HOW TO AVOID BEING LAID OFF

***FIVE WAYS TO AVOID BEING LAID OFF***

Just because you're not the most senior person at work DOESN'T mean you have to be the first to go when people start getting laid off. Here are five things you can do that will make you look a lot more valuable to your employer . . .

#1.) GO IN EARLY ONCE A WEEK. Get there before the boss does. If you can, get there before ANYONE does. It doesn't have to be the same day each week, and it doesn't have to be by much, but a little extra effort can go a long way.

#2.) STAY LATE ONCE A WEEK. Later than your boss, and later than everyone else too. Again, it's all about putting forth extra effort and making sure people notice. Stay on the office radar, and show them that you're a dedicated employee.

#3.) LOOK BUSY. If you have a desk job, it's not hard. Just don't get caught playing around on Facebook. If you're NOT at a desk job, then make sure you look like you have plenty to do, even it that means refolding the t-shirt display a million times a day.

#4.) BE BUSY. Take on extra work if you can. A few months ago, you might have thought to yourself, "Well, they don't pay me enough to do that." But when people start getting laid off, you need to be thankful that you're still getting paid at all.

#5.) EXPAND YOUR SKILL SET. Find something that isn't part of your job duties, and add it. You'll show your boss that you have skills above and beyond the ones he hired you for. And you'll look a lot better than your co-workers who are slacking off. --Remember, you're essentially competing for the job you already have. So act like it. (Yahoo.com)