As the economy takes a nosedive, the number of layoffs continues to rise across industries. Some 2.6 million jobs were lost in 2008. The national unemployment rate jumped to 7.2% in December, the highest since January 1993, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. Since the start of the recession in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons has grown by 3.6 million.
It’s more important than ever to make sure your manager knows how you are contributing to the company’s bottom line. For young professional women, who sometimes fail to sing their own praises or point out their contributions, that can be particularly challenging.
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Getty Images“Then there’s the stereotype around young women that they don’t need the job as much as someone else needs it,” because they are not as valuable to the company or may not have a family to support, says Simma Lieberman, a workplace consultant in Albany, Calif.
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While young women may be inclined to just work hard and keep their heads down, thinking strategically and asserting yourself may be more important to bullet-proof your job.
Be Strategically Visible
Companies have more work to do and fewer people to do it, providing you an opportunity to volunteer for projects or offer to help beyond your regular duties. Your employers will see you as relevant and essential to the company. It will also show leadership skills. “It’s much easier to fire someone you don’t know very well,” Ms. Lieberman says.
But pick projects and tasks strategically, Ms. Lieberman says. “It’s not just that [your bosses] see you, but how they see you,” she says. For example, volunteer for important tasks that make you valuable to your immediate team and the company as a whole, such as creating a company blog or gaining a new client, not just “organizing the company potluck,” she says.
Look for a project that would put you in constant contact with mid-level or senior management. For example, if you report to a senior leader about your progress on a project, say, once a week, your extra effort and results will be highly visible.
Promote Yourself
It’s part of your job to show your boss how valuable you are to the company. Many young women tend to shy away or downplay their successes, where men find it more natural to promote themselves, says Wendy Alfus-Rothman, president of business psychology firm Wenroth Consulting, Inc. in New York. By contrast, women tend to “hint and assume that if they do a good job other people will notice,” she says.
Begin thinking of your work as noteworthy accomplishments and become your own advocate. “Anything you do, you have to be able to market it,” Ms. Lieberman says. For example, if you have completed a project with positive results, send an email to your boss, team members and management detailing the outcome of the project. Make sure to mention what the results mean to the company: Can they translate into a reduction in costs, boost in sales or further the mission of the company?
Women are also less likely than men to take risks in the workplace, Ms. Alfus-Rothman says, but “in this market, you need to be able to change goals, shift fluidly and take risks with gusto.”
Stay Positive and Proactive
In times of stress women tend to share what is bothering them with coworkers, while men tend to keep it to themselves, Ms. Lieberman says. Airing your worries can be a bonding activity between coworkers, but it can also backfire dangerously: Portraying you as unsure, insecure and unable to help a company under stress. It can also come across as whiny and even lazy, because spending time complaining takes away from the time you can spend doing your work, she says. If you are weary about the economy, discuss your fears with a confidant or mentor outside of the office.
A positive attitude on the job will set you apart from complaining coworkers, who will seem like they are not “bringing their all to work, ” Ms. Alfus-Rothman says. “Managers who have to choose between two people that are both competent,” most likely will “pick the person who is (lower) maintenance, has a better attitude and has great people skills.”
To maintain your calm, take proactive steps to learn about what is happening within your company and your industry as a whole. Pay attention to what could impact your job or industry in the future, by joining professional associations and industry-focused networking groups.
“In this market, people tend to withdraw and stay under the radar,” but now is actually the best time to “expand your universe,” Ms. Alfus-Rothman says.
Consider signing up for continuing education classes or certifications in your field to not only demonstrate the value you bring to your own firm but also to stay prepared if you do, in fact, get laid off.
“Even if you have a job, continue creating opportunities for yourself” by making new contacts and expanding your knowledge base, Ms. Alfus-Rothman says.
Write to Shelly Banjo at shelly.banjo@wsj.com
