JobScribble

With unemployment rising and companies are announcing huge layoffs and pink slips are flying, The Wallstreet Journal, Forbes and CNN recently published articles about how to keep your job in a poor economy. 

When the water cooler talk at the office is about buyouts, mergers, layoffs, and downsizings, then be prepared to dig your heels in and get ready to fight for your job.   A savy employee should look for signs of possible layoffs to come.  Are office supply supply and equipment purchases being curtailed?  Is business travel being limited?  Is there a hiring freeze? Or, are they consolidating positions when people leave the company?  Are they outsourcing work?  Keep you eyes and ears peeled so you won't be the one holding the pink slip in the end.  There are things you can do now to help you so you are a less likely candidate for a layoff. If you see the writing on the wall, then maybe you should be proactive and start networking and update your resume -just in case.

Slackers will probably be the first to go so be a valuable and needed employer.  You know, the one that has all the great ideas, the one who not only identifies problems but solves them.  The one that holds the place together and if you call in sick or are out of vacation, your cell phone rings because they don't know where something is or how to do something.   So you will probably be the last to go because they just cann't fill your shoes when your gone! 

Other tips include, volunteering for assignments, coming in early, staying late, not whinning when asked to a job outside your scope of job responsibilities, find ways to save the company money and/or make more money.  Remember to toot your own horn and let your boss know about your accomplishments and achievements. 

If a pink slip is eminent, then don't be afraid to ask if you can stay by accepting a temporary pay cut.  While your working you can continue to network to find another job.  Don't forget to consider staying at your company if other departments are hiring.

For more great tips  on how to save your job or deal with a layoff, read the articles below.

Sources:  "How to Recission Proof Your Job", by Tara Wise, Forbes; "How to Recession Proof Your Career", by Sarah E. Needleman, The Wall Street Journal,  and "8 Ways to Recession Proof Your Job" , Anne Fisher, Fortune Senior Writer, CNNMoney.