Do You Want to Be Retained?

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Looking to jump ship at the first sign of a significant bump in salary and title? Outplacement and recruiting firms will want to talk to you if you have the skills they need when they need them (you know the game).

But what if you actually like your job and your company but may not be seeing the kind of pay and recognition you would expect to have for the effort you have been putting in over the last year? Perhaps you are stuck in your current gig because you are not seeing great new opportunities or you are not willing to give up the benefits you have for your family. Whatever the situation, it never hurts to step back and see if you can identify the real value you bring to a company.

Here are some things managers are being told about the kind of employees they should want to keep around, and if you fit in this group, be sure to know where you stand. This information comes from David Willmer of Robert Half Technology in a blog post he wrote at CIO Update “IT Staffing – Who are the Employees You Can’t Do Without?”:

“The Motivator — This is the employee who builds enthusiasm for new ideas or projects, even when there are clear challenges.The Renaissance Man — This Jack- or Jill-of-all-trades possesses a diverse skill set and is able to apply his or her knowledge to a variety of projects. When business needs change, this employee willingly assumes new duties, allowing your firm to keep up with shifting IT demands.The Promising Entry-Level Hire — Don’t underestimate the value of your most junior employee. Pay attention to signs of potential, including a commitment to learning, a “can-do” attitude, and praise from coworkers and managers in the organization.The Networker — This individual has taken time to build solid working relationships with people throughout the company. This can prove beneficial when your team needs to collaborate with other departments.The Volunteer — When a colleague needs assistance, or a new project comes along, this person is the first to step up and offer to help. Even when this individual’s own plate is full, he or she is willing to lend a helping hand to move a project along that will benefit the department or company.“

These might not seem like the most tangible tech-related skills, but they still have value because they all point to individuals who step up and get things done regardless of the pain it might cause. Companies want team players who are results-minded.

If you think you fall into these categories, take some time to identify these traits and quantify the tasks and effort you have accomplished. If you saved the company time, pitched in when you did not have to or helped save on training costs, you have something to quantify. Don’t hesitate to use this information to your advantage.

If you don’t think you fall into any of these categories, it may be time for some self-reflection and work-behavior change.