When you’re a cashier and there’s not a customer in sight, it’s the perfect time to chat with co-workers and take a breather, right? Susan Zasciurinskas, a 20-year-old sophomore at Cedar Crest College in Pennsylvania, doesn’t think so.

Looking back to her first job as a drugstore cashier, Susan remembers taking it upon herself to clean up the front of the store when business was slow. “I [don't like] to stand around and not do anything while I am being paid to work,” she explains.

And that outlook paid off. Susan’s boss soon promoted her to shift supervisor, which meant overseeing other cashiers and preparing bank deposits. She also started helping with product displays and ordering merchandise. Whenever she’s home on break from college, she has a job waiting for her.

Susan is a classic example of an “indispensable” employee–one whose boss, and even co-workers, can’t imagine working without.

A Working Advantage

That may be why indispensable employees tend to survive a layoff. Tim Gagne learned this firsthand when he worked in the marketing department of a toy company several years ago. Financial trouble caused one job cut after another, but Gagne remained. “I was told that I was the last man standing because I kept a good attitude, was flexible when the situation changed almost daily, and continued to work hard even during an ugly bankruptcy,” he says.

Chris Baudouin, a media company’s chief financial officer, has helped make decisions during two waves of job cuts. Employees determined to be of value to the company had the best chance of keeping their jobs, he says. In fact, a human resources survey released in late 2001 found that job performance is the top factor used by companies in deciding who gets cut.

During healthy economic times, it’s still smart to be indispensable. Proven hard workers can be successful at any task, says Susan, “whether it’s vacuuming a floor or making a breakthrough in science.”

Indispensable employees tend to be well liked. They make the boss’s job easier and help the company do better. Their positive attitude earns the respect of co-workers. In the end, their own careers soar because they’re constantly learning. “You never know how your colleagues, supervisors, or customers may impact your [future] opportunities, so treat them all as VIPs,” says professional speaker and consultant Jean Mowrey, president and chief executive officer of Emp-Higher Performance Development.

The Six Keys

Let’s investigate the six keys to being indispensable:

Initiative. New employees are given certain duties, but indispensable employees don’t stop there. Take Patrick Cardichon, for example. Four years ago, after serving in the Marines, he came to work for Gagne in Westport, Connecticut, as office manager of a regional magazine. “Patrick knew what I expected and did it without having to be asked every time,” Gagne says. Patrick constantly sought more duties–even less exciting ones.

At one point the magazine’s parent company canceled their cleaning service to save money. Patrick took it upon himself to keep the office tidy and garbage emptied. “If a client or head manager [visited] unexpectedly and [saw] the office a mess, we [could] lose that client,” he says.

“Treat your job like it’s your own personal business,” Mowrey says. “Take pride and ownership.” She adds that this is easiest when your job reflects your skills and values in life.

Billy Arcement, a former science teacher who is the author of Searching for Success and an expert in success techniques, suggests measuring your initiative by asking yourself: Will I work extra hours to finish a project? Do I need little supervision? Do I go the extra mile to perform at the highest level?

Goal orientation. Personal goals matter, but caring about the company goals and your boss’s goals will set you apart. Mowrey knows of a secretary who constantly sought ways to “lighten her boss’s workload and help the boss shine.” The boss was so pleased, she created a brand new department administrator position for her employee.

Mowrey suggests you ask your boss these questions:

* What can I do to help you, our department, or the company meet its goals?

* What should I always do, and what should I avoid doing?

Reliability. This means getting to work on time, staying healthy to avoid taking sick days, and being trustworthy and dependable every day. “I could absolutely trust Patrick,” Gagne says, “with the keys to the office, to do what he had to do, and everything in between.”

To determine if you’re reliable, Arcement says, ask yourself if coworkers can take you at your word, and if you can keep confidential information about the company to yourself.

Professionalism. Entry-level jobs often include a fair amount of “grunt work.” Handle it without grunting, and your good attitude and professional behavior will get noticed. Gagne says of Patrick, “No job was too small or demeaning if he could clearly see that it helped the company.”

Not taking criticism personally is also important. As a summer intern at a facility for disabled adults in Florida, Susan was careful not to repeat the mistakes her supervisor pointed out. By the end of her internship, she was trusted to train a new employee.

To maintain professionalism, avoid negative co-workers and being negative yourself. If you find yourself getting upset at work, don’t react until you can discuss the situation calmly. Always be nice to others, and help them out whenever you can. Finally, take pride in every task.

Flexibility. Job descriptions and daily priorities are fluid. Flexible workers can adapt to change, whether they’re asked to switch departments or to drop something to help out in a crisis. According to a 2002 human resource professionals survey, being flexible and adaptable are two of the top five must-have traits for U.S. company leaders.

Baudouin’s company, which used to focus on the Internet, now organizes conferences and offers consulting services. Those who seem to be most flexible are the ones asked to fill new roles, he says. Do “your” job and only your job, and you may find yourself without one. Never say, “That’s not my job.”

If there are rumors of layoffs, consider switching departments. What areas are still hiring while other departments are not allowed to fill any positions?

A desire to learn. “Whether you’re at your first job or [are] a seasoned employee, the desire to be challenged on the job and meet those challenges should be there,” says Baudouin. “Learning doesn’t stop after school ends…The more you learn, the more valuable you become.”

Gagne knew most everyone’s job at the toy company. When he was the only employee left, he could “keep the plates spinning.”

Keep learning. Figure out what skills you need to get promoted.

Try to help other departments whenever possible. You’ll become well-rounded and better understand the company’s “big picture,” Patrick says. Here are some more hints:

* Never turn down a project, and volunteer for new ones.

* Cover a vacationing co-worker’s job.

* Ask to attend relevant workshops and conferences.

Learn something new on the job daily. “You are either getting better or becoming worse. Life is not a neutral activity,” Arcement says.

Work at these six areas, and one day you’ll realize how indispensable you are. For Susan, this reminder came when a manager from another of the chain’s stores was visiting and immediately recognized her. “I had no clue who this manager was, but she had heard of me from my former boss, who had transferred to another store.” She adds, “If you give 100 percent and have a positive attitude, you will succeed in your endeavor.”

Author : Melissa M. Ezarik
Sourced: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HUV/is_4_31/ai_95677118/?tag=content;col1