Are you feeling nervous about your job security and employability? Worried that the wave of layoffs sweeping the economy may eventually get around to you?

In good times and bad, there are actions that you can and must take to both strengthen your position at your current employer and safeguard your employability in general. The "Top Ten" include:

1. Keep your resume up-to-date - for use in the event of a layoff or for quick response when approached about new opportunities - both at your current employer and outside.
2. Don't be invisible; make sure that your boss, peers, and senior management are aware of your contribution to the success of the team and of the organization. People cannot value what they don't see, hear, or know.
3. Network now! Don't wait until you are looking for a job. Regularly make an effort to reconnect in a meaningful way with past bosses, former colleagues, academic advisers and other potential advocates while things are going well. Most people do not appreciate being contacted only when you need something. And remember, networking is about developing mutually beneficial relationships; be on the lookout for opportunities to help others and make sure to offer yourself as a resource to your contacts as well. The gesture will provide an incentive for them to reciprocate.
4. If you sense a layoff may be coming, search for other opportunities internally. Identify areas where you have something to offer and which are of interest to you. Network with colleagues who work in those areas to learn about job openings before they're advertised publicly and to see if you can secure a referral.
5. Keep your skills current! This includes both hard and soft skills! You will want to remain on the cutting edge of the hard skills that will be necessary in the near and mid-term for your profession. However, hard skills are not enough. To ensure your employability, you must hone competencies in dealing with people (leading others, communicating, and influencing), dealing with business (preventing & solving problems, achieving results), and self- management (self-confidence, stress management, personal credibility, and flexibility).
6. Fix dysfunctional behaviors that may be holding you back. In their book "The 12 Bad Habits That Hold Good People Back," James Waldroop & Timothy Butler discuss behaviors that short-circuit careers, along with ideas about how to get rid of each one. These include: Never Feeling Good Enough; Seeing the World in Black & White; Doing too Much, Pushing too Hard; Avoiding Conflict at Any Cost; Running Roughshod over the Opposition; Being a Rebel Looking for a Cause; Always Swinging for the Fence; Letting Fear Drive You; Being Emotionally Tone Deaf; Deciding that No Job is Ever Good Enough; Lacking a Sense of Boundaries; and Losing Sense of Direction or Enthusiasm in One's Career. If you engage in any of these or have received feedback (formal or informal) that other behaviors are holding you back, take action to fix the problem!
7. Communicate openly with your boss about your performance - proactively meet with your boss regularly (at least twice a month) and discuss where you are doing well and where you can improve. Make sure that he or she not only knows how you're doing but also what you're doing. Work hard and smart - seek opportunities to reduce costs, increase revenue or reposition a product or service. Convince your employer that it is better for the bottom line to keep you than to lose you!
8. Display a positive attitude - always - but especially after a round of layoffs. If you are asked to take on additional work or tasks you don't particularly like or for which you may be over-qualified, don't whine. Companies are more likely to lay off a "whiner' in subsequent rounds and - on the flipside - tend to remember those who helped out whole-heartedly through the rough times.
9. Volunteer for high-profile, high-impact assignments. Employees working on high-profile jobs are often perceived as more important or valuable; and such assignments give you the opportunity to both shine and create or maintain visibility.
10. Keep abreast of other opportunities - keep an eye on what's going on in the job market - both at and outside your current employer. Doing so will put you in a stronger negotiating position and will enable you to move quickly should your employer lay you off or another employer or recruiter approach you about an excellent opportunity!

Don't wait for tough times to manage your own career and employability. Take control now and make sure that you are always equipped to thrive - regardless of current economic conditions!

Interested in finding out more about what may become possible for you through coaching? Feel free to call me at 415-285- 0826 to set up a free 30 minute consultation by phone or SKYPE.

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