How to Gauge Your Job Security
It is hard going to work unsure if your job is secure, as most people really do live from paycheck to paycheck. If you are about to get the boot, it is always nice to have some indication prior to it happening — this way you can at least be somewhat psychologically prepared. The following are a few good ways to tell just how solid your spot is at your workplace.
Does your boss know your name?
It is always a good sign if your boss actually knows your name, because it shows that you are at least important enough to them to remember who you are. If your boss constantly looks at you as though it is the first time you have met, keep half an eye out for other jobs, because when cuts need to be made, you are much more likely to be cut if the boss has no idea who you are.
Ask for a raise
If you are feeling pretty good about your job security and want to put it to the test, ask your boss for a raise in pay. You should be able to get a pretty good sense of your job security from your boss’s reaction to your question.
Ask a co-worker
It can sometimes be hard to get a clear perspective on how you are viewed by others at your workplace, but if you really want to know, approach your closest co-worker and ask them to go for a drink with you. When you are out of the workplace together, ask them what they think your job security is like at your current workplace, as they may have heard something or been privy to a private conversation relating to you.
Ask for time off
The way that your boss reacts to your time off request will often say a lot about how valuable you are to the business. Be careful asking for too much time off though, because if they get used to living without you it will make you far easier to replace.
See if you get the special invites
There are always a few people at a workplace who seem to have the ear of the boss just a little more than everyone else, and these are also the same people who manage to score tickets to the company’s corporate box and other such bonuses. If you are someone who has managed to make it into one of these elite inner circles, and regularly get invited to that game of golf with the boss or for drinks after work, don’t worry — at least for now, your job is secure.
Does your boss ever talks about your future at the company?
If your boss never makes comments about your role with the company moving forward, or tasks you may be working on next year, be concerned, as you may not be part of his or her plans. As a test, ask your boss a straight question regarding what you might be doing for the company this time next year; your boss’s reaction will tell you a lot.
If you aren’t feeling on terribly solid ground at your work, it is a good idea to come up with an income protection plan. If your company downsizes and your position disappears, income protection insurance may help cover you, though only if you don’t get fired for some other reason.
