Companies have job cuts for a number of reasons, and oftentimes these layoffs aren’t a reflection of a specific worker’s performance, which means there’s little you can do to prevent the inevitable. The people who land on their feet are the ones who can spot the signs that layoffs are coming.

How can you tell if your job might be on the chopping block? Check out these potential hints that a pink slip may have your name on it in the near future—and what you can do to keep your career moving forward.

Subtle signs that layoffs are coming:

1. Exciting projects are going to the “other person.” 

If you raise your hand to take on upcoming projects and they get handed to someone else, that's a red flag, especially if it happens more than once. Ask your manager what future projects you can look forward to taking on. If the answer is vague, that’s a tip right there.

2. Nonessential budgets are being reduced.

Be wary when perks start disappearing. When the fun things are no longer being sponsored, that means the money is tight and that’s a red flag.

3. New products or expansions are being postponed.

In prosperous times, businesses are pursuing initiatives for growth. In leaner times, they hunker down and return to basics by focusing on what is guaranteed to bring in revenue rather than looking to the future.

Serious signs that layoffs are coming:

1. There’s a heightened sense of belt-tightening.

It’s never a good sign when the company starts putting all financial exchanges under a microscope and requiring approvals from senior management. For example, expense accounts are scrutinized and new procedures are being implemented.

2. There’s a merger or acquisition.

This event might be a smart move for a company as a whole, but it’s not always a great sign for its employees. Duplicate positions are superfluous and that means layoffs could be in the future.

3. You’re being kept out of the loop.

Beginning to feel ostracized? Not invited to team meetings or being removed from email distribution lists? Speak up, ask why you’re not getting invited and express your interest in participating.

4. Executives appear more stressed than normal.

If executives are being evasive or less than forthcoming with answers about future projects, that's suspicious. Now is not the time for leaders to be silent in the face of so much uncertainty. For example, senior leaders are having more private calls than normal.

Alarm bells:

1. Your company is bleeding money.

Don’t get spooked by a short-term dip in revenue, as it happens even to thriving businesses. However, if your company is not making its profitability targets for several quarters in a row, dust off your resume.

2. Essential budgets are being cut to the bone.

The marketing budget has been slashed, physical offices have been downsized and moved to smaller, less-expensive locations. Drastic budget cuts are valid reasons to watch your back.

3. There’s a hiring freeze.

When job postings have disappeared, that means the growth of the company is being put on hold. If a company isn’t growing, it’s struggling.

4. Executives are leaving in droves.

Senior managers are often privy to information that lower employees aren’t entitled to. When a significant number of top brass are jumping ship, company-wide layoffs could very well be around the corner.

5. There’s talk of restructuring.

Put simply, this is another way of saying get ready for job cuts.

6. There’s already been a round of layoffs.

One round of job cuts isn’t the end of the world. More than one round indicates there will be even more. Just because you survived one wave of layoffs doesn’t mean you’re safe. Keep your eyes and ears open.

7. Your boss or HR is asking you a ton of questions about what you do.

You might be asked to write a job description for your position and that could be a sign that you’re about to be replaced.

8. You’re getting locked out of files or emails.

If you haven’t heard from HR or IT about why this happened, make sure to watch out. 

If layoffs are coming, do what you an to get a head start right away.

Negotiating a more suitable salary has put pressure on potential candidates over the years. Remember, we all go through the process of salary negotiation sooner or later. Keep these ten tips in mind when it's your turn to ask for a sweeter deal. 

1. Be Persuasive

It's hard to encourage your boss to increase your compensation package and trying to do so can potentially damage your working relationship. Think about the process as trying to convince him/her that it might benefit the organization to pay you more.

2. Aim High & Be Realistic

Many researchers have found a strong relationship between people's aspirations and the results they achieve in the negotiation process. At the same time, you may want to suggest ideas that your boss can realistically agree with based on your working relationship. 

3. Start Off With The Right Tone

You want to start off and let your boss know that you will listen and try to understand his/her views. At the same time, you expect your boss to do the same for you so you can work together to address this issue. Avoid ultimatums, threats and other coercive behaviors.

4. Clarify Your Interests

Your compensation should satisfy a range of needs, not just the salary itself. Make sure you have thought about other points of value to you as well like profit sharing, stock options, bonuses, additional work responsibilities, a promotion schedule, increased vacation or flexible working hours.

5. Anticipate Your Boss's Interests

Just like you, your boss has needs and concerns. To persuade him/her to say yes, your ideas will have to address those key things that are important.

6. Create Several Avenues

A collaborative brainstorming session is the most effective way to find ideas that satisfy everyone's interests. It works best when you separate it from commitment, so first off you should create possible solutions and then decide which ones are ideal.

7. Focus On Objective Criteria

It is easier to persuade someone to agree with your proposal if they see how that proposal is firmly grounded on objective criteria, such as what similar companies pay people for experience or what others within your own company make.

8. Think Through Your Alternatives

In case you cannot persuade your boss to say yes on the first go around, you will then need to have a backup plan. Part of preparing is creating a specific action plan so you know what you'll do if you have to walk away from the table.

9. Prepare Thoughtfully In Order To Achieve Your Goals

This is the only aspect of your negotiations that you can completely control. To take advantage of this advice, you have to invest a significant amount of your time and energy.

10. Reviewing To Learn

The only way you can improve your ability to negotiate is to explicitly learn from your experiences. After you finish negotiations, reflect on what worked well and what you might want to do differently in