Boosting your job security by being a valued employee
By Ken Pelczarski, Contributing Editor | TLT Career Coach May 2024
Follow these guidelines to protect your career.
Benjamin Franklin is known for many great quotes, including his last one in 1789 before his death. He stated, “…in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” Well, there certainly are no guarantees in business, especially in the world of employment. Job security has many levels and is a relative concept, not an absolute one.
One reason that some people are happy in their jobs is they have a high security and comfort level. Even if you are actively searching for a new position, job security is important because it is generally better to hold onto your job until you find a new one.
You may lose your job for any number of reasons, and you may be either singled out or let go along with others. It may have nothing to do with your job performance. Your employer might be downsizing due to lack of profitability. Your employer may be acquired by another company or merge with one. It is critical that you put yourself in the best possible position to be looked at as a valuable employee and be retained by your employer in such situations.
So how do you improve job security with your current employer? Here are some ways to enhance your level of security.
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Make money for the company. It speaks loudly to employers when an employee makes money for them. You will increase your job security level greatly if you positively impact the bottom line.
If you cannot make a big financial impact on the company bottom line in your current position, you may want to encourage the employer to expand your responsibilities, give you more authority or advance you into a new role where you can do so.
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Document your accomplishments. It is a wonderful feeling to have numerous accomplishments in your career, but it gives you an even greater measure of security for your future when you document them.
Documentation can help in situations with your current employer when you are having a performance review or when you have a new boss who does not know your history of success. It also can give you added protection when your employer goes through a merger, a change of ownership or a consolidation of roles that results in downsizing.
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Learn what is expected of you. Your job could obviously be in jeopardy if you are falling short of your employer’s expectations. Learning what the employer expects of you ideally starts when you are first hired. It is critical to know how your performance will be monitored.
It also is important in the course of your employment to periodically get updates regarding your employer’s expectations, especially when you have a new boss or there have been other management or ownership changes. Arrange a meeting with your boss to discuss any changes in expectations.
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Achieve company goals. If you fall far short of achieving goals set forth by your employer over a lengthy period, you may become expendable.
Do everything in your power to achieve company goals. Alternatively, if you believe that company goals are not realistic, arrange a meeting with your boss to modify goals and expectations.
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Over-deliver instead of over-promise. Whether you are newly hired or an existing employee, there is a fine line between 1.) over-promising and 2.) convincing the employer of how much you can accomplish.
Be sure to point out the difference between goals that are realistic and higher goals that are difficult to achieve but attainable. The employer will then likely be pleased if you achieve more modest and realistic goals.
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Meet project deadlines. Meeting deadlines is a subcategory of achieving company goals. If you do not consistently meet deadlines, you will likely be viewed by your boss as a weak link and incapable of doing your job.
Take deadlines seriously. If a deadline does not seem realistic, have a discussion with your boss in advance about allowing more time for project completion.
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Work extra hours. Extra effort is usually recognized and greatly appreciated by management. It shows dedication and motivation and should provide you with a little added job security.
Going above and beyond what is required should bring praise from management. However, if your employer is constantly demanding that you work extra hours, the job may not be right for you.
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Volunteer to take on challenging projects. Being successful in your regular job duties is one thing, but voluntarily taking on challenging projects beyond your normal job scope can elevate you to another level of success.
When you tackle difficult projects head-on, it displays confidence in your abilities and tells your employer that you are loyal, promotable and a valuable employee for the future.
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Be a team player. Being a team player gives your employer the impression that you are attempting to succeed for bigger reasons than your own glory. It shows that you are interested in accomplishing things for the good of the team and the entire company.
You will be viewed favorably by management when you share credit for accomplishments with colleagues. This approach also will have a positive effect on team members and boost overall morale. Looking out for the good of the team is a feather in your cap toward increased job security.
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Display job satisfaction within and outside the company. If you are genuinely satisfied with your current employer, share that feeling with others inside and outside the company, including with top management. You will quickly establish a reputation as a happy camper.
Your long-term value to the employer is generally determined by 1.) your ability to do the job effectively and achieve company goals and 2.) your motivation, job satisfaction and desire to stay with the company for a long time.
