Tips on Keeping Your Job

The Best Offense . . .

Almost every day, it seems, another big employer is
announcing job cuts. Although there's no foolproof way to
avoid a pink slip, here are a few tips from career experts
to help make yourself as indispensable as possible:

• Increase your visibility. Make sure that your boss is
aware of your accomplishments, and try to get to know your
superiors better. In a downsizing, workers with low
profiles are often the first to go.

• Become more productive. If you do your work better and
faster, and try to save the company money in the process,
you're likely to be noticed. After completing a project,
request new assignments or, better yet, suggest them
yourself.

• Remain flexible. Be open to new projects and additional
responsibilities. By specializing in just one area, you may
be more vulnerable in a downsizing. Let your supervisors
know that you are willing to travel, or to change cities,
if necessary.

• Network. Try to meet people outside your department and
keep in touch with old contacts. Most job vacancies, after
all, are filled from within a company.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/19/business/yourmoney/19PDIG.html?ex=1043977064&ei=1&en=86ba7a4656662beb