How to Increase Your Job Security

If you've been through layoffs before, you know that the people who are let go aren't always the dumbest or most useless. Read on to learn how to add more security to your job.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Get involved in profitable projects at work. In tough times, companies will cancel unprofitable or risky projects (and the people associated with them). Doing mediocre work on a profitable project will give you a lot more job security than doing excellent work on a dud project.

2. Volunteer to do work that other people hate. The perfect piece of work to do is something that is necessary, hated by co-workers, and you are the only one who knows how to do it. It's even better if the task is hated by your boss. You will give yourself more job security this way because nobody wants to deal with your work if you are let go.

3. Find out who has the final authority to fire you and get on their good side. Your immediate supervisor may have little say in whether or not you are laid off or kept. Find the person or people who do and make sure they know that you should be kept.

4. Have a good relationship with your co-workers and boss. You will have more job security if you are well liked. You can become well liked by being friendly, sociable and occasionally helping other people with their work.

5. Consider getting advanced certifications or other degrees in your area of work. The reasoning here is that if the people deciding who gets laid off don't know you personally, they will be able to see degrees or certifications on your resume. They will be more likely to keep you.

6. Do great work. Although this isn't a guarantee, doing great work goes a long way to gaining job security. If laying you off means that your department grinds to a halt, your job is almost untouchable.