Keep your career on track in a subdued economy

Image by graciepoo via Flickr

With the economy still making things tough for job-seekers, and businesses still shedding staff at every turn, now is the time when workers everywhere should be working hard to progress their career goals and prove their worth to their employer. You may feel like sitting tight, keeping your head beneath the parapets and waiting out the economic siege, but its during times of adversity that real talent is tested and true commitment shines through. Standing out for the right reasons during the hard times will not only make your employer want to hold on to you when the chips are down, but will also put you right up on top of the heap in terms of progressing your career when things turn around again

• Embrace change: many workplaces have changed radically in recent times… and the best workers are those who can adapt readily to those changes. A lot of businesses are having to do more with fewer resources. If you’re open to new ways of working, learning new skills and taking on more responsibility, you’ll be well positioned to progress your career when things improve.
• Explore new opportunities: just because times are tough it doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities out there… changes in your organisations structure, client base or work processes can give you the chance to change roles, retrain to learn a new skill, volunteer to lead a project, implement a new cost-saving idea… or whatever. Keep a look out for any opportunity that will have a positve impact on your career.

• Keep your workload manageable: while we all need to be adaptable and open to new opportunities during the downturn, it’s important to stay aware of your workload and not take on too much. Overcommitting yourself leads to stress, burn-out and lack-lustre performance, and that can only have a negative affect on your career. Manage your workload carefully and don’t over-commit.
• Stay calm under pressure: it can be hard to keep your cool when layoffs and cuts are on the cards. Worrying about your job, your colleagues and the business you work for when times are tough is perfectly understabndable, but try not to get too pre-occupied with what might happen. Keep calm, assess the situation rationally and take action as appropriate, but avoid letting the distraction of pointless speculation cloud your judgement and affect your work.
• Keep up-to-date: the more up-to-date you are with all of the software, systems and processes your company uses, the more indespensible you become to your current employer. It’s also worth remembering that possessing current skills will make you a much more marketable commodity if the worst does happen and you find yourself looking for a new job. With more skills at your disposal you’re likely to find a better job more quickly. Many company’s are taking advantages of the downturn to re-train and cross-train staff… if you get the chance, never knock back the chance to progress your professional development.

Nobody knows how long the economic downturn will last, or how long it will take the job market to recover, but if you stay proactive, keep looking for the right opportunities and show that you’re someone to depend on in a crisis you’re much more likely to weather the storm, and to pave the way for continued career success when conditions improve.

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