No one wants to hear the words: “You’re fired,” except, perhaps, Donald Trump. This is genuine fear among those workers who fear their jobs may be short-lived. Downsizing, outsourcing, automation, or just poor performance on the employee’s part, are legitimate reasons for losing a job, and most folks have experienced this fear at one time or another. To become more desirable, the employee might do well considering a few tips.

• Tailor your job to your strengths
  Stress your positive assets to your employer. Refrain from pretending to be an expert at something you are not. Employers want strong employees who believe in themselves, not fake ones, and they can tell the difference.
• Focus on job priorities
  Do not let distractions keep you from focusing on more important projects at hand. Responding to emails or marginal requests instead of the major job will not make you a star in the boss’s eye.
• Cultivate relationships
  The well-liked employee is typically the last one to go, even when less competent at the job. These employees tend to inspire a positive working atmosphere, more so than the gloom and doom guy.
• Know your boss’s preferences
  Is he or she detail-oriented? Prefer questions? Want to be kept apprised of your every move? Want your opinion? If you do not know, you should find out.
• Neutralize the enemy
  Look for common interests, maybe over a nice lunch. If nothing works to promote harmony, let it be known there was an attempt made without resolution.
• Work hard
  The employee, who is obviously more concerned about getting the job done rather than watching the clock, will be the more desired employee.
• Educate yourself
  Do your homework. When there is free time, you might read articles about the company, attend workshops, or acquire knowledge from co-workers. If your time is up at this particular job, perhaps a better employer will field the words: “You’re hired!”
• Good hygiene
  This sounds too obvious to mention, but if hygiene becomes an issue, the workplace becomes uncomfortable, as well as unproductive. Usually the problem is clear to everyone but the offender.
• Gossip
  There is no room in the workplace for gossip and/or rumor spreading. It happens, but it needs to be curtailed. Workplace gossip breeds resentment among employees, as well as provides a roadblock to collaboration and effective communication. Even when it is not malicious, it destroys morale and camaraderie, which, in turn, destroys production.
• Be considerate
  Helping coworkers with their projects, even when it is “not your job,” helps the company. It also produces a positive working environment for all. Be nice and considerate; a little goes a long way.

To be a successful employee, it takes effort and a lot of common sense. A successful employer is looking for dependability, honesty, willingness to work, promptness, integrity, and a positive proactive attitude.