Here are 5 things you should do to avoid the pink slip:

1. Be a valuable asset - Excel at your job
   
   To be valuable, you should constantly excel at your job. Do you know how to do a job better than your peers? You should have a yearning for excellence, the inner peace of mind and strength of character to produce only great quality work every time. "A professional is one who gives his best even when he is not in the mood."
   
   
2. Feel like a valuable asset - Success comes from Within
   
   Demand excellence of yourself and you will start feeling valuable. Now you should know techniques of positive thinking, self-motivation, goal setting and other self-improvement aids to help you sustain and repeat your successes.
   
   Success always originates from people who have strong faith and conviction about themselves. They are willing to face all odds, to surmount all obstacles in order to achieve their goals.
   
   My free email course "Success comes from Within" describes how to Attain, Maintain and Sustain Success.
   
   
3. Be Perceived as a valuable asset - Invest in Yourself
   
   So you excel at your job and you know it, you are satisfied with yourself. But how does your boss feel, what is his opinion of you? Being excellent at your job is no longer sufficient in today’s world. You should ensure that others perceive you as an excellent resource, as a valuable asset to the company.
   
   You need the soft skills, the Team Building Skills of Communication, Presentation and Negotiation to ensure that your boss and his boss know that you are a truly invaluable asset. "Hide it under a bush? Oh no! I’m going to let it shine, let it shine all the while let it shine" is a ditty we learned in school.
   
   
4. Acknowledged as a valuable asset - Stand out from the crowd
   
   You will soon acquire a lot of technical knowledge and become an expert in your field. Your peers start approaching you for advice and consultation support. Bosses start depending on you for time critical projects.
   
   
   • giving & getting feedback,
     
   • knowing when to speak & when to remain silent,
     
   • helping others without decreasing your own worth & value.
     
     
   You now need the techniques of:
   
   You should be alert to opportunities, create and maintain your network of friends and build your support structure. "To reach the top, you should fly on your own ballast."
   
   
5. Give a Clear Return on Investment (ROI) - To Get more, Give more
   
   Innovate, Improvise, Initiate measures that reduce costs, increase productivity and enhance the quality of the work that you do.
   
   Your company should feel that you give back to the company much more than what you are paid. The return the company gets on the investments they make on you must be clear.
   
   The company will then decide that keeping you on the payroll benefits them more than laying you off. Thus when the layoff lists are made your name will refuse to appear on them. "Give and you shall receive"
   

About the Author: Naseem Mariam is the editor of "Management that Soars" Newsletter & author of "Project Serenity - How to gain happiness and peace". Her writings draw life from her 24 years experience as software Project Manager. Let her guide you towards Faster All Round Success and a Stress Free, Joyous Life. Her free ebook and newsletter tell you how. Subscribe with a mail to successAlways@sendfree.com