7 Ways To Prevent Getting Fired From Your Job

Many people today have lived through multiple recessions and have faced troubles in their job search. Those who are lucky to have a job they are happy in could find themselves without it in just an instance. Even if you have a contract, it can feel like the higher-ups always seem to have some way of taking you off their payroll.
Simple, Everyday Habits Could Go A Long Way At Work
However, there is some advice to help people if they want to go above and beyond to protect their job. Even when anything could happen, some things can at least let employees rest a little bit easier.
- Be dependable: It’s simple. Be the employee they can’t afford to lose. Even if you can’t go above and beyond, pay attention, keep your promises, and meet your deadlines.
- Communicate: When things go wrong, it can be tempting to keep quiet and hope everything works out, but this can backfire. If your employer thinks things are too easy for you, they might think you aren’t taking your job seriously. Likewise, it’s important to speak with your supervisor to know what you are doing right or wrong.
- Be a team player: It can be hard to get along with others, but a team needs to work together to get things done. Be respectful towards others and help when you are asked. In the end, however, a boss who sees you as part of your team is more likely to fight to keep you.
- Don’t waste time: If you work on a computer, it can be tempting to surf the internet in between, or even during, assignments. When you work with a phone, personal calls might happen. Finally, in an office, co-workers are bound to share office gossip. However, these things could easily become red flags for employers. Even if you work from home, distractions can show up in your work, and it’s best to remain focused.
Sometimes, It’s Important To Go Above & Beyond To Save Your Job
When it comes to work, things can always get a bit drastic. It can help going above and beyond and even have a backup plan.
- Keep job-hunting to yourself: Job hunting is inevitable. You could be unhappy with your job or simply need a side hustle, but it’s best to keep these things private. If you are in danger of losing your job, an employer knowing you are unsatisfied might make the decision easier for them. While it could be wise to look for work if you think you are in danger of losing a job, it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy if your boss finds out.
- Negotiate: You already rose to the occasion to get a job, something other candidates weren’t too lucky to get. There was something about you that helped earn you the job in the first place. It can help to be upfront about the situation and ask your boss what is needed on your end to keep you on board. After all, keeping an employee is easier than finding a new one.
- Quit: In the most technical sense, the best way to avoid being fired is to simply quit yourself. Sometimes, if your job is causing you stress, it could be the best option for you. The Motley Fool dubs this as “voluntary quitting.” Obviously, not everyone is in the best position to quit, so this is the most drastic thing to do. After all, to quote Fran Fine, “You can’t fire me! I quit! No, you fired me. That way, I’ll be able to collect unemployment.”
In the end, life can take us in different directions. Besides, you never know. A better job could always be around the corner.
- 7 Ways To Prevent Getting Fired From Your Job - April 29, 2025