• Posted by: Michelle Casto
• In: Business Professional

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Job Retention Tips for Fast Trackers
by Michelle L. Casto, Ph.D.

You are now successfully established in your career field. Is it time to kick back and relax? Not if you want to stay employed. With the days of “fire at will” and upsizing and downsizing, knowing what it takes to stay successfully employed is an essential job survival skill.

Listening
• When you are not sure about something that is said or done, be sure to ask for clarification.
• Don’t do all the talking. Strive for 60-70% listening, 30-40% talking while on the job.
• Don’t interrupt. Allow adequate time for the person to answer or ask a question.
• Keep your emotions in check. An angry person does not listen well.
• Take time to tune in, reflect back, and ask questions of the other person.
• Maintain good eye contact and an open-mind.
• Try being a counselor for a day. Let a friend or co-worker talk out a problem and listen without judgment or giving advice.

Relating
• Establish positive relationships with your boss, know his or her strengths/weaknesses, and preferred communication style (in person or in writing).
• Find a mentor to look up to.
• Value diversity and learn from others.
• Accept constructive criticism and learn from mistakes.
• Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you.
• Avoid getting caught up in office gossip and politicking.

Writing
• Be brief and to the point in all your business correspondence.
• Introduce one thought per paragraph.
• Read books and magazines in your career field to see what is being researched and written about.
• Use an active rather than passive voice.
• Organize your thoughts with an outline before you begin writing.
• Consider how your message will affect your readers.
• Keep your messages concise and avoid sending emotionally-charged messages.

Speaking
• Speak confidently and directly.
• If asked to give a presentation, rehearse your material and use visual aids to support your ideas.
• Maintain good eye contact and body language with your audience.
• Don’t preach or try to convince people of your beliefs. Simply state them with conviction and confidence.
• Whenever possible, ask a lot of questions.
• Use paraphrasing (restating what the person has said).
• Give speeches, this will show you how to effectively organize and deliver your message.

Working
• Learn something new every day.
• Ask questions about your job.
• Look for ways you “can do” it.
• Provide solutions and suggestions, not problems and complaints.
• Constantly re-invent yourself.
• Choose a goal, then walk like, walk like, look like, think like, act like and be like it.

A word about the use of e-mail: E-mail is a faster medium than conventional pen and paper. It produces an instant message. It also is a disposable communication---people usually delete it after reading it. Therefore, if you have something important to say, and/or want the message to last, then you should write it the old-fashioned way (memo or letter).