Here’s an excerpt from an email I received last week which highlights some of the areas you can concentrate on in your job environment to help you stay employed. I’m not sure who the author is, but I’m sure you’ll appreciate the tips he/she presented.

Come up with ways to cut costs. See areas of waste at your company? Point out practical ways to improve efficiency and cut costs in the workplace. Obviously, now is not the time to ask for a raise. Bonus: If you can see a potential new revenue stream that requires a low (or better yet, no) cost investment, get that going. Someone who is innovative at stretching resources is more valuable than someone who does nothing more than consume them.

Boost your visibility. You want to be noticed in a positive way. Make sure you are on time to work, and that you limit your vacation time. Also, if you are making solid contributions, make sure that they are noticed. You don’t have to be obnoxious about it, but you should make sure that your boss is aware of what you add to the company. You want to be known. The first people fired are those with a negative impression. The next to go are those that are unnoticed and therefore expendable.

Go beyond. Look for ways to go beyond what you’ve been told to do. Volunteer for additional tasks. But be careful! Don’t volunteer for more than you can handle. You want to be known as a go-getter who gets the job done well.

I especially like this one…

Improve your skill set. Are your skills obsolete? Take extra classes to brush up the latest skills. If career improvement seminars are offered at work, attend them. You want to show your employer that you are still viable in the workplace, and that you have the necessary training to continue doing a good job.