Step 13: Maintaining Employment

Congratulations, all of your hard work has paid off. You prepared an effective résumé and cover letter, wowed your employers in the interview, negotiated your job offer and now you are working. Great! But don't sit back and put your feet up now; there is still work to be done.

What can you do to maintain your job in the long run?
For some people maintaining employment may be every bit as difficult as securing the position in the first place. Perhaps your ideal job isn't all you thought it was going to be. Maybe there is a personality conflict with a co-worker or your employer. What are you going to do now?

First of all, give yourself some time to adjust to your new environment. Having a new member of staff join the team is stressful for both you and the team you are joining. Sometimes existing staff members see the new person as a bit of a burden, someone they will have to spend a lot of time with training. The best thing you can do for yourself when you start a new job is be positive, recognize that it is going to take some time to get used to the people you are working with and the way they like to do things. There is a learning curve associated with starting a new job; thinking that you can walk into a new job and pick everything up will only add stress to an already stressful situation.

Give yourself at least two working weeks to get a good impression of the job. In the first few weeks you are there try to be the most positive person you can be, demonstrate your dedication and willingness to learn. Ask a lot of questions.

Whether it is your first few weeks of employment, or many years later, maintaining your job should always be on your mind. It is dangerous to get comfortable and feel secure in today's unstable and constantly changing world of work. Proving your worth to your employer should be as much an issue when you have been there for five years as it was when you first started.

What can you do to maintain your job in the long run?

• Be creative and make suggestions. If you have good ideas that you think could benefit the company, share them. Even if they don't act on your suggestions, employers appreciate employees that are thinking of the company needs.
• Be a team player, try to get along with co-workers, listen and respect other people's ideas.
• Dedicate yourself to staying current in your field, take advantage of upgrading and professional development opportunities.
• Be open to working overtime, weekends and evenings on occasion. It will demonstrate your flexibility and team attitude to your employer.
• Remain open minded in times of conflict, participate in discussions to resolve problems in the workplace.

Resources

Job Bank Sites

Community Links

Recommended Reading

Glossary of Terms