HOW TO AVOID BEING RETRENCHED

Retaining a job is gradually becoming a big deal, especially in this era of stiff competition, occasioned by the high rate of unemployment.Many able-bodied men and women are unemployed, while those that are count themselves lucky to be. This situation makes job retention a great concern to the few lucky paid employees.

Business owners, on their own part, will not compromise standards, when it comes to their staff. They need only well-qualified, well-trained, competent, and hardworking staff. This, in turn, puts much pressure on them to lay off any staff that performs below standard, as there are thousands in waiting for the post thus left vacant.

Now what must a paid employee do to retain his job? He must be ready to update himself all the time, most especially, academically. As stated above, there is stiff competition these days in the labor market and one of the things one can do to maintain one's relevance is updating one's self. For instance, the Bachelor's degree you had some years ago, which fetched you your job, may not be too relevant now. Your boss may prefer somebody with a Master's degree now to you. It's advisable to find time to run a part-time Master's degree program, even though you are not being threatened yet with retrenchment. You have to be proactive and not reactive.

Your schedule of duties at your establishment may not be that tasking due to its size. But that doesn't mean that you should rest on your oars saying, "I know my job, I do it well, and my boss ain't complaining". You may need to get some experience from people elsewhere. For instance, as an accountant used to only profit and loss balancing in your establishment, you need to to tap from the experiences of professional colleagues in other bigger establishments, who do more technical and more brain-tasking stuffs. Being proactive is the word. Don't wait till when someone comes to take your place because you couldn't fit in when your company got bigger.

Now, adequate attention should be given to your personal qualities or traits. Over the years you have been working, you must have discovered your strengths and your weaknesses. If your weaknesses overshadow your strengths, you may lose your job! What are your weaknesses? Perhaps they are forgetfulness, nonchalance, lateness to work and to meetings, moodiness at work, and so on. Get rid of them. Simple. Your boss will prefer an employee who possess exact opposite of these qualities. That you have even stayed this long on the job is because he hasn't seen a replacement for you. Once he does, you are gone!

You should show your self-confidence and your self-esteem. Let it be evident that you are an honorable man - a man who is capable, competent, and honest. Let this show in your relationship with management, colleagues, and clients. Appear and carry yourself with dignity and not with arrogance. Just stand out as excellent.

The simple secret to avoiding being retrenched in this era of job losses and high unemployment is to be the kind of dependable hand your employer wants to always do his job. Endeavor to meet his expectations and your job will be as secured as the breaking of the day or, at least, till when you decide to quit and move on.