You've got your dream job. All that work during the search process has paid off: The constant refining of your resume, the interview practice, the obsessive research to find the perfect position at the perfect company.
You got the gig...now you just have to keep it.
Situations change over time. You might feel comfortable now, but decisions outside your control could impact your position. Companies sell out to competitors. Management regimes change. Customer tastes evolve, and some firms are too slow to adapt.
If new bosses come in, you need to be able to show your value. If cost cutting becomes necessary, you want to make sure you are on the right side of that decision-making process.
Use these five tips to keep your job over time, no matter what comes in the future.
Become Indispensable
Develop a reputation as a go-to employee. If you are important enough to the organization, you can survive almost any cuts or reshufflings (short of total shutdown, of course). Getting to that point involves seeking responsibility and continuously expanding your skills.
It comes with a cost, though. You'll have to deal with extra work and extra headaches. But, in the end, you'll have a more secure position within your organization.
Make Measurable Contributions
It may not seem like the most romantic way to view your contribution, but it's a cruel fact of business: it's hard to prove value that isn't obvious on a spreadsheet. So, make sure you look good in that context.
Make sure the numbers are on your side. Understand what metrics your company uses to judge the output of its employees and make sure that you perform well by those statistics. That way, if management changes or if it comes down to hard cost-cutting decisions, your value will be obvious.
Generate Cash for the Company
Ultimately, success in business comes down to profits. Don't stay in a position that isn't a priority for the company. Change jobs or change departments if you don't think your part of the organization is well-positioned for the long term.
The more money you earn for the company, the more value you'll have. If your position doesn't contribute directly to either revenue generation or to increasing profitability, you might be in a precarious position. Also, if your product or your division is not one of the profit centers for the company, the whole unit might come under scrutiny when it comes to cost-cutting time.
Stay Connected...
You can't really inspire loyalty from a company. Loyalty comes from other people. If you want to keep your current position, you need to develop connections with decision makers.
Figure out who has the power to make personnel decisions and stay close with those people. But don't limit yourself there, it’s good to have as many connections as possible. You never know who will become the boss someday.
...But Don't Only Rely on Personal Connections
Managers retire. Co-workers leave. Companies get sold. If your main trump card for keeping your position is a history of going fishing with the boss, you really aren't that secure.
One corporate shakeup and you might find yourself on a team with complete strangers. Then, your previous personal connections won't help you.
Building long-term career success involves finding a position where you can excel at a company with unassailable growth prospects. A top-ranked recruiting firm, like United Personnel, can find what you are looking for.
Contact United Personnel today to locate the position where you can thrive for the long haul.