Three Signs You Could Be Canned

It was recently announced that four of the Real Housewives of NYC—Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon, Alex McCord, and Cindy Barshop—will not be returning to the show next season. While we’re not sorry to see some of the cast go—all their yapping lead to serious migraines—many of them admitted to having no clue they were about to be fired. To ensure you never find yourself completely blindsided by a pink slip like these ladies were, we spoke to Martha Finney, career expert and author of Money With Meaning: 42 Practical Ways to Discover Your Calling and Land Your Dream Job Now, about indicators that the axe may be about to fall—and if there’s any way to turn the situation around.

By Jessica Knoll, Cosmopolitan editor

1. There’s New Blood on the Floor

If your company has recently acquired or been acquired, and there’s someone who does the exact same thing you do, you could be in trouble. Schedule a meeting with your boss to express your concerns. Ask if your skill set could serve the company in other ways. At the very least, he or she may be able to give you a heads up that your days may be numbered, which gives you a chance to get started on your job search ASAP.

2. You Made a Major Mistake

You may be tempted to apologize profusely, but this could actually hurt your case rather than help it. That’s because the last thing you want to do is repeatedly call attention to your blunder. Plus, no matter how sincere your “I’m sorry” is, it’s not a productive way to handle the situation. Your best bet is to take on the role of strategic partner by asking your boss what you can do to mitigate the damage quickly. Most higher ups want to see you do well, and are willing to mentor you through a screw-up, no matter how colossal.

3. Your Assignments are Dwindling

If you notice that responsibility is slowly being taken away from you, talk to your boss about it. Be frank and tell them you’ve noticed your role dwindling and would like to stay an integral part of the team. This way you’re at least vocalizing that you want to be there. Finney also recommends keeping a running list of your achievements so you can pull it out to show higher-ups, reminding them of everything you’ve done well. And if you ever do find yourself in the same pair of stilettos as Jill Zarin, you can use the same list to show off your past accomplishments on interviews.

Source: Cosmopolitan