It is no secret that in today’s economy finding a job or keeping the job that you have is becoming increasingly more difficult. Employers are cutting back on jobs making it tough for someone out of work to find another decent paying job. How can workers protect their jobs in this economic climate?
Typically, when jobs are being cut, the first jobs that are eliminated are the unskilled, uneducated positions. Why is it this way? Employers are more concerned with the highly skilled employee because, quite honestly, they are the most valuable. Unskilled workers are the easiest ones to replace and, if the employer does need to fill open positions, the unskilled/untrained jobs are the quickest, fastest, and easiest to fill.
How does an employee protect themselves from job cuts? How does an unemployed worker prove to a potential employer that they are the applicant that the company could not do without? The answer to these two questions is the same; a worker needs to prove to the company that they are so valuable so, so indispensable that there is no way that the company could survive without them.
So how does a worker make themselves so valuable that employers can’t live without them? They acquire training, education, and skills that employers are looking for. In order to do that, employees are going to need to further their education. Many employees aren’t willing to take the time or effort to do that but, for those who are, it will, without a doubt, pay dividends many times over.
Virtually every study shows that employees furthering their education will make much more money over the course of their careers than those who don’t. However, any further education plans must be carefully calculated and mapped out in order to receive the most benefit. Check the occupational field that interests you, review the qualifications, and then go out and become the best qualified person for that position.
In order to illustrate this point, here are a couple of examples.
An apprentice electrician is looking to further their education, so they have decided to train to become a journeyman electrician. This will require passing a test, going to school and obtaining a license, but, in the long run, this will greatly improve their status with the company. Since apprentices can start work without any skills or experience, they can easily be replaced. On the other hand, since most jobs require that a journeyman oversee each site, they are much more valuable to a company and are less likely to be laid off.
An accountant is working for a firm where there are many other accountants and is concerned that there will be a lay off. Noticing that the company is in dire need of CPAs, the accountant embarks on a program to further their education and earn a CPA. This is a very smart move because a need was realized at the company and the qualifications were earned.
Furthering your education will improve your career.
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