Comments on: How to stand out at the workplace and hold on to your job in a recession http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/04/how-to-stand-out-at-the-workplace-and-hold-on-to-your-job-in-a-recession/ Proverbs 13:11 - "...he who gathers money little by little makes it grow." Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:41:55 -0400 hourly 1 By: How to Protect Against Job Loss | beingfrugal.net http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/04/how-to-stand-out-at-the-workplace-and-hold-on-to-your-job-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-1094 How to Protect Against Job Loss | beingfrugal.net Mon, 04 May 2009 11:03:23 +0000 http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/?p=1486#comment-1094 [...] Make yourself indispensible at work.  Show up on time.  Be a team player.  Do your job to the best of your ability.  If your boss is having to make a choice as to whom to lay off, you want to be the one he keeps.  If you’re a hard worker with a good attitude, you increase your chances of staying. [...] [...] Make yourself indispensible at work.  Show up on time.  Be a team player.  Do your job to the best of your ability.  If your boss is having to make a choice as to whom to lay off, you want to be the one he keeps.  If you’re a hard worker with a good attitude, you increase your chances of staying. [...]

]]> By: Sunday Money Roundup - Clean House Edition. | My Two Dollars http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/04/how-to-stand-out-at-the-workplace-and-hold-on-to-your-job-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-1093 Sunday Money Roundup - Clean House Edition. | My Two Dollars Sun, 12 Apr 2009 13:00:38 +0000 http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/?p=1486#comment-1093 [...] Gather Little By Little talks about How to stand out at the workplace and hold on to your job in a recession. [...] [...] Gather Little By Little talks about How to stand out at the workplace and hold on to your job in a recession. [...]

]]> By: Bible Money Matters http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/04/how-to-stand-out-at-the-workplace-and-hold-on-to-your-job-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-1084 Bible Money Matters Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:57:51 +0000 http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/?p=1486#comment-1084 Great first post Stew! Look forward to learning more about you, and reading more posts! Great first post Stew! Look forward to learning more about you, and reading more posts!

]]> By: Gina http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/04/how-to-stand-out-at-the-workplace-and-hold-on-to-your-job-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-1083 Gina Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:04:36 +0000 http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/?p=1486#comment-1083 Great to have you on the "team" Stew! Good post. And so timely for a lot of us or people we know. You will fit in well with our group. keri did a good job complementing your post w/a few more points! Looking forward to your next post. Great to have you on the “team” Stew! Good post. And so timely for a lot of us or people we know. You will fit in well with our group. keri did a good job complementing your post w/a few more points! Looking forward to your next post.

]]> By: Erin http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/04/how-to-stand-out-at-the-workplace-and-hold-on-to-your-job-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-1082 Erin Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:13:53 +0000 http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/?p=1486#comment-1082 Welcome, Stew! Anyone who hasn't seen this coming hasn't been looking. My husband's been doing all you suggested, plus the things Keri suggests above, but not just for him. He has 14 people he manages and he'd like to steer them all through this time...he's made those the characteristics of his department, not just himself. Yes, he has two people who won't go the extra mile, won't be available, and won't try to add value and guess who's names come up when he contemplates what he'll do if asked to cut back? Welcome, Stew! Anyone who hasn’t seen this coming hasn’t been looking. My husband’s been doing all you suggested, plus the things Keri suggests above, but not just for him. He has 14 people he manages and he’d like to steer them all through this time…he’s made those the characteristics of his department, not just himself. Yes, he has two people who won’t go the extra mile, won’t be available, and won’t try to add value and guess who’s names come up when he contemplates what he’ll do if asked to cut back?

