How to be Last in Line for a Layoff and First in Line for a Promotion. iCapitalMarketing.com Career and Success Blog.

Promotion: First in Line. Layoff: Last in Line.

If you have a job, which 140,000,000 plus people currently do (so stay positive) according to the BLS, you may ask what you can do to keep it or what you can do to get ahead. The mindset that works best when working for a company is to have the exact same mentality as if you were 100% self-employed. Consider yourself a business, an entity, even though you are just a business of one.

Think and act like a businessman. You are trading your services (skills, education and experience) to a company in exchange for a payment. You never work for a company. You work for you. If you want to continue to have as your client the current company you are offering your services to, then you must continue to offer value, which may mean you need to regularly increase your value by developing new skills. Many people, mostly with the employer/employee mentality, and who are probably not reading this, do many things to sabotage their relationship with a company. Think, talk, and act like a businessman who is offering a valuable service, and progress and success is guaranteed.

Of course the decision is yours, but fighting the "man", not getting along with co-workers, and not doing what it takes to increase your position and income seems a little silly being that you are usually investing a significant amount of your time and life at a particular company. Just doing some little things can lead to a better position, or put you last on the list if there is a cutback. Here is what comes to mind. Feel free to add your ideas or thoughts below.

1. Be very helpful and nice to new hires. It will get back to the people up top.

2. Always be positive in your interactions with co-workers. Do not complain or be negative.

3. Make friends and hang around with the people who are thought to be the leaders.

4. Have an opinion, but do not overdo it. Keep discussions like your political views to a minimum.

5. Get in earlier than your boss, at least once in a while. Stay later than your boss, at least once in a while.

6. Volunteer to take on an additional task or more work. You have time.

7. Comfortable or not, force yourself to speak in front of others in meetings. If nothing else, just ask a decent question. This is critical for success.

8. Do not be defensive or make excuses. If you are getting less than desirable or unwanted feedback, take it. You will survive.

9. Be pleasant, likable and optimistic. Be a good listener and show an interest in others by asking questions versus speaking all of the time. The more you try to impress others, the less impressive you are.

10. You do not have to participate in all of them, although you probably should, but do participate in company events and activities, off site and on site. Do not skip, the sometimes weekly, birthday celebrations.

11. Do your job well, get your work done quickly, and take ownership if you make a mistake.

12. Do not take mini-vacations with others throughout the day. You are always being observed.

13. Do not over do it on casual day. Staying casually sharp is better.

14. Never call in sick on Fridays. Monday too if you can avoid it.

15. And the number one thing you can do to win friends and influence people at work...

Bring in donuts or bagels once in a while, and spring for the flavored cream cheese!

Article written and provided by iCapitalMarketing .com, a blog targeting the three interrelated components required for career, business, and financial success; Preparation, Hard Work, and Emotional Intelligence. The opportunity to thrive is limitless. Keep improving and increasing your value in the marketplace.

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