When ‘keeping their jobs’ is a critical need for financially strapped college students with part-time, co-op, and summer jobs, there are things they can do to improve their chances for continued employment. Working students who are concerned about job security should:
1. Get a good understanding of the basics of your jobs.
has. Understand exactly ‘what’ needs to be done and ‘how’ to do it
b. Identify the people they serve: Supervisors, Internal and External Customers
con Become an expert in the technical and most difficult aspects of your jobs.
d. Strive to improve your relationship with co-workers and customers.
me. Learn what your customers want and how they want it
F. Know the no-nos that end up at work and should be avoided
gram. Identify the people above them with the most influence over their future
H. Be willing to make some sacrifices for your employers.
I. Understand your supervisor’s needs, wants, quirks, and hot spots
d. Make everyone around you look good
2. Do the job to the best of your ability (be an asset to the employer)
has. Meet or exceed quality requirements
b. Meet or exceed the expected amount or volume
Against Meeting or exceeding the level of service customers need and expect
d. Anticipate problems and suggest solutions or ways to prevent them.
me. Communicate effectively. Keep people informed. Warn them of problems
F. Comply with time and punctuality requirements
gram. Stay positive and willing to try.
H. Help others when they need it
I. Improve the image and reputation of the employer
3. To impress others with your work ethic and willingness to contribute, student employees should ask these questions, when applicable.
has. Whats Next?
b. What else can I do?
against How can I help?
d. How can I do this aspect of the job better?
me. How can I better serve my customers?
F. How can I learn more about it?
gram. Who has the information I need?
4. Serve your internal and external customers
has. Identify your primary and secondary customers.
b. Know the preferences, needs, desires and expectations of each client
against Knows the idiosyncrasies of each client
d. Give customers more, better, faster, when and where they want it
5. Generate ideas for:
has. Improve the quality and speed of products and services
b. New products and services
against attracting new customers
d. Improve profit margins
me. Increased sales
6. Build good relationships with other employees and other departments.
has. Exchange compliments with everyone. Be nice and smile.
b. Listen and learn from the best employees
against Being there when others need help
d. Be willing to share information.
me. offer encouragement
F. Learn who can and cannot be trusted
7. Accept the fact that there are things beyond personal control.
has. Regardless of job performance and likeability, bad things
sometimes it happens to employees, through no fault of their own
b. Create a backup plan that can be implemented if something
What happens to your job stability?
8. The backup plan to find another job should include these actions:
has. Get written references and recommendations from the most
awesome people they have worked with
b. Ask these same people for ideas, suggestions, and contacts that
can help them get useful job search information
against Visit the Office of Career Services
d. Talk to the Professors to see if they have contacts and suggestions
me. Update your summary: emphasize contributions, achievements,
successes and areas of exceptional performance
F. Identify and contact each employer of interest to you.
gram. Identify and participate in Professional and Local Associations
business organizations
H. Make a list of potential networking contacts. use your network to
identify employment opportunities and additional contacts.
I. Develop some positive work-related examples and stories that can
used during networking meetings and interviews
d. Create and follow a script when talking to network contacts
k. Be flexible about the new job you accept. In tough times, jobs are few
Recognize that employed students need to perform well before things turn drastically sour for their current employers. They should do everything possible to be an employee that their employer wants to keep. Exceptional job performance will sometimes positively affect tough decisions struggling employers may have to make. However, when keeping the current job isn’t possible or doesn’t seem possible, wise students take the first steps that will put them in the best position to get another job.