HOW TO KEEP YOUR JOB AFTER COVID

BARRY COHEN

SO, YOU’VE BEEN HIRED—NOW WHAT? STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE ABOUT NEW EMPLOYEES WHO PERFORM EXCEPTIONALLY WELL ON THE JOB. THE STUDIES SHOWED THAT PEOPLE WHO MAINTAIN THEIR JOBS AND GET SALARY INCREASES AREN’T JUST ORDINARY PEOPLE—THEY ARE EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE.

How you perform on the job and your overall attitude, rather than your skill level, usually have an impact on whether you get promoted or get let go.

Understand that your hiring was not a mistake and that your qualifications are valued and in demand by your company. However, if you’ve been working from home for a significant amount of time, there might be a reluctance on your part to return to your office in light of COVID. Realize that your employer might ask you to return to the office to continue your duties for the organization to go on and prosper. This is the time for you to negotiate a favorable outcome that satisfies both of you. If you dig your heels in the sand and refuse to return, you may be signing your own termination and appear to be a disgruntled employee which no one wants.

You can offer to work virtually from home several days per week, checking in daily. Offer to “meet” with customers or your employer by Zoom to maintain your relationship. Give yourself a quota and establish a goal that you want to achieve each week, with your employer. If you insist on not returning to the office, you can be charged with job abandonment and terminated at will.

It is important that you show your willingness and respect in meeting your employer’s agenda. Make sure you have your COVID vaccine and booster shots up to date with proof. If getting the shots is against your personal agenda, stress the fact that you would happily work from home at the employer’s schedule and seek a compromise which satisfies your employer and you.

Following are skills that you can put into practice each day when you start a job.

Learn All You Can About The Company. Investigate the company who hired you. How long have they been in business? Who founded the company and why? What is their vision? What are their short and long term goals? Having such information is helpful if you ever have to use it in front of company executives. If shows you have an interest in the company.

Be Friendly. Try to meet someone new each day. Getting to know new people helps you understand the job titles and responsibilities of your coworkers just in case you might need them at a later date. Remember, it’s not who you know, but who knows you. In addition, develop the habit of speaking to coworkers before they speak to you. This builds a friendly image.

Arrive Early. Just being on time isn’t good enough. If you want to be recognized as an outstanding worker, show up 15 minutes early each day, if possible. This will give you preparation time and will give your boss the impression that you are an outstanding worker. Bill Parcells, the Hall-of-Fame coach said, “Showing up 15 minutes before you have to is being on time.”

Don’t Take Time Off, Unless You Absolutely Must. Employers are looking for people they can rely on. If you are perceived as loyal and dependable, you will be singled out for special projects. Then, when and if you need time off for special emergencies, management will likely be willing to accommodate you.

Have A Positive Attitude. It’s important to have a positive attitude. If someone asks you how you feel, always reply “I feel great!” or “I’m outstanding!” A person with a positive attitude can do almost anything. If you are in a “funk,” “fake it until you make it.”

Learn About Other Jobs. Learn about other department’s, and the duties of other employees. Find out about pay scales and necessary qualifications. This will give you a better opportunity to find out if there’s another job you might want in the future and what you need to do to get it.

Observe People Who Are Successful At The Job You Want & Copy Their Behavior. Ask the person who has the job you want to teach you what you need to know about what he/she does (without becoming threatening or offensive). Prepare yourself, so when that person is sick or on vacation, you can volunteer to do his work while he is away.

Always Do A Little More Than What Is Asked Of You. Try to do work before you are asked. Approach your direct supervisor asking if there is anything you can help him/her with. This is effective, especially if you have down time. You will be perceived as an excellent worker. Also, when you finish a task, ask if there’s anything else you can do. Time passes faster when you are busy.

Learn All About Your Supervisor. Have conversations with your boss. Ask questions, him/her how he got started in this line of work, and what his first position in the company was. Be likeable.

Be Motivated & Energetic. Get rest at home, so you have lots of energy at work and you’re not dragging yourself around. Highly motivated and energized people are always prime candidates for promotions.

Volunteer For Overtime When Given The Opportunity. Volunteering for overtime not only means more money for you, but it also helps the organization. Stay away from coworkers who are negative. Volunteering shows that you are willing to go the extra mile.

Respect Yourself & Others. Set some rules and guidelines that you plan to live by and follow those rules. Treat yourself well and others will treat you well. If you are abusive and use foul language when others are around, they will feel comfortable to use abusive language around you as well.

Learn How To Ask For Help. If you aren’t completely sure about an assignment you are given, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. It takes courage to admit you don’t know something, rather than going ahead and risking damaging or delaying the assignment.

Ask People To Teach You New Jobs. Learn other jobs, but only on your own time. Learn as much as you can—this is called cross training. Today, organizations want individuals who can function at more than one position, and the individuals are much more likely to get promotions.

Never Give Up Or Quit. Never, ever quit—even if you’re having difficulties at work, either with the work itself or with your coworkers. Never bring troubles from home with you to the office. If things aren’t going well at work, find a solution. A winner never quits and a quitter never wins. (Unless, of course, they’re quitting smoking.)

Do Not Listen To Or Repeat Office Gossip. Stay away from people who engage in gossip. You can’t throw mud at someone without getting some on yourself.

Be Honest. If you can’t do something, admit it. Never take anything from the job without permission (this can lead to dismissal). If you get an hour for lunch, just take the hour or less—never more.

Be Happy. Even if things aren’t great at work, be happy. Things don’t make you happy—since happiness is a state of mind. It’s important to appear happy, because people are generally attracted to happy people and those with a good sense of humor.

Smile. When you smile, you look happy and approachable. It takes 7 muscles in your face to smile—and 36 to frown, so there’s no reason not to smile.

Be Trustworthy. When your manager trusts you, it means he/she has confidence in you and can confide in you. One of the first traits a manager looks for in a new hire is trustworthiness. If you violate a person’s trust, it is difficult to earn it back—like trying to piece together a broken crystal vase.

Never Borrow From Others On The Job. Never borrow anything—especially money—from a coworker. You’ll get a negative reputation.

Take Care Of Your Personal Appearance & Hygiene. Always show up clean and neat. Even if your clothing is not the latest style, you must always look presentable. Never go to work without bathing or with stained clothing.

Find Ways To Improve The Job. Keep in mind that there is always a better way to complete a job that might save time and money. Find that way.

Give Input When Asked. If asked for your opinion, offer good, polite and constructive criticism. Don’t give advice when it’s not requested.

Do Not Speak Badly About Anyone. Never put anyone down on the job. This is a form of harassment. It’s fine to praise someone, however.

Never Drink Alcohol Or Take Drugs On The Job. It is never ok to drink or do illegal drugs when you’re working. Even if your employer asks to lunch and tells you it’s fine to order an alcoholic drink, order a Perrier, instead. You want all of your wits about you.

Learn How To Listen. Developing listening skills is very important no matter what you do for a living. All successful people know how to listen and laser in on what is being said. They say that President Clinton made each person he met feel important by looking them in the eye and concentrating on what they were saying to him. Learn how to block out everything around you when it comes to listening—especially when you’re receiving important instructions.

Barry Cohen is ranked by Google among “The Top 5 Career Counselors in New York City” and is credited for having successfully transitioned more than 10,000 job hunters into new and more rewarding positions.