With the current economic situation, keeping a job is never that easy. Layoffs and other means of lowering man power are one of the easiest means for companies to cut costs. The question now is, how will you keep your job?
There may be a lot of self-help books, which are jobs related but nonetheless, everything will boil down to the basics.
It is not good to always be on time. It is advisable to be earlier than your log-in time. You could come 10-15 minutes earlier. It is a big no no to be late at work, especially when you are scheduled to meet a client. Letting your clients wait seems very unprofessional. Furthermore, being late at work will always create a bad impression to your boss.
Furthermore, create a good working relationship with your boss and co-workers by not gossiping at work. A little chitchat is fine but spending almost an hour just to talk about unnecessary things at work is inappropriate. Do not let your boss catch you wasting your time gossiping because this could get you down to get fired.
If you have been working for the company for a long time you may already know a lot about the company and how it works. With this knowledge, you can offer help to junior or new employees. This may not keep you your job, but it will help you create a healthy working atmosphere. However, do not be too open to new employees. Still make a gap between you and them and do not immediately share any of your grievances, conflicts, and gossip in the workplace. Remember, a strong work ethics goes a long way.
Aside from getting into the office earlier it is also advisable to stay in a little longer than the usual at the office. This does not mean that you have to be idle while staying longer. You can maximize your time by organizing your work for tomorrow. Check your accomplishments for the day and try to assess it. This way, you will know whether you have done enough and know if you are to be kept in the company.
Lastly, do not argue with your boss and do not oppose his or her opinions too much. It is healthy to pinpoint weaknesses but too much arguing would lead to misunderstanding. This will eventually create personal grudges which you would not want to have with your boss. You can talk to your boss in a nice way when you are alone and show him the problem and the solution if you have.