]]> By: keri http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/04/how-to-stand-out-at-the-workplace-and-hold-on-to-your-job-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-1085 keri Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:36:40 +0000 http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/?p=1486#comment-1085 And since I'm completely hogging the comments section today I will add one more - I've technically worked for the same company for the last 5 years however it's really been 4 different companies. Over time the company has been sold twice, merged, and then sold again and each time people were laid off. I've survived every single time and while it's been stressful there's definitely been some keys to my success some of which were mentioned above. 1) Making yourself available after hours or coming in early to make yourself more visible as a hard worker. My favorite technique is always to show up early, there are a lot of managers wandering the corridors early and when they see your office light on they will usually stop to chat about what you're working on. This is great visibility and a great time to sell yourself and what you're working on a little. Also a great time to mention any great new ideas you have. 2) Have a niche - I think it's important to both have a niche and to have a large set of skills. The large set will allow you to pickup and learn new things quickly but the niche will keep you there when times get tough. A word of warning - don't protect your secrets in your niche too much, you have to be willing to share (or at least pretend to share). People hate it when people try to be too secretive. 3) And finally, make sure to position yourself as the innovator. Constantly think of new ways to improve process or save your company time and money. For my company, sadly, this means coming up with new procedures and documentation and training that we can send to our associates in India and Pakistan where the cost of employees is significantly less. I'm not happy about this, but it has been a key to my success. And since I’m completely hogging the comments section today I will add one more – I’ve technically worked for the same company for the last 5 years however it’s really been 4 different companies. Over time the company has been sold twice, merged, and then sold again and each time people were laid off. I’ve survived every single time and while it’s been stressful there’s definitely been some keys to my success some of which were mentioned above.

1) Making yourself available after hours or coming in early to make yourself more visible as a hard worker. My favorite technique is always to show up early, there are a lot of managers wandering the corridors early and when they see your office light on they will usually stop to chat about what you’re working on. This is great visibility and a great time to sell yourself and what you’re working on a little. Also a great time to mention any great new ideas you have.

2) Have a niche – I think it’s important to both have a niche and to have a large set of skills. The large set will allow you to pickup and learn new things quickly but the niche will keep you there when times get tough. A word of warning – don’t protect your secrets in your niche too much, you have to be willing to share (or at least pretend to share). People hate it when people try to be too secretive.

3) And finally, make sure to position yourself as the innovator. Constantly think of new ways to improve process or save your company time and money. For my company, sadly, this means coming up with new procedures and documentation and training that we can send to our associates in India and Pakistan where the cost of employees is significantly less. I’m not happy about this, but it has been a key to my success.

]]> By: keri http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/04/how-to-stand-out-at-the-workplace-and-hold-on-to-your-job-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-1086 keri Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:23:59 +0000 http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/?p=1486#comment-1086 Hi Stew - Great, I'm looking forward to it! I'm asking because I'm in the process of leaving my job (not layoffs, it's just time to move on to bigger and better things) and my boss and his boss (a director) can't stop saying enough good things about my work and have said, multiple times, if you ever need it, we'll give you a recommendation. I've been kind of stuck on how to followup on this, and additional details on what is appropriate and custom in the workplace would be greatly appreciated. Hi Stew – Great, I’m looking forward to it!

I’m asking because I’m in the process of leaving my job (not layoffs, it’s just time to move on to bigger and better things) and my boss and his boss (a director) can’t stop saying enough good things about my work and have said, multiple times, if you ever need it, we’ll give you a recommendation. I’ve been kind of stuck on how to followup on this, and additional details on what is appropriate and custom in the workplace would be greatly appreciated.

]]> By: Craig http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/04/how-to-stand-out-at-the-workplace-and-hold-on-to-your-job-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-1092 Craig Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:05:57 +0000 http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/?p=1486#comment-1092 Another tip could be to expand your skills, make yourself more marketable. Maybe try to learn the basics of something more technical if you are not a tech guy. That way when layoffs come, you have an extra skillset over the next guy. Another tip could be to expand your skills, make yourself more marketable. Maybe try to learn the basics of something more technical if you are not a tech guy. That way when layoffs come, you have an extra skillset over the next guy.

]]> By: Studenomics http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/04/how-to-stand-out-at-the-workplace-and-hold-on-to-your-job-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-1091 Studenomics Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:58:03 +0000 http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/?p=1486#comment-1091 Welcome Stew! I look forward to reading your posts. Welcome Stew! I look forward to reading your posts.

]]> By: Keith http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/04/how-to-stand-out-at-the-workplace-and-hold-on-to-your-job-in-a-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-1090 Keith Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:43:03 +0000 http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/?p=1486#comment-1090 Very good post Stew! You put out some really good advice. I really think it's important to show initiative and be the person who does NOT say "It's not my job" and just gets it done! Look forward to reading more stuff from you! Very good post Stew! You put out some really good advice. I really think it’s important to show initiative and be the person who does NOT say “It’s not my job” and just gets it done! Look forward to reading more stuff from you!

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