Have you ever strolled into work and an odd feeling rolls over you? Maybe you can’t put your finger on it or perhaps you received some looks from co-workers. Either way, you’re wondering if you’re on the chopping block.
No one likes that feeling, and job security isn’t really a thing nowadays. So now you’re contemplating looking for a new job, or maybe your rational side is telling you to calm down.
If you’re wondering if a firing is impending, here are a few tell-tale signs.
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5. Your conversation with a manager is in your inbox
You just left your manager’s office. The news wasn’t good. She lectured you on getting tasks done faster or on that conflict between you and another employee. Either way, she just sent your action plan in an email. She outlined your conversation and the ways she expects you to behave moving forward.
Yikes.
Don’t fret. All you need to do is be on your toes and follow through with her request. Most managers will document meetings in this manner. Perhaps it’s to create a “file of proof” against you. But don’t lose hope. Take this as a warning and turn things around.
4. Your manager follows up on that project
A day later, your manager sends a follow up on that project she wants on her desk, tomorrow. But she said it wasn’t due until the end of the week! What do you do? Well, instead of taking a long lunch or chatting with co-workers, hunker down and meet the new deadline.
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3. Your responsibilities are dwindling
This should be a real red flag. If you all of a sudden find that your work is being given to another employee, it might be a good idea to start looking for another job.
Also, it couldn’t hurt ask your manager why. There might be other reasons. Are you moving into a different role? Are you being put on a different project? If you don’t ask for clarity, you may not get it. On the other hand, you might not like what you hear.
2. You didn’t get invited to a team meeting
You just returned from lunch to find your team is MIA. Where did they go? You peek around the conference room and see them. Why aren’t you? You check your inbox for the meeting request to find you didn’t receive one.
Getting left out of team meetings could mean you are no longer needed, so you best check with your team after they wrap up to get some insight.
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1. You meet the new person and he shares your title
Your manager exits her office with a new employee. They are laughing and chatting as she introduces him to the group. You had no idea they were hiring. Hmmmm. He walks over to you and introduces himself. You ask nicely, “What will you be doing?” He answers that he was hired with the same title as you.
Before you get into a tizzy, maybe the company is growing. If not, look over any past reprimands or documented meetings from the boss – if things were at all rocky, it might be time to dust off your resume.
Before you start to over-analyze any of the signs above, take a deep breath. None of them is a surefire indication of anything, so you could be just fine.
But maybe update the resume, just in case…
