7 Ways to Improve Your Job Security

Given the current economic situation and rising unemployment rate, concerns over loosing your job have more than likely become an increasing issue for many.  This job advice can help you improve your job security at any career level:

1. Show initiative – Be a can-do problem solver. Understand your companies goals and current issues that they are facing. Within your area of expertise or job scope, offer solutions for stream-lining process and work flow that can ultimately save the company money, increase sales, etc. Work smart.

2. Have a positive attitude – You don’t always have to be the ray of sunshine, but everyone would prefer working with someone who is optimistic, friendly and easy to work with versus the office grump.

3. Continue to develop your skills – Stay abreast of industry news, read and teach yourself new things that will help you in your job.

4. Network and develop your reputation – Staying connected, networking, and maintaining positive relationships with friends, co-workers, old colleagues, and other community associations is critically important. Positive relationship can go a long way to help you keep or find a job. A top professional networking site is LinkedIn.

5. Document your accomplishments – Keep a list of your achievements and successes. Find subtle ways to make others aware of these accomplishments without being obnoxious.

6. Be prepared – It never hurts to be prepared. You should always keep a current resume that highlights your skills, contributions and accomplishments. Give some thought to parallel industries that you could consider if you were suddenly faced with making a job or career change and understand how your current skills would transfer. Rewrite your resume to emphasize that.

7. Make yourself indispensable – I’ve preached this to people I’ve worked with. For example, when a new account is won you want to be the person that is assigned to work on the great new account. And, when an account is lost, you want to be the one that they can’t possibly live without.

While there is no job security in this economy, it can never hurt to be viewed as a “super-star” and top contributor at you place of work.  If you approach your workdays with that in mind and follow the above job advice it will always serve you well.

Be brilliant at whatever you do!