minimum to meet your employer's expectations are
probably gone. You now have to exceed those expectations if you really want
to improve your chances of staying. This is what will distinguish you from
all the other performers.
So how, exactly, do you turn this value proposition into something truly
actionable? Well, it all starts with getting a clear understanding of your
employer's functional expectations for you. Larger companies typically have
what is called a "job description" or a SOW (statement of work) for each
position that identifies, at least at a high level, what your job consists
of. Ask to see it. Even if those documents don't exist, you'll still need to
find out what those job duties are. Not understanding your job duties is a
sure-fire recipe for being fired.
The next most important step you need to take, if you haven't already, is to
have a private conversation with your boss to discuss these job
requirements. You must gain a full understanding of these to avoid being
fired. Ask him / her for examples of what would constitute both
"satisfactory" and "exceptional" performance. Is it selling more widgets
than anyone else? Is it finding ways to assist others when you've completed
your own work? Is it pursuing continuing education to help make you more
effective in your job? You must find these things out.
Having had that conversation, then, you should be adequately prepared to go
off and start demonstrating to your boss that you're "keeper" material and
not worthy of being fired. Not only master your basic tasks, but stretch
yourself by doing more. Most people, by nature, don't feel comfortable
"keeping score" or "tooting their own horn", but the important thing to
remember is that it is your boss's personal perception of your performance
that matters. Good managers will be observant of your actual performance.
Most established companies have a formal performance appraisal process in
which you jointly review how well you accomplished your job during the
previous period. This is the perfect time to gently remind your boss not
only what you did to meet, but more importantly, to exceed his/her
expectations. Remember that it is your boss's perception that matters the
most here. In this particular business climate, the more you were able to
consistently exceed those expectations, the better your chances are of not
being fired.
If you actively take control of your own career and pay heed to these
"value-related" tips, you should be able to not only avoid getting fired but
also grow and even prosper in your current job. All too often it is the
"expectation mismatch" that shortens professional careers. Understand what
is truly important to your boss and act upon it; if you do, then you can
frequently avoid the most unpleasant kinds of career surprises.
© 2010 something-for-everyone.info All rights reserved.