Increase Your Chances of Surviving a Job Layoff

No matter what kind of job you have, you can sometimes increase your chance of keeping your job in tough times.

At the very least, three actions can help you recognize your own accomplishments and feel better about your work. They could even help you get a promotion. And they might keep you out of the layoff pool.

• Take charge of your job performance evaluations. Be proactive.
• Find out what your employer needs done and learn the skills to do it.
• Follow the standard rules about work behavior. Check yourself on these.

Your Performance Evaluations

Your employer may already have a formal system of annual job reviews. If so, make that system work for you. If there is no formal system in place, schedule annual or quarterly meetings with your supervisor to go over what you've accomplished.

During the year:

• Set a limited number of major goals for the year. Make sure they are doable. Agree with your supervisor about how you will show your success.
• Take time to jot down notes about what you're accomplishing. Keep these all in one place.
• For every result you achieve, keep some sort of evidence.
• Save compliments, praise, and appreciation you receive from others. Take quick notes on verbal compliments. File appreciative emails. Ask satisfied colleagues to write a formal note about your work.

For your performance review:

• Organize your notes to show how you've accomplished annual goals. Add notes about other goals added during the year.
• Use your review to showcase your skills and accomplishments. Tie in your achievements to your unit's or employer's highest priorities.
• Ensure that your supervisor looks back over the whole year, instead of just recent situations or problems.
• Demonstrate your interest in your work and your desire to do or learn more. If something needs improving, be the first to mention it. Sketch out a plan to correct any problems. List what new skills you will learn next.

Your Skills

No matter what kind of work you do, it is very important to keep your skills up to date. Be aware of your employer's priorities and what might be needed to stay ahead. Sometimes, it is obvious what you need to do. For example, your employer may be getting new equipment or starting new procedures. Make sure you take the necessary training and learn the skills needed to operate the new equipment or carry out the new procedures.

In other cases, it may be harder to figure out how to stay ahead. Talk with your supervisor. Pay attention to company newsletters and reports. Take advantage of any training offered by your employer. If training is offered only to certain groups of employees, such as younger workers, point this out and ask to be included. If your request is denied, point out that it's discriminatory to deny training based on age. If your request to be included in the training is not corrected, consider filing a charge.

Look for chances to increase your knowledge in these three areas:

1. Skills directly related to the content of your work
2. Skills related to how your work is done, such as new computer systems
3. Skills related to the people side of work, such as communication or diversity training

Benefit from employer-provided training when it is available. Find low-cost community programs to fill in the gaps.

Which of these ideas appeals to you?

• Achieve the next level of certificate, license, or credential in your field.
• Catch up on the basic math or language skills you need to begin a certificate program, or to do your job better.
• Start learning or improving the foreign language that would help your employer stay relevant and meet customer needs.
• Take a public speaking course. This can help you present your ideas more effectively at work.
• Take a communications course to help you carry out team projects better, or move into managing people.
• Is there a new emphasis on mediating personnel problems at work? Get qualified in alternative dispute resolution.
• Take an efficiency workshop, to learn new tricks for organizing your time and projects better.
• Do you want more work responsibility but haven't got it yet? Join a community leadership course for practice.
• Explore mentoring opportunities.

Make sure your supervisor knows what skill training you take. Show your willingness to take on new tasks or to update how you accomplish your work.

Your Behavior

You most likely already know the rules about what to do, or not do, at work. It can be helpful, however, to review the basics. It's sometimes easy to stop noticing how you come across to others.

Most layoffs have nothing to do with individual employee behavior. But career advisors say that following these guidelines can tip an employment decision in your favor:

• Avoid gossip as much as you possibly can. Learn what to say to deflect it.
• Stop complaining. Just stop!
• Make sure your breaks aren't too long.
• Be aware of others' work patterns. Try not to waste their time.
• Limit long phone calls.
• Recognize the good work of coworkers. Reward others if you can. Assist when possible.
• Be known as someone who shares information.
• Do what you can to benefit others' work.
• Focus on both technical tasks and people's needs.
• Be a model of fair treatment. Don't tolerate bias or prejudice. Practice what to say in response to such comments.
• Try looking at the big picture when something irritating happens. Pick out every other reason but a personal one whenever you can.
• Be known as the positive one who wants to solve problems cooperatively.