Workplace Challenges
RecessionFive tips to recession-proof your careerIf you learn to get ahead during economic downtimes, you’ll soar when the market swings skyward. Here are some tips from the experts on how to move up while the economy’s dropping down. By Jennifer McFee |
|
 [ 2009-03-03 ] |
1. Be enthusiastic — Happy workers are productive workers, so find the good in what you do, says Fiorella Callocchia, president of Toronto-based consulting firm HR Impact. “Managers want to work with people who really enjoy doing their job.”
2. Add value — Just like customers look for deals in the products they buy, employers are impressed when workers go above and beyond. “Try to do more than just what you’re asked. Take a supplier attitude. If you see something that needs getting done, do it,” says Callocchia.
3. Offer ideas — If you have a brilliant brainwave, be bold and speak your mind. “This is an opportunity to really showcase your innovation, your creativity, your ideas, your suggestions. You have an opportunity to really shine,” Callocchia explains.
4. Keep learning — Whether you’re taking a computer class, learning a language or following an online course, your dedication to personal development will set you apart. “Deepen your knowledge in an existing area or gain new knowledge in something else,” suggests Mike McCracken, CEO of economic research firm Informetrica Limited. “These new skills will make you much more marketable or employable anywhere in the world.”
5. Share information — Show that you are a team player by coaching your coworkers in your areas of expertise, says Callocchia. “If you’re sharing information, you’re hitting teamwork, cooperation and collaboration. We’re all in this together. If the company fails, we all fail.”
Read more
Are you aware of substance abuse in your workplace?