Mar 6, 2009 4:21 pm US/Central
Expert Tips To Stay Employed
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Adam Brent is closing his West Loop bookstore, putting four employees out of work.
CBS
Are you worried your job could soon be on the chopping block?
CBS 2's Mike Parker spoke to some local workers who will soon be unemployed and offers tips on how to keep your name from showing up on a pink slip.
Adam Brent is saying goodbye to the book business. He plans to close up his West Loop bookstore in two weeks. Giant discount retailers like Wal-Mart and internet sellers like amazon.com delivered the death blow. It also means that Brent's four employees -- book lovers themselves -- will be out of work. They've been looking for new jobs since last fall.
"I haven't really had much luck," employee Connie Cibula said. "It's kind of a hard time. … No offers, unfortunately."
But what if you're a worker in another business who still has a job but you're worried you might be caught in downsizing? How do you keep your job?
Get engaged in your work, become more valuable to your boss. That's the advice of an expert.
"Actually showing up to work early, being an example and really setting the residue in your manager's mind that you are making an extra effort," says human resources consultant Kevin Sheridan.
More advice: Suggest ways your company can cut costs in this tough economy. Ask questions like: Do we really need 20 copies of that document?
Some employees, Sheridan says, are more at risk of being cut from the payroll.
"What we also call the water-cooler malcontents that are undermining their manager," he said. "They're spreading almost like a cancer through the organization (with) the negativity."
Bottom line: Be positive. Call attention to yourself. Just don't overdo it.
Of course, you can be the best possible employee, but in these uncertain economic times you could still end up among the jobless – the American idle.
The hard-working employees at Brent Books can vouch for that. There are no guarantees.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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