5 Ways To Stay Safe In Your Job

If you’re like the majority of people, you’re feeling a reduced sense of job security and you have some fear about losing your job. At all levels, from entry-employees to senior executives, fears about layoffs, downsizing and firing have risen. And things like economic challenges, high-profile job cuts and developments in AI are driving worry, anxiety and apprehension.

But even with concerns about your employment, there are ways you can enhance your job security, increase your value and ensure your visibility. With intentional effort, you can reduce the chances that you’ll be part of the current wave of job eliminations or terminations.

In Good Company

It’s helpful to know you’re not alone: 76% of people say they have anxiety at work, based on a poll by LiveCareer. In addition, worry about employment has increased significantly in the last year for 46% of workers, according to a poll by Professional Resume Writers. The group most worried about job security are executives, with 66% worried about their job security. And 48% of entry-level employees are anxious—but they are also the group whose anxiety has increased the most: up 91% since last year.

Concerns arise because of press about layoffs, increasing downsizing and economic challenges, but 69% are stressed about losing their jobs specifically because of AI, based on a study by ResumeGenius. It’s clear we have a better understanding about the jobs or tasks that may go away and we have less clarity about which jobs will be created going forward—a recipe for worries about the future of employment.

Increasing Your Job Security

Amidst all the worry, you can take proactive approaches to increasing your job security.

#1 – Create a Strong Network

One of the most powerful actions you can take is to build strong relationships both inside and outside your organization. Decisions about layoffs aren’t made in a vacuum, and when your reputation is strong and when you have a lot of people who know your work and can vouch for you, these contribute to your security.

Reach out and meet people within your organization. Have coffee or schedule one-on-ones where you can learn from others, obtain their perspectives and build relationships. Take initiative to work on projects with cross functional teams so multiple people an get to know you and your work.

Focus on building relationships at all levels, not just with decision makers. Word of mouth is an important way to strengthen your job security since having strong credibility across many groups means more people can speak to your value in the organization.

In addition to building relationships inside your organization, also build them externally. If you need to find a different job, few things will be more important than your network. Get to know people at association gatherings, professional events and even external learning opportunities.

#2 – Perform Brilliantly

One of the most critical aspects of job security is great performance. If you’re not performing up to par or if you’re perceived as not adding value, you’ll be more likely to be on the proverbial bubble. So do your best, embrace your work and engage.

You won’t be perfect—no one is, but companies will value seeing your effort, commitment and dedication. And you’ll have the benefit of greater happiness as well. When people engage, immerse and invest in great performance, they are more likely to feel a sense of joy with their work and outside of work as well.

In the list of the top seven things people are afraid of in their work—making decisions and taking responsibility are among the greatest stressors—according to the LiveCareer poll. It’s reasonable to be concerned about your abilities in these areas, but you can remind yourself that you’re in your role because others see your skills and potential.

Give yourself permission to ask for input and guidance when you need it. And be confident in taking on new tasks and challenges—often your learning will occur in the midst of doing the work, and you can build on what you already know, positioning you to make substantive contributions.

#3 – Ask for Feedback

Of course, even when you’re performing well, you can always enhance your achievement. According to the LiveCareer study, getting fired is the fourth-biggest fear in a list of the top seven. One way to reduce the chances you’ll be fired is to ask for feedback, so you can improve.

Ask your boss what you’re doing well and how you can get better. When the project ends, seek feedback from the team about where you rocked the experience and where you can improve. Find out which priorities are most important to your company and ask for input about how you can ensure your work is aligned.

Being proactive about getting input will help you know where to focus your improvement efforts, but it will also communicate that you’re interested in learning, developing and building your capabilities—and companies want to retain people who are committed to growth.

#4 – Seek Growth Opportunities

Organizations will want to keep you around (read: you’ll improve your job security) when they see your potential—the future value you’ll deliver and your commitment to growing, adapting and learning in a world where change is fast-paced. For this reason, it’s very wise to seek opportunities for growth.

Offer to join in on a project which is adjacent to your current work—so you can apply your skills and also build new ones. Find new learning and ask whether you can engage in the curriculum. Seek mentors who can give you advice.

Learning will help you develop new skills proactively, but it can also help you shore up areas where you may have limitations. According to the LiveCareer poll, among people’s top professional fears are making mistakes, being able to handle their workloads and being disliked by others.

You can also seek learning to get better at your core competencies (and therefore reduce mistakes and increase how much you can handle) and improve your skills in relating or empathy (reducing the chances you’ll struggle with your colleagues).

Whether you’re seeking the next set of skills or filling gaps for your present capabilities, pursuing learning and growth are among the best ways to enhance your job security.

#5 – Be Present

Working from home has impacted job security, according to the poll by Professional Resume Writers. In fact, 21% of people say that working from home has made a difference to their job security. Even when organizations embrace remote work or hybrid work, you’ll still want to be intentional about being present (literally and figuratively), available and accessible.

Of course you can build terrific relationships with people from a distance, but it’s also natural to develop the strongest bonds with people you see most. Cognitive biases such as the familiarity bias (having greater acceptance for people who are more familiar) and the recency bias (remembering best who or what you’ve interacted with most recently) translate into the need to get to know people and to stay in touch, so you stay top-of-mind.

Plan to be in the office when your colleagues are there and when your team is doing collaborative work. If it’s possible, schedule check-ins with your boss when you can be face-to-face. Make the most of the times you’re onsite by inviting teammates to lunch or coffee.

When you’re remote, keep your camera on for meetings, be responsive in your communication and be transparent with your schedule. Give yourself privacy, of course, but build trust by being open about what you’re working on and about your availability.

In addition, seek opportunities for greater visibility and contribution. The LiveCareer poll found people feared public speaking as their third-most-prevalent fear. But speaking among others is a great way to have more people understand your thinking and become familiar with your capabilities. Encourage yourself to share your ideas in small groups and then advance to larger groups of more influential people over time.

Also build your visibility by taking the initiative to identify problems and solve them, and staying in touch with your leader so they know what you’re working on and the impact you’re making.

Also be sure to stay engaged with your current organization. When you’re feeling insecure, it can be natural to consider a career change or a side hustle—as reflected in the poll by Professional Resume writers. And the likelihood to seek another job was highest for entry-level workers.

Be sure to balance your contingency planning (very wise) with the need to perform and demonstrate commitment in your current role. You don’t want to inadvertently disengage or negatively impact your job security because you put too much focus on finding the next thing. If you like what you’re doing be sure to keep your eye on that ball so you can ensure your dedication doesn’t suffer.

Going Forward

Confidence can be an important part of your success. It’s reasonable to feel worried about your employment, but when you can stay calm and engaged, you’ll be more likely to maintain it.

In addition, downsizing or restructure can be opportunities to take on more responsibility, enhance the value you’re delivering to the organization or advance your career—so stay positive and trust yourself to grow into the future.