The Ideal Employee or How to Keep Your Job in a Recession This presentation is an adaptation of the Bermuda Employer’s Council Work Ready Programme Handbook titled ‘Charting Your Future’.

Survey finds 5% have lost job in past year... Five percent of Bermuda residents polled have lost their job over the past year and are still unemployed, according to a sample survey by Research.bm. The startling statistic, which was recorded from a study of 400 people aged 18 or over during the third quarter, gives one of the most up-to-date insights into the Island's unemployment rate. Finance Minister Paula Cox said the data rang true with her findings and that Government had moved to help those in need with financial assistance. The findings also revealed that 36 percent of residents know of someone who has been made redundant over the last 12 months, 21 percent of whom currently still do not have work and 15 percent of whom have found new employment. Six percent of respondents have themselves lost a job in the past year — including five percent who are still unemployed and one percent who have found another job. The highest percentage of those who had been made redundant and were currently unemployed were male (eight percent) and aged 18 to 34 (seven percent). The lowest was mixed and other race (two percent), female (three percent) and ages 55 to 64. Ms Cox said that the prospect of employment levels increasing in the international business sector were low to marginal, but she added that the industry was expected to continue to drive Bermuda's economy and be the biggest contributor to Gross Domestic Product. More worryingly, she said the domestic sector had been hit hardest, with approximately 400-plus jobs being lost over the past year, resulting in lower levels of employment income and a subsequent cut back in consumer spending. "However the consumer is not back as yet in terms of retail spending and given the reduced consumer spending and a decrease in tourist visitors, retail sales have been very weak in 2009 with the volume of retail sales declining over seven percent through July 2009," she said. She said a few large projects that had been scheduled had to be postponed because foreign financing was cancelled, as business slowed in terms of the number of small to medium-size projects. By Alex Wright, The Royal Gazette 26 October 2009

Things to consider What is your personality type? What are your interests and passions? Are you willing to take directives from someone? Are you a team player? Are you willing to take some initiative? Can you function without constant supervision?

Look for these things to be a good employee What are the goals of the company you work for? Are you willing to communicate in a rational manner? Are you a team player? Do you ever say, “It’s not my job.”? Do you ask questions if you do not understand?

Are you an Employee of Choice? Do you support the organization you work for? Are you flexible? Are you willing to adapt to changes in the workplace? Are you dependable? (on time, never pull a sickie, act with maturity and decorum) Respond to leadership in a positive, willing manner. Remember that the customer is always right. Follow the employee handbook. Are not a clock watcher.

Appearance Counts Even if you disagree with the concept, your appearance counts, people often “judge a book by its cover”. Research shows that at least 55% of a persons perception of you is based on how you look. Women, unless part of a uniform, solid colours, coordinated clothes, moderate shoes (no flip flops, sneakers, high high heals), limited jewelry, neat hairstyle with not unnatural colouring, conservative manicured nails. Men, unless part of a uniform, solid colours, coordinated clothes, moderate shoes, neat professional hairstyle, clean manicured nails. Tattoos, if you have them should be able to be hidden on the job. Body piercing should be limited to earrings and as with tattoos, any other piercing should be able to be hidden on the job.

Keeping Your Job Make sure that you stand out. Remember that this current job may not be your dream job but it is 1) a job in this current difficult economic climate and 2) may be a stepping stone to your dream job. Make sure you know what your boss wants and do it with excellence. Understand the organizational culture. Study your boss and do what it takes to meet his/her expectations and then some. Be a team player. Be willing to go beyond the call of duty, be willing to undertake work which is not necessarily within your job description. Be careful though that it does not compromise your normal work which is probably the first priority.

Keeping Your Job If you don’t understand, ask questions, just do not go do what you hope is right. This leads to failure. A boss should value somebody who makes sure he/she is doing what is required in the way he/she wants. What you don’t know will hurt you, just ask. Look for a mentor, somebody who knows the job/what is expected and seek their help. Be careful not to choose somebody who is not a good employee or boss.

Keeping Your Job Avoid distractions. Your cell phone should be off and only used during your breaks. If you have responsibilities outside work try to find somebody or some way for these responsibilities to be dealt with without you while you are working. There is an old expression, if it isn’t red or blue it isn’t an emergency (usually). I pods should never be used. Never leave your post without permission.

Keeping Your Job Boost your customer skills. Always remain business like/professional in dealing with customers. Be polite, pleasant and respectful to all customers, your supervisors and other employees. Never be confrontational. Avoid emotional leakage. By this we mean if you have a problem at home or with another customer don’t transfer it to the job or other customers. Your tone of voice will give you away. No eating, drinking, smoking while dealing with customers, even when on the phone. Never make a promise you can’t keep.

Keeping Your Job Never use slang, one word answers, endearments or anything that can be considered negative when dealing with customers. Use words like please, thank you, you’re welcome, excuse me, good morning, good afternoon, good evening, pardon me, are you able to wait, how may I assist you and never expect the same from a customer even if you feel it should be returned. It isn’t a personal thing. Respect that different cultures require different types of expectations, it isn’t an attack on your culture, often they just do not know.

Keeping Your Job Remember we are now in a global economy, your customers do not have to be here if they are not treated the way they expect, they can go elsewhere and get what they want and probably for less money. Giving great service is not being subservient, if you give great service you are doing a fantastic job. Making people feel good is an art. If you were in their place you would expect the same.