In today’s job market with high unemployment and companies non-hiring policies, it is easy to overlook the employers problems.

Yes, employers have problems finding employees that understand the job – no matter the job title.  It’s not about the employee, it is about helping the company stay in business and make a profit.  Making a profit is the reason owners and shareholders take the risk of creating a job for you.

As a job seeker and then a job holder you need to know, then do, what is expected of you in this position.  You need to exceed the employers’ expectations.  There are any number of people waiting to take your place should you fail to do so.  Each job description spells out, in detail, what is expected.  It is your job to be proactive and produce concrete provable results on and above your job description.

However, it is not just about working longer hours, it is about understanding the productive goals in the job description and then organizing your time to exceed expectations within the time allotted.  You need to work smarter, not necessarily harder and longer.

How do you find out what it will take to exceed their expectations?  Ask the company’s recruiter or supervisors who the organizations’ top producer is.  Find out why they believe this person is doing an exceptional job and state your goal of meeting and exceeding those standards.  With so many people looking for jobs in the current economy, and many are filling jobs that are causing them to be under-employed, you must find a way to stand out from the crowd.  Give your employer a reason to keep you in your position, then offer to move you up.

A valuable characteristic in any position, is the ability to be flexible.  Seek out a mentor to assist you and identify your goal of learning how to excel at what you do to them.  If you have skills or characteristics you feel would be valuable to others, then offer your services as a mentor to others around you.  If you take on tasks outside of your ‘job description’ you are proving yourself to be a valuable asset to the company, thus helping them grow their profits.  Help your current or potential employer find ways to increase productivity or cut costs.  If you’re heading in for an interview, do your homework on the company before the interview and this will show the recruiter that you are truly interested in being a productive, proactive employee.  This is an easy way to help you stand out from the crowd and secure a greater sense of job security.

Every position comes with its problems, whether from outside influences (vendors, customers) or among your co-workers.  Everyone is trying to move up the ‘corporate ladder’ or hold onto their jobs.  In any economy, there is competition within the company once you land the job.  Once you understand this, you will also understand how important it is to always be on the lookout for opportunities to step outside of your ‘job description’ and offer your expertise to help resolve an issue, if you have background experience that would prove useful.  Even though you may have taken a job at the local video store, for lack of better opportunities at the time, take any opportunity you have to showcase your experience you may have in management, purchasing or sales.

Of course, there is always conflict and controversy within any company you work for.  Learn how to handle these situations with finesse – don’t react with your emotions but with your head.  Offer your expertise, in the form of mentoring to those around you who need a little ‘coaching’ and this will help establish you as a ‘team player’ and an expert in your field.

Finally, you must study your industry, your company and your job and see how it is changing and make adjustments before you’re told to do so, if possible.  Many employers identify the lack of common sense and proactive capabilities in people and employees as being a current concern.

In the end, if you continue developing your skills by doing self-study, signing up for a college course or two, or working towards any certifications that your position might require in the future, you will present yourself as a valuable employee, or potential employee and both you and your employer will be satisfied with the choice of being onboard with the company.

Become prepared in the path of opportunity and achieve all that you can conceive.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about how the workplace has changed in our down economy and what you’ve been doing to adapt along with it.  Thanks for stopping by.

Tom Loegering, Author