Who isn’t frightened by the possibility of unemployment? In these tough times, the last thing anyone with a paying job needs is to be fired, laid off, or be considered “redundant”. If you want to ensure you’ll be the last one your boss would let go even in a worst case scenario, make your boss think you’re crucial to his business! We both know better, but your boss doesn’t. Below are some ways to make your boss cling to you like business cards do to business card cases!
1. Arrive Early
Bosses arrive to work almost at the same time. Make sure you arrive earlier than your boss does. This makes you look keen to start the day. Your boss will remember you as The One who beats the clock every time, and you can justify those extra 15 minutes you won’t be paid for by amusing yourself on Facebook or Twitter, or painting your pocket business card holder hot pink later in the day.
2. Make a Habit Out of Saying “Good Morning!”
Do this in the most cheerful voice you can muster. Even though you’re grumpy, knackered, or hung over, calling out “Good morning!” with a huge smile on your face will put you in your boss’s good books straight away!
3. Volunteer Smartly
It’s suicide to put your hand up for every project that comes up, so volunteer with cunning. In other words, pick out the task that requires the least effort but generates the highest visibility.
4. Leave a Trail
An email trail, that is. Whether you’re working at home or in the office, make sure your boss receives at least one of the first emails you send out in the morning and the last email you send out at night. Who would know that you actually sent that first email while still in your jammies?
5. Say “Thank You”
Bosses often feel unappreciated, so make it a point to say “thanks” even if all you got was a word of unwelcome advice, instead of a salary raise. Grateful people make the best employees because for the price of a regular staff, your boss gets a cheerleader, too!
Whether you’re after a promotion or simply want to stay on in your job, making your boss think you’re indispensable is one way to guarantee you won’t have to change the company name and job description on the spanking brand new business cards inside your silver business card case
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