9 Ways To Save Your Job During Layoff's

With the harsh economic crisis, the country is undergoing,

many multinational companies; banks and indigenous

companies are looking for ways to cut down expenditure due

to the fact the economy is not conducive. This indirectly

means laying off some of the staffs in the company in order

to adjust the company's budget.

Intellectually, you understand downsizing is not a personal

decision but it's the law of commerce; thanks to the troubled

economy but your heart beat increases at the mention of

"LAYOFF". This makes it hard for you to be proactive. You

don't have to panic but rather face the reality and look for

ways to keep your job.

Like the saying goes "hard times calls for desperate

measures". As an employer in an organization, one has to be

proactive and be smart about saving your job especially this

period of massive layoff in the job sector of the economy.

Here are some useful tips on how to save your job during a

layoff

1. Update your skills and knowledge

During staff layoff, management will be quick to let go of

staffs that their skills are outdated and they have nothing new

to offer, no new idea to bring to move the company forward.

One will be seen as useless to the company.

Therefore, it is best to look for new ideas, new ways to go

about your job description that will be productive. Acquire

new productive skills and make sure the management is

aware of these efforts.

2. Have a variety of skills

Management moves staffs from one department to the other

during staff layout, the essence of this is to keep the best

staff. Try to be useful in different department and have a

variety of skills, because if you have a narrow set of skills

your usefulness gets reduced and also get ready to accept

roles that are outside your regular job description.

3. Match your goals with the organization's goal

Your job security increases if your goal matches the

organizations priorities. Try to spend time on things the

organization care about. Try to take part in the organization's

most important projects. Concentrate on the task the

management see as high priority.

4. Have a positive attitude

During layoff, people that are seen as difficult, less friendly

people, rebellious people are easily gotten rid of. On the other

hand, the friendly ones, cooperative, helpful ones are usually

retained because they have the positive vibes to things and

people.

5. Expand your Network

Like the saying goes, "It's not your boss who protects your

job, it's your boss's boss". Relationship with higher managers

are important during this period. During layoffs, it's a joint

effort to compile list of people to be laid-off. If other

departments see you as useful, they will stand up for you.

Therefore, expand your network and develop good

relationship with them.

6. Learn how to manage your boss

Make an effort to understand your management style of

communication and need, try to relate with this need and

meet the need of the management. Make your management

job easier by looking for effective ways to work with the

management.

7. Brand yourself

Try to brand yourself in a productive way by sending out

articles to people in the organization that you know will find it

useful, volunteer to be part of a committee that a senior

colleague is on, express your opinion when appropriate in the

meeting.

8. Understand the company's culture

Understand the company's culture, what the organization

holds very important, try to work in accordance to the culture.

For example: If the organization stresses the need for

attending a meeting, or a business function, kindly attend the

meeting or business function.

9. Always know that small things count

Small things like: Saying thank you, congratulate others when

needed, be punctual, be neat, be tidy, never start a fight.

Predominantly, be prepared for the worst. It's quite difficult

to realize after doing all these, one might still lose his or her

job, so this is why you have to be ready to survive if the worst

happens.

Try to attend business meetings, exchange contacts, create

good network. Update your LinkedIn profile and some other

professional social media platforms and have a good savings

for the rainy days. All these will be needed if perhaps you

may need to start your own business.