Lay-offs can occur with or without a bad economy. Management consider several factors when deciding which employees should have to be let go – age, experience, and job performance are some. If you feel that a lay-off would be inevitable in the company for which you are working, here are some suggestions on how you can step up and avoid getting the dreaded “we regret to inform you” letter.

Be visible. Dress for success. Nothing can make people have a second look at you than a good make-over. Press those suits and polish those shoes. If you’ve been the shy one, who’s been slinking in and out of rooms during meetings, then it is high time that you march in proudly. Make your voice
heard. Contribute but make sure that your ideas are relevant to the discussion. Don’t be loud for being loud’s sake. Make yourself count.

Be proactive. Remember the time when you were new at the job and trying your best at everything you do? Then renew that vigor. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been at the company for x number of years, use your experience to do better at your job. Go to your supervisor and ask how you can grow further in the company. They’ll appreciate your enthusiasm.

Be productive. If you have developed some bad habit while at work (i.e. surfing the Internet for cute pictures of cats, etc.), then better clean up your act and start focusing on the work at hand. You’ll be surprised at how much your boss actually knows about your activities at work.