Do not talk. You are now stronger and more resourceful than a few months ago. You have learned from, these experiences. However, it is very wise not to discuss any unemployment or job changing experiences. Do not bad-mouth your former company or its employees. Casual comments may come back to haunt you in the future.
Self-Examination. Think hard and long about your old job. Try to see what went wrong. Be frank and face up to your shortcomings. Is there a personality problem that makes you abrasive? Did you have trouble with your boss? What is your attitude toward work? Did you talk or complain about the old job or company? What quality and quantity of work did you produce? Did you make mistakes and errors? Be honest with yourself. Correct shortcomings and strengthen any weaknesses you have.
Savings.Being unemployed - even for one or two months - can be tough. Bills may go unpaid; creditors may take action; recreation is late movies on TV; you make-do with the old clothing. You may even eat meat-less meatloaf.
You survived the ordeal. Now with paychecks coming in, pay yourself first. It is necessary that your financial status improves. Do not purchase things you really don't need. A budget can help you get control of your money. Save a fixed amount from each paycheck - 10 percent or even 20 percent - until you have a bank nest egg equal to at least six months income.
A person living - actually existing - from paycheck to paycheck is a fool. Adequate savings is the real key to security. The unexpected may happen and be costly. You will retire sometime. Extra savings can make the difference in enjoying your retirement.
Other Job Offers. Having been active in the job market, you probably will get some phone calls from other firms for interviews or maybe even a job offer. It is nice to be needed but consider these contacts carefully. If you get another job, would it be an advancement? How could you come out money-wise? What is the cost-of-living in this other area?
Be very careful of the unknown! How secure is your current position if you started missing work to have job interviews? What is the other company like? No job or company is perfect. Typically, it is best to stay a reasonable length of time. To stay only a short time may create a big question mark about your intentions sometime in the future. Change jobs only if you have a very logical reason to change. How will this reason sound to others in the future?
The Probationary Period. All of us want to know how good a job we are doing. First you need to know what is required? What are the performance standards required by the job? How does your performance stack up against the standards? What can you do to improve your present performance?
Several months must pass before you are considered a permanent employee. During this time your supervisor will be observing you to find out what type of worker you really are. Did the company hire a good employee? Or did the organization make a bad decision? Various firms review and appraise the job performance of employees using different factors. Some of the key appraisal factors to determine your continued employment follow:
- KNOWLEDGE OF WORK refers to both formal and informal learning gained at schools, special training, and past work experience.
- WORK QUALITY means the accuracy, neatness, and dependability of results you produced on a day-to-day basis.
- WORK QUANTITY is the factor that considers the volume of work produced under normal conditions.
- COOPERATION is important for continued employment. Firms want team workers who accept new duties and respond to suggestions of supervisors.
- DEPENDABILITY refers to attendance and punctuality, plus your ability to follow instructions and meet schedules. If you're not there you can not learn the job or do the work. If the firm can not depend on you, will they keep you?
- ABILITY TO LEARN NEW DUTIES. Certainly the company expects you to acquire and use new skills and knowledge. Your supervisor will consider the speed you master new routine and understand explanations. Your boss expects you to retain this information. Ask questions if you are not certain on what to do. An error can cost hundreds of dollars.
- SAFETY. Have you had any accidents or near misses? DO you leave your work area and equipment safe and orderly for others? Accidents are expensive to your health and the health and profits of the organization.
- ATTITUDE concerns your response toward the job, the supervisor, and the company. Would you like people with your type of attitude working for you?
- JUDGEMENT-COMMON SENSE factors consider if you think intelligently and make decisions logically.
You will develop and grow on the job when these basic needs are met:
- Agree with your supervisor on the results you're to achieve.
- Ask for the opportunity to perform.
- Request advice on how you are doing the job.
- Ask for guidance and training.
- Request an appraisal on actual contributions.
- Help and support other workers. Give them a hand with their projects or when there is an emergency.
- Share ideas, verbally or in writing, on improvements with your supervisor.
- Make your presence known by showing your face. Take a report directly to a superior and briefly discuss it or provide additional information.
- See your boss when you have a legitimate reason. You want your supervisor to feel that he/she has gained something from this contact.
- Take an outside course at a college or technical-vocational school which is directly related to some aspect of your work.
It is wise to keep records at home that show work accomplishments. Do this on a regular basis or as projects are completed. Keep files up-to-date as good times can turn to bad times. For whatever reason you leave or are forced out in the future, your work samples - carefully filed at home - will be very useful to prepare future letters and resumes. Home files can help you get a new job!
You don't betray secrets but loyalty starts with yourself and the need to establish long term security. When a firm is decreasing its work force loyalty is often forgotten. Your work may not be considered as the firm attempts to exist through the difficult time and ignores the future.
GETTING THE RAISE: Hopefully your company has a formal salary system and will recognize you in 6 to 12 months with a raise. You may get an increase automatically. If you attempt to get the raise on your own - after employment of 15 to 18 months at the same salary - be careful. You could be looking for another job again.
Consider why the company would want to give you a raise. Your financial needs are important but company needs should be strongly considered. Have you had a large increase in job duties? Is your responsibility and authority greater now than initially? What are you doing now compared to some months ago? What abilities do you use in your work? How necessary is your job? Develop your position and establish your importance to the company.
To get the raise you need determination and an abrasive personality. Never put the boss in a defensive position or go over his/her head. A feeling of hostility can develop if you think the firm has neglected and treated you unfairly.
Keep a foot or at least a toe in the job market. Make salary requests, even when jobs are readily available. Never make demands. Never threaten to quit, unless you are fully prepared to change jobs. Depending upon your relationship with the boss, as well as company needs, you could quickly become unemployed.
A FINAL THOUGHT: Job security does not exist. A person makes his/her own security by the quality and quantity of work done. A financial cushion of savings really helps.
Government action on new laws and different applications of old laws can greatly affect the future of an organization. Any ONE of these events could alter your status as an employed person. KEEP THIS GUIDE - sometime in the future you may need it. File this guide, letters, and resumes where you can later find them.
