From Stephen Viscusi’s blog entry Headhunter Trade Secrets for Finding a New Job During a Recession:
It’s important to humanize who you are…have your boss know you as “a person,” not just an employee.
It is easier to fire an employee who you know nothing about personally, or who you can’t relate to as a person.
“Bulletproofing” yourself requires being a bit Mommy and a bit Machiavelli.
If your boss does approach you about letting you go, and they always use these same line, “It’s not personal, it is a numbers thing,” you should definitely call his/her bluff! Ask your boss, “What’s the numbers thing, boss? What is the number?” Tell your boss that you’re willing to take a pay cut of 20 percent less for a year, or you’ll work three days instead of five…It really works!
Employers hire people who they like personally, and they fire people they don’t know or don’t like, regardless of performance. During a recession, they can get away with this.
