10 SIGNS THAT YOUR JOB IS IN DANGER

Here are 10 signs that your job is in danger:

1. You’ve applied for a job higher up and been turned down.

2. Your company has had a recent acquisition or merger.

3. You come from the divisions that aren’t the fast promotion ones (where the top execs come from).

4. You’re bored. The job just doesn’t feel fun.

5. You’re more easily irritated by minor problems at work.

6. Your last evaluation was lukewarm.

7. You’re having conflicts with people who are important to political survival in your company.

8. Your organization is changing its culture or type of business.

9. You have an intuitive sense that you are being left out of things.

10. You don’t have as much rapport with people who control your career.

What To Do

If these signs apply to you, you need to make an effort to get along better and at the same time, discreetly look for your next opportunity. Most new jobs are found by networking. You have to put out the word that you’re interested in new opportunities without causing the problem that you’re trying to avoid–being fired. About as many people find a job by going off and starting their own business when they’re bored with what they’re doing, as finding a job through advertisements. If the main problems at work are boredom and lack of interest, then you’re a candidate for starting your own venture. But most people don’t start until they’re forced to.

5 WAYS TO GET A JOB

If you’re in the job market, here is advice:

1. Focus on the positive. There’s no point in worrying about how hard the competition is or how unlikely it is to be hired.

2. Getting the job itself is harder than doing the job.

3. Never worry about lack of qualifications. You can’t do much about them in the short term, and often motivation and attitude will convince people to hire you.

4. Ask your friends for help. Everyone knows someone who knows some- one, and networking is how most good jobs are obtained.

5. When you’re desperate, offer to work for no salary. It’s a great way to get experience. Most companies won’t take you up on it, but it shows that you’re serious about their job, and it’s hard to resist for some hiring companies.