Polish your image, increase your value at work

Like many, many other companies, the one I work for is talking layoffs, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t stressed out about it. As with any company, who stays and who goes may come down to things employees can’t control, but there are a few variables that can be, and they can make a big difference in how valuable you are as an employee.

At The 36-Hour Day, I write about a few things you can do to polish up your image and increase your value at work. Click through for the details, but here's the snapshot:

Increase facetime. You don't have to come in early and leave late every single day, but doing each once a week can make a big difference in terms of your visible at the office.

Look busy. I work at a computer — I’d have to try hard not to look busy — but if you’re not at a desk job, then make sure you look like you have plenty to do, even if that means refolding the shirt display eleventy billion times a week.

Be busy. Take on extra work if you can. Your company is going to want to wring every last bit of effort out of you in exchange for that paycheck; it’s a lot more palatable if you beat them to it.

Expand your skill set. Think of it this way: If you were just entering the workforce, you’d consider an unpaid internship, right, just to get the experience?

Read the rest at The 36-Hour Day and tell me, what are you doing to make yourself seem more valuable at work?