All jobs are temporary today, so the chances that you will be terminated are high. Be sensitive to this fact. Some terminations come out of the blue, and are a complete surprise. With others, you can be sensitive to things happening in your work environment weeks or even months before the termination day occurs.
Here are some things to watch:
If you’re given reduced responsibilities or other changes to your job, this could be an area for concern. It may be the company’s way of making you less essential as they prepare for a change.
Performance reviews may also be a sign of impending changes to your employment scope. However, a single bad performance review doesn’t necessarily reflect an impending termination.
When your performance reviews start to slip, but you firmly believe that there are misnomers to the indications outlined by your manager, the writing could be on the wall. They may be setting you up for change and dismissal.
It’s when you’re put on a performance improvement plan that the red flags and alarm bells should really start to go off for you.
If your internal relationships with your boss and your peers change, and you are ignored in some of the department’s key initiatives, this would also indicate to me that your days could be numbered.
However, you are still in charge of your career. You need to embrace these concerns and discuss them openly, but don’t broadcast your concerns about your tenure across the business.
Open up conversation within a limited setting with someone you trust in your work environment, possibly your boss or a representative from the human resources department. You may also choose to discuss this externally with a career coach.
Being downsized, terminated or canned is not an illness. It’s a fact of business life. If you feel your tenure at your employer is slipping, be proactive and take charge of your career now.
Update your resume, start networking, and look for opportunities, as there is a place in today’s global economy for everyone. Don’t let what you perceive as a negative opinion of you drag you down. Try to maintain your poise, excitement and engagement during your work hours, and remain positive about your career advancement.
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