Fireproof: How to Avoid Getting Burned by a Job Loss

The only thing an employee fears more than getting laid off is getting fired. Executing a strategic career management plan is the best insurance available to protect you from being involuntarily terminated. Unfortunately, not all employees who are fired deserve it, just as there are workers that are laid off who should have been fired.

Typically, there are two types of involuntary terminations, one covering personal misconduct or ethical violations, and another for poor job performance or absenteeism. The antidote for protecting yourself against being fired for personal misconduct or ethical violations is simple - don’t engage in that kind of behavior in the first place. The same goes for absenteeism. It can get a little stickier for an employee accused of being a poor performer, and we can hope there were clear measures in place to gauge quality of performance.

Terminated for cause is another expression used when a company fires an employee. After my experience in corporate America, I think there is a third type - although not openly admitted - termination without cause. Often a company will veil the firing under the guise of the above reasons. When in reality, the root cause is politics, jealousy, revenge, or nepotism. Fortunately, there are tactics you can deploy to prevent becoming a target.

Here are some career management guidelines:

• Make yourself indispensable to your company. Have a hard to find talent or hold expertise necessary to the company’s growth. Cross-train in other departments.
• Request periodic reviews. Don’t just rely on an annual review for feedback on your performance. There is no excuse for being surprised with a bad appraisal.
• Stay ahead of the knowledge curve. Sign up for classes, learn new industry processes, and keep up with technology. Obtain a degree if you don’t have one.
• Don’t gossip or complain about your boss or co-workers. Even if your co-workers encourage it, don’t engage them.
• Volunteer and perform well on high-profile projects. This can attract the attention of managers outside your department, which can increase the odds of an inter-departmental transfer if problems arise.
• Document all your successes. The more evidence you gather the better, not only as proof you are excelling in your job, but as ammunition if neccessary.
• Become your boss’s ally, not a threat. If you are showing your manager up, even if it’s legitimate or easy to do, you may have to back off if it causes tension.
• Establish a relationship with at least two mentors. One inside the company, the other outside. Offer to be a mentor also. Your next boss may be someone you influenced on their way up who will remember.
• Be cognizant of warning signs. If there is a sudden coolness from your boss, Board Members aren’t returning your calls, and you are excluded from key meetings, it’s not an oversight.

You can reduce the odds of being fired, whether for cause or not, if you manage your career in a proactive way. If you are engaged in monitoring your performance and vigilant in reading the warning signs, you will be positioned to take corrective action, or do your best to move out of the firing line.

August Cohen is a distinguished Raleigh-based resume writer and career consultant that holds the prestigious Certified Advanced Resume Writer, Nationally Certified Resume Writer, and Certified Professional Resume Writer credentials. She has recently been honored with 3 “Toast of the Resume Industry” award nominations for best executive resume, best cover letter, and best new graduate resume. August leverages the talents she acquired in her successful corporate career to assist professionals with high-impact resumes, confident interviews, and effective job search strategies.
 

Community Contributors - Career Advice by August Cohen