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Support your boss. I do not advocate for blindly supporting your boss. However, it is crucial that you build the best possible relationship with him or her. Your boss will speak well of you to top management if a solid relationship exists.
There are several ways to build this great relationship. Share credit for accomplishments with your boss. Extol your boss’ positive traits to colleagues and upper management. Communicate consistently and always show respect to your boss. At the same time, work on being able to have different ideas and opinions than your boss, and still being able to strategize and solve problems together.
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Communicate and give positive feedback to all levels of management. Communicating regularly with all levels of company management goes a long way toward building important relationships and ensuring a long-term future with the employer.
Directly communicate positive feedback to top management, if possible, about the job they are doing. They will realize you are a loyal and engaged employee when they hear this type of feedback. Being visible in this manner to top management should give you added job security.
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Do not rock the boat excessively. There is a fine line between 1.) offering ideas and suggestions for operational changes and 2.) pushing your personal agenda to change the ways your employer does business. If you push too hard on changes that are undesired by management, you may be viewed as a maverick and will be hurting your own job security.
Always gauge the interest that management has in change before pushing your ideas. It is especially important to discuss in a job interview and know from the beginning whether company management is happy with their current ways of conducting business.
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Avoid being too critical of top management. When you harshly criticize company management, especially if you do this consistently, you will likely be seen as a strong dissenter and a malcontent. This will certainly affect your job security negatively.
Disagreeing with management is not necessarily a problem if done in a constructive and professional manner. If you truly care about your job, schedule meetings with management to exchange ideas while showing respect for their ideas and opinions.
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Conduct business with integrity. It may go without saying that performing in your job in an ethical manner with high integrity is expected by nearly all employers. However, it is critical to be cognizant of this at all times.
Resist temptation to do things such as 1.) cut corners, 2.) bad-mouth coworkers, 3.) undermine superiors, 4.) fudge expense reports, 5.) take excessive time off work or 6.) operate a competing business on the side. These types of actions will eventually be noticed and could severely affect your job security.
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Make yourself indispensable. I do not believe that anybody is 100% indispensable. This includes individuals who own or manage an entire organization.
Depending upon the size and structure of the company, owners or top executives can still be released, fired or forced to resign if they are not meeting expectations of company ownership, shareholders, the governing board, other top management or the general workforce.
Here are some ways to boost your level of job security if you are in a management position with direct reports.
In addition to the points listed previously, there are many responsibilities you have as a manager with direct reports. The points listed here may seem straightforward. All employees, however, including management, need to look at themselves to be sure they are doing all the things necessary to achieve a high level of success and job security. Here are some items to keep in mind when you have management responsibilities.
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Hire capable talent.
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Aim for diversity when hiring.
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Monitor employees’ job performance.
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Document bad performance in case of necessary termination.
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Fire employees when it is warranted.
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Manage training programs.
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Establish safe and ethical operational policies.
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Unify team members and maintain high morale.
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Promote a common vision.
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Set high but realistic goals.
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Delegate tasks clearly.
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Solve problems in a timely manner.
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Recognize and reward achievements.
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Communicate regularly with direct reports.
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Strive to know employees on a personal level.
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Respect all levels of employees.
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Practice being fair and reasonable.
It is a good idea to regularly evaluate your job satisfaction. It is okay to be a company person, but keep in mind that the job and company may not be right for you if you need to sacrifice your morals, principles, ethics, convictions, personal growth, career goals or spousal and family relationships just to increase your level of job security.
It is important when you are interviewing with other companies to be discreet and selective, especially if you value your current job and want to maintain a high level of job security. This means being careful about conducting any aspect of a job search while at your current place of employment.
Attaining a high level of success will normally lead to enhanced job security. This, in turn, will improve your chances of advancing in responsibility and achieving career goals with your current employer. It also will give you added leverage in achieving your career goals with a different company if you decide to change employers.
Ken Pelczarski is owner and founder of Pelichem Associates, a Chicago-based search firm established in 1985 and specializing in the lubricants industry. You can reach Ken at (630) 960-1940 or at pelichem@aol.com.