Recession-proof your job
Career advice
Blow your own trumpet
“Unless you speak up for yourself, your talents may go unnoticed,” says Corinne Mills, MD of career coaching company Personal Career Management. Use meetings to flag up your achievements.
Be a money-maker
“If you can identify an area to increase capital, you’re going to be popular,” says career expert John Lees.
Look for ways of boosting revenue – passing a contact on to the sales team or finding a new possible customer.
Seek out “the influencers” – those people whose opinion matters – and try to engineer a way of working with them, suggests Corinne. Go carefully though, as heavy-handedness could cause resentment.
Work smart, not hard
“You’re more likely to get noticed working on things deemed to be important,” says John. So use your performance review to ask your boss about the company’s strategy and try to get involved in projects that connect to this future plan.
Have a positive attitude
"Being resilient and positive shows you’re the kind of person they could do with during this turbulent period,” says Corinne. “Volunteer when you see opportunities. It will prove your commitment and boost your profile.”
Get networking
Corinne suggests familiarising yourself with other departments in the company.
“Forging strong relationships will work in your favour because, should your position go, they may have something within their team or know someone they can put you in touch with,” she says.
Have a “Plan B”
“Preparation is key,” says Corinne. Think about what you’d want to do if your job disappeared tomorrow.
“Look at relevant job ads to identify the skills you need and fill any gaps with extra training. Finally, get your CV in shape, so it’s ready if you need it.
Most importantly, leave as positively as you can. Your employer could be rehiring next year.”
Find out more:
You’re Hired! How To Write A Brilliant CV by Corinne Mills (Trotman, £9.99)
How To Get A Job You’ll Love by John Lees (McGraw-Hill, £12.99)
personalcareermanagement.com
johnleescareers.com
