If you’ve ever been let go from a job — and even if you haven’t — chances are you’re acutely aware of potential red flags of job insecurity.
[See: The 8 Stages of a Winning Job Search.]
In a recent poll conducted by job-search site Monster, workers were asked which of the following gives them the greatest sense of job security: a good relationship with their manager, regular salary increases (once a year or more frequently), consistent opportunities for growth (as in promotions) and their company being in good financial standing.
While the majority (43 percent) of respondents in the U.S. selected opportunities for growth, all four characteristics of a job are important when it comes to signifying job security. Here’s why.
A good relationship with your manager. If your manager gets to determine who should be laid off when there are budget cuts and head counts get slashed, you better be in good standing with them — otherwise, look out. Even if you work for a manager who doesn’t know what you do on a daily basis, or with whom you don’t have a significant amount of face time because you or they work remotely, you need to be in good standing with this person.
At the very minimum, schedule quarterly calls or meetings with your manager to periodically check in. Outline for them your accomplishments; if there’s a problem you need guidance in solving, present your proposed solution and get feedback. Create an ongoing dialogue, even if your boss makes it challenging to do so.
If you’re looking for a new job, the last thing you want to do is accept a job offer knowing you’ll work for a difficult boss. During the interview stages, keep an eye out for a boss with whom you’d clash. Let him or her know how you prefer to be managed in order to achieve all the goals you set for yourself.
And if you interview with the boss’s direct reports, ask questions about the boss, such as what his or her preferred style of management is. While their answers will likely be in favor of their boss, closely watch their body language. Do they look you in the eye? Do they squirm? Do they seem authentic?
[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]
Regular salary increases. When was the last time you got a raise? Do you expect one this year? Don’t let this one slide. It’s easy to get into a routine of hearing from your boss that your company didn’t do so well, so “this year” they have to bypass salary increases — but you should still keep up the great work!
Pause. Breathe. Regroup. This is a red flag that your job security is waning and you should look externally for a new opportunity. As you explore new roles and interview for new positions, ask your prospective boss (as well as the recruiter) when the last time the team received a salary bump was and how frequently increases occur. In addition, ask what the average percentage of increases was last year and if your bonus-eligible position did indeed get paid a bonus.
Consistent opportunities for growth. Having insight about your growth within the company is essential to job security. Take stock of your current employment situation. How long have you been in your position? Assuming you want to advance to the next level, is there room to do so? If you’re in management and there are fewer directors than managers, what are the opportunities to get promoted — other than waiting around for someone to leave the organization?
Hopefully you’ve been given the opportunity for at least a few advances along the way, even if a larger promotion isn’t possible at the moment. Speak with your boss about timelines and outline a plan that gives you definitive goals to meet in order to secure a promotion. Identify the skills and experiences you’ll gain as you hit these goals so you’re positioned to move up when the opportunity comes along.
Job seekers, as you’re interviewing externally and keeping job security on the top of your mind, ask your potential employers about a specific path to advance within the company ranks. What are the opportunities for promotion? How is performance evaluated? Explain that you’re pursuing opportunities right now for growth and you want to know how the particular department is evolving.
Yes, it may feel a bit awkward to be that blunt, but you really have to. If you were inevitably let go, your employer would be direct, as well.
[See: 10 Things They Don’t Tell You About Your First Job.]
Your company being in good financial standing. It makes complete sense why this is a factor for job security. When your company starts imploding — whether quickly or slowly — your job security, in turn, will start declining, as well. Even if the rumor mill hasn’t started churning, do your due diligence: Set up Google alerts on your company to see how it’s doing compared to the industry as a whole.
As you interview externally, you want to determine if the company is a right fit for you — a business in good financial standing is definitely a significant determining factor. Ask questions about expansion, turnover and more.
Always keep an eye on external opportunities. It keeps your interviewing skills sharp, allows you to know your worth and prevents you from being in an anxious situation having zero job security and needing a new job ASAP.
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4 Job Security Factors to Keep Top of Mind originally appeared on usnews.com
