5 Things You Can Do To Increase Your Job Security

By Perminus Wainaina

Judith had been eyeing a promotion this year. She had been with the company for close to seven years and knew that this year was undoubtedly the year she would get promoted.

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit just when she was set for the promotion, and her career world was turned upside down. Within no time, she and all other employees had been forced to take a compulsory 50% pay-cut. Three months later, the company could not afford to pay their salaries and they were all sent on unpaid leave.

She was forced to look for other jobs, something she never thought she would be forced to.

Currently, at the top of her mind, she says all she wants is job security.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty in a world that’s changing before our eyes. In it all though, I just want to ensure that I can increase job security not only during this time but even beyond.”

With many professionals being laid off, job security is likely to also be on your mind.

But what is job security?

Job security is an assurance that you have your job in the foreseeable future irrespective of outside factors. It also means that your employer is satisfied with your job and is in no hurry to terminate your employment.

With that in mind, how can you prove your worth, keep the job you have, and thrive even during difficult periods?

Although there are no guarantees, there are certain steps you can take to making yourself a more appealing candidate in case you do need to search for something new.

Things you can do to help you increase your job security

1. Be Resilient, Adaptable, Flexible, and Thoughtful

These are the four skills that companies value the most. As a professional, to be able to handle the challenges that may come your way such as the ongoing pandemic that has rendered a huge number of professionals jobless, you should demonstrate:

Resilience: Bouncing back in tough times

Adaptability: Adjusting to novel environments

Flexibility: Being able and willing to wear different hats

Thoughtfulness: Being respectful, intentional, and communicative with colleagues

You also need to evolve. Take some time to look at your company and the industry trends more broadly. Your aim should be to meet the needs of the shifting circumstances. Take on the tasks and projects that need to be tackled in this new reality to help your employer succeed right now—whether that’s running virtual meetings or taking on a different role or additional responsibilities within a smaller company.

If someone asks you to do something that’s outside of your original job description, do it. 

Being open to filling in where needed, identifying opportunities on your own, and developing the discipline to follow through will require time and dedication – but it can be the thing that sets you apart.

This way, you’ll become known as someone who can take on anything, and be known as an excellent colleague no one would want to part with.

2. Go the extra mile

Don’t just be flexible and adaptable in your role, but in different ways, to benefit the entire organization. Bring new ideas to the table to help your company make it through the obstacles and challenges of the present moment and the uncertain times that lay ahead. 

Truth is, with the current trends, those who go the extra mile, think differently about a challenge, and bring inventive solutions will be highly sought after. Now more than ever, employers are looking for people who can solve their pain points. 

Even if your ideas don’t directly help increase revenue or bring savings, your creative and resourceful ideas can still make you a valuable employee your company will want to hang on to.

3. Become a Lifelong Learner

As the world changes, it is high time that you adopt the mindset that you are a student for life. 

Take some time to reflect on skills that you haven’t developed but may need to – and then focus on acquiring them.

For instance, as a professional, you might need to boost your communication skills so that you can be better at speaking in public and increase engagement by taking a public speaking course.

As you seek to pick up new skills and knowledge, you will start to figure out the ways you like to learn and where your strengths and weaknesses lie, among other things. This will ultimately make you a better employee. 

As you keep on learning, keep an eye on the bigger picture, in case you will need to change jobs. Pay close attention to the fields best positioned to grow such as e-commerce, customer experience, digital strategy, and healthcare, among others. This way, you can focus on sharpening up skills that may be relevant to these industries.

4. Focus on solutions

Employers need team members who are solutions-oriented – and execute. Even better, are the problem solvers who can tackle challenges without being asked. 

In the ongoing pandemic, as companies try to adopt new business models and revenue streams and the skyrocketing unemployment, they need employees who can get things done, and fast. 

Those who will succeed are the hardest workers with the greatest tenacity. Those people who have grit, determination, and dedication will stand out from their peers.

5. Network

Whether you are looking for new job opportunities or not, networking is a skill that’s valuable to develop, especially in times of uncertainty.

While at the moment many people are staying home more, you can reach out virtually. 

For a start, you can attend webinars and online courses that give you a chance to meet other like-minded individuals and create connections.

We all crave connections. And you never know when this might open doors for you. 

Conclusion

With daily life in a state of unpredictability, it’s natural to crave stability and security. While there are no guarantees, these steps will help you strengthen your position within your current company and boost your skillset in case you need, or decide, to explore new opportunities.