There are times that nothing you can do will save your job, for example when a company is going bankrupt. But by using these tips, you can maximize your value to your employer and improve your chances of keeping your job or even earning a promotion.

I work in the legal field. I took my last job as a respected attorney in my field. I came into a situation where my department had only 2 employees, and there was no full-time attorney. In 3 years I had turned things around to where the department was recognized by our clients as the best in the firm (yes, I could prove that as each department received report cards every month from our clients). I took a new approach to my position, contrary to what lots of people thought it should be. Yes – I thought in a new way and it worked – but only for a short time.
When the economy went south, my employer decided to save costs by letting attorneys go and hiring cheaper ones.
And no matter how new thinking you are, if there is anyone anywhere in the world willing to do your job for less money, it doesn’t matter how good, new or original you are IF your employer is only worried about the bottom line. As soon as it becomes cheaper to train someone else to do your job, you are history.

Perhaps before 2007 your premise would have stood as valid in my eyes, but since the downturn in the economy, I’m not so sure any more. We are playing by a whole new set of rules. Today you have to be willing to work as many hours as your employer wants for whatever pay they offer, or someone cheaper will replace you. After all, there are 6 or more people who want every available job out there, and many are looking to take jobs from those who have them, often by merely being less expensive to employ.

So while I brought a new way of doing things, and doubled the size and productivity of my department (which was the only one consistently making money in the firm EVERY month), as soon as the economy turned bad, I was too expensive, and someone who had never done my job before was a valid replacement.