Keep your job

The Today Show had a segment today about keeping your job during this recession time. Geez, I wish they would have a segment about how hard it is to find a job during the recession. These simple steps seem easy and for those of you out there who aren't willing to try...well, you disappoint me. I've listed the bullet points below and especially like the last one. (If you follow through, I may have a lot of friends coming to me. One thing I've noticed in the work place, when you lose your job, is who your friends really are. It was shocking to me how certain people, who just don't feel comfortable around you anymore, find it hard to say "hi" when they see you outside the workplace now.)

1. Be a good sport-don't be a drama queen and don't complain
2. Don't expect to get a raise-don't offer to take a pay cut, but don't turn one down either
3. Work harder and smarter-re-commit yourself to the job
4. Review your company health plan
5. Update yourself-it's time to learn those new skills
6. Add 20% more to your emergency fund-save your tax refund check
7. Prepare other options-there's no shame being open to other jobs and keeping your resume updated
8. Redirect a portion of your 401k to savings
9. Reconnect with people that have lost their jobs-they can give good advice and perspective



On a sidenote- this brief portion came on to help caution workers about work email. I kept on saying to myself "Who is dumb enough to do that?" because not sending your resume/personal emails from your work account just seems to be common sense, right? Well, they say that half of all businesses scan companies emails. They use software that detects key words because they want to protect company secrets, personal information and monitoring inappropriate contact. Courts are finding that businesses have the rights to do this and an employees' right to privacy just doesn't outweigh that interest. That's it in a nutshell.