Editor’s note: This article was first published in May 2012. The 24% unemployment rate it mentions refers to Spain in 2012.
People used to say “whoever has a friend has a treasure”. These days it translates as “whoever has a job has a treasure”. In a country with an unemployment rate of 24%, those of us who still enjoy such a precious and scarce asset have every reason to make an effort to keep it.
There are no magic formulas or miracle recipes, but there is always advice you can apply to try to keep the job you devote so much of your time to and that lets you live in relative comfort, or at least pay the bills.
Some tips for keeping your job:
Punctuality. Besides being a matter of good manners, a job has working hours that must be respected. So, except in rare and justified cases, be on time when you start work.
Hard work. Be honest in your work. Spend your working day getting your company’s work done, honestly. Don’t try to do everything (you’re not Superman), but do what you have been asked to do.
Friendliness. Be friendly and polite with your colleagues and superiors. Keep a professional relationship, but also a personal one, with the people around you, whatever their position. Fit in with your team.
Organize your tasks. Everything is important, but there has to be an order of priorities. Make a list of tasks and priorities so you start with what’s urgent and push to the end the things that can wait.
Efficiency is your motto. Answer your emails and deliver your work. Follow up on it and check how effective your actions and work have been.
Breaks. Any activity needs a break every so often. Take short breaks and spread your work out over the whole working day. The point isn’t to rush through your tasks and be left with nothing to do. If that does happen, have something lined up so you can fill your working day.
Keep your workspace tidy. Know where your completed tasks are, where the pending matters are and which ones are already wrapped up. Don’t waste time looking for things because you’re disorganized; keep your workspace and your files in order.
Contribute to your company by offering suggestions and ideas for improvement, both in your usual tasks and in the business as a whole.
Be willing to do whatever it takes for the business that pays your living. Put your best effort into achieving the best possible results. Sure, they pay you little for the work you do and others earn more. But remember that if the business fails, you are the one who loses most, because you make your living from it.
Be proactive about every change and need the company asks of you. Put your effort into the company’s weaknesses to turn them into strengths.
Featured image: Les Chatfield, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.
