The right and wrong signs

There are plenty of obvious signs you’re about to be laid off — for example, your key to the building stops working all of a sudden, or you find a group of armed guards surrounding your computer. But there are others that might be a little more subtle. Donald Asher, author of the book “Who Gets Promoted, Who Doesn’t, and Why” (Ten Speed Press, $15), deciphered a few of the most important ones.

How can someone tell they might be next in line for layoffs?

You can actually test whether you’re about to get laid off or not. In every company, there are “on demand” perks that employees usually ignore. For example, training. It’s always there, available to you if you ask for it: supervisory skills, sales skills for non-sales managers, even how to answer the phone. Ask for some special training and see if you get it. If you get turned down for a routine training request, you should start to worry.

When a round of layoffs comes, is it better to lay low, or to try getting yourself noticed?

I’ll bet that nine out of 10 career experts would say it’s better to get noticed, but I’m not so sure. The lion hunts the gazelle that draws attention to itself. Do your job, keep your head down, don’t make trouble, and stay in the middle of the herd. Troublemakers are fired first, then incompetent people, and then the rest of the cuts are about excess staff or excess costs. Trying to make a big play could get you labeled a troublemaker, and that’s the problem. Most of all, keep your boss happy. Unless your whole department is cut, your boss has a huge say in who stays and who goes. It’s all about boss management.

How do you get your boss to reconsider your worth to the company?

Don’t whine! That’s rule No. 1! Next, do whatever they ask. If they ask you how to double sales while cutting the travel budget in half, you come up with a plan, no matter how Draconian. Don’t call in sick — that’s the kiss of death. Don’t be late on an assignment. Embrace your inner tightwad, show some brilliance in doing more with less, and you might just be the last one out the door.

Boston Metro