Benefit: Cell Phone (United States)

The only advice for anyone in Field Service related fields that I have is be honest with your customers, strive to be better at what you do, keep open communication with everyone, and continuing education can only benefit you. Remember, the guy that knows everything...is usually over-confident and probably looking for a job. Flexability with a good employer is well worth it. Examine where your company is going and how they invest in their employees.

My role involves a lot of performance management for the services we deliver. My company isn't as regulated as something like a financial services firm (my background) - it's more like the Wild West and Jesse James is the marshall.

So I was able to get this job and a two-grade promotion in only 18 months by doing performance analysis, benchmarking and metrics for the first time in our IT shop.

Now, I'm rolling this out on a larger scale. We are only now implementing ITIL processes, only now centralizing IT functions (multiple acquisitions) and only now starting to see how easy it is for IT to be outsourced - so it isn't just my job, it's the entire org that has to be shown as valuable.

And therein lies the security. I make sure I can tell a story - with achievements, statistics, reliability and solid delivery - that makes my boss's job more secure. I spot the problems early, and raise them to the folks who deliver those services.

That way, all those guys see their future success as entertwined with my ability to help them manage issues and provide a better product.

Build good relationships with commercial customers, as they are the largest recurring customer base that ensures that you will have a job and more than likely receive a raise. Besides it never hurts having a customer call in and request you or at least sincerely compliment you for doing your job well. The best way to do this is to connect with the customer in some way (try and remember something they might have told you last time you where there and ask them how that is doing etc.).

you will find that customers begin to relate to you much better and don't mind calling for service and will begin to get you more business by word of mouth. (phone book's are good but nothing beats another persons experience) these types of customers generally stick with the same service company.

not only will this type of practice ensure job security but will more than likely lead to salary increases.

however if you are the type of technician that doesn't have a clue at what you are doing STOP reading this now and return to Burger King!

I have been with my employer for 10 years. I was his first permament full time legal secretary since he started his own private practice. He practices estate planning, family law, contract law, corporate law and a little landlord/tenant law. I took his new practice which had no structure and created office policies, procedures, Word templates for our forms, client intake sheets, billing procedures, trial procedures and step by step procedures regarding collection work and fee arbitrations according to current law. I always felt confident and secure in my job as he never had one complaint and complimented me on my performance. Then, out of nowhere and completely unexpected, he took on some heavy federal litigation and civil litigation cases (which he is not familiar with litigation timelines and strategies), hired an associate who just passed the bar, on a contract basis, to assist him with his extra work load as a result of these litigation cases. To date, the only work he has given her is 75 percent of my job that I was performing just fine and none of his extra work except for an occasional hearing he let's her sit in on. He is still stressed out, if not more now, than he was before she was hired. We have made mistake after mistake on discovery deadlines and have some upset clients we never had before. I no longer feel like the successful legal secretary I was before our associate was hired and my job moral has hit an all time zero. He has not paid her for hardly any of her work performed, my work load has doubled, and has not even given me a cost of living salary increase for over 5 year. It makes me feel like his intention is to have an assistant with a law degree, not a legal secretary and a contract attorney on the side for his overload work. His office is all set up now with structured policies and procedures, and he now has an eager associate attorney willing to do my job instead of any contract work. The advice I have to give is the following: 1. Always put yourself first before your boss; 2. Do not allow your employer to use you to his advantage; and 3. Walk out with what you walked in with that was outside the scope of your job description.

The most fundamental piece to any job is communication. I highly recommend education on effective communication. Reading verbal and non-verbal cues from people you interact with, and responding (verbally and non-verbally) in complimentary ways can drastically alter outcomes which are hopefully more favorable. Being able to soothe agitated nerves, instill confidence, and understand someone else's point of view, can make a significant difference, even in the most insane of environments.

Statistically, web and software developers rank low on scales of social skills, so we have to put more effort to communicate effectively without confusing people with our jargon. If you are someone like me who can talk forever like a broken dam spewing water, concentrate on getting to the point then zipping it. If it is difficult for you to get to the point, show a simple mockup development to make the point for you.

Taking the time to do something right the first time is the best way to ensure quality results are delivered. Getting the amount of time necessary will never happen if you cannot communicate calmly, politely, and effectively. The final advice I have to throw out there is "always be prepared to sacrafice personal opinions and views in favor of what your employer or clients want you to do. Looking for a new job is never fun for anyone".

I've been through it all, from being layed-off twice within a two year span to, to only covering 16 hours in 2 weeks, and I was also the guy who got the hours(+ o.t.) while others suffered. And to be completly honest, I felt like a total dirt bag during the times I was working and my co-workers weren't. That's just me though. I'd rather be a big part of the team, than the whole team.

There are only TWO professions out there that will not have a slow period; post office & Gov't offical.

Factors keeping me competitive:

(1) - Training

(2) - Additional Education

(3) - Participate at Conferences

(4) - Update/Keep Abreast of Changes to SOP

(5) - Get opportuinities to participate in interesting projects.

Do I have a sense of job security? No

What aspects of your job, your work, your company, provides you with sense of job security.

(1) - Car benefit

(2) - Perks for tickets

(3) - Atta-boys

(4) - End of year bonus

Long ago people stayed at one company and moved up the corporate ladder. Now more often than not, once you are in a position you will stay there unless you make it known that you are have a desire for advancement and are a company (wo)man!

1. My advise is go beyond what is asked of you and never do less than your best.

2. Maintain a good attitute and avoid hanging with the groups of disgruntled employees, because even if you are not one, you will be perceived as one.

3. Stay on top of industry patterns and changes and let your superiors aware of your interest in knowing that you have more than a casual inerest in the development of the industry.

4. Dress for success! Casual days are fine but even then, maintain a business dress code, that says, I am on my way up. Dress for the position that you want, not the position that you have.

Take every opportunity to gain new experience and expand your education. Always keep your resume up to date, and ensure you document both current and previous major accomplishments from each job. Maintain a current list of software and hardware you are competent in. Maintain a current list of people in your area in the IS/IT field. Network - Network - Network. Keep current with Highly Successful company's in your area. Try to learn what you can from their successes. Schedule time for professional training each week, and document it. Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone.