How To Keep Hold of Your Job

There are only two good reasons for hanging onto a job that leaves you de-motivated, bored and undervalued: 1. You need the money and 2. There are no other jobs on offer.

Before you start looking for your next career move, think twice. It might not necessarily be the fault of the employer and if you want to be in a position where you can leave with your head held high, and with a glowing reference, then you need to have at least displayed a perseverance, passion and patience for the job in hand.

So before believing that the grass is greener on the other side, here are five tips that may reinvigorate your career.

JUSTIFY YOUR SALARY

Focus on what you are really being paid for and prove every penny’s worth for that job given to you. When you bear in mind that a company’s largest cost is its salaries, you should feel like you are adding value. So if not, be honest with yourself and ask why.

PUNCTUALITY PAYS

Being punctual and finishing all that has been agreed for that day not only develops confidence amongst the management but also gives you a sense of satisfaction. In a similar vein do not feel guilty for leaving on time since a good manager will recognise your performance as efficient-assuming you have not left anything or anyone hanging. In return you can ensure a healthy work-life balance.

BE A TEAM PLAYER

One of the best ways to maintain job security is to volunteer for new initiatives, to offer your help with projects outside your job scope, and to
take on more responsibility.

STOP COMPLAINING

Complaining is the last thing you should be doing. Regardless of how genuine the complaints are, fellow colleagues will stop taking you seriously if you end up as a complaint box.

WATCH WHAT YOU SAY

Every word you speak in the workplace can and will be held against you. This may seem unfair or unpleasant, but it’s one of the realities of the professional world and corporate governance today. So think before you speak or better still write down your thoughts and come back to them the next day. Chances are you may cringe at your own abruptness and frustration.

BE HAPPY

If you achieve what you aimed for on any particular day, it will simply show. Your posture, confidence, expression and the zeal with which you tackle the issues will set the tone for the following day proving you are happy from within. As a consequence your conversations in the office will rarely be confrontational but collaborative since your colleagues respect your attitude.

At the end of the working day you need to weigh up how unhappy the job is making you feel and understand what the catalyst is. Only then can you or your company change the situation providing you are a valuable asset worth investing in.

Conversely if a job is so stressful that it will damage your health, or change is not forthcoming then do explore other options, since there are plenty of jobs on offer thanks to the movement in the market.