Time are tough job losses are up and companies are looking for ways to trim budgets. No one likes to think about losing their job especially when finding a new one in a down market poses a dire challenge. It's easy to blame the company, but employment is a two way relationship. There are bad companies. There are also bad employees. Are you a bad employee? Do you maybe, just maybe, deserve to lose your job? If you owned the company, would you keep you on the payroll?
Take a look in the mirror. Should your company show you the door?
Eight reasons why you should become a layoff statistic
1. You don't work well with others. Rude, nasty, impatient, condescending, talk to the hand is a recipe for employment demise. Although your boss can't fire you for a bad attitude, your attitude issue can inadvertently show up in your annual review. Congratulations! You've just created a big bull's-eye when it comes to selecting prime candidates for layoffs.
2. You don't complete your work. When it comes to getting things done you are a dud. You are good at excuses, however execution and results are a constant question mark.
3. You don't complete your work on time. So maybe you do get things done. However, you get things done late...always late. Your inability has demonstrated that you are not reliable and you can't manage your time. If it absolutely has to get done on time, you are not the person to go to.
4. You are not competent at what you were hired to do. Do you sell a good game, have the gift of gab, or can sell ice to Eskimos? Talking oneself into a job that far out reaches their ability to fulfill the role happens often. When economic times are good, it can be easier to learn on-the-job. When times are tough, the learning curve can be steeper, the scrutiny more intense, and the ability to ride on other's shoulders more difficult.
5. Come in late and leave early. You demonstrate your lack of commitment by showing up when you want to and making sure you get out of the office as quickly as you can. While your peers struggle with deadlines you head for happy hour. Do you really think your coworkers and boss don't notice that?
6. What you do for the company is not critical. "What mean expendable?" To that question Rambo replied, "It's like when you get invited to a party and you don't show up and it doesn't matter." First Blood Part 2. Does that resemble you? Missed any parties lately?
7. You don't take initiative. Often what separates being a successful long-term employee from a well deserving layoff statistic is the simple act of taking initiative to do something before you are asked to do it. Although your job description did not call out "takes initiatives" this is one of those implicit stay-employed-professional skills. If getting you to do something always takes a formal request and a pretty please, consider yourself a player on the got-to-go short list.
8. Customers don't like you. Do you treat customers as if they are doing you a favor? Have you been recognized for poor customer service? Don't forgot that even though your company logo is printed on your paycheck, it is actually the customer who is paying your salary. So if your opinion is that customers are pesky, can really get in the way of lunch time, and if you don't manage them they can get in the way of your personal calls too, consider yourself on the short list for being let go.
Yep. Maybe you deserve to lose your job. Perhaps you should not wait to get fired. Find a job that you enjoy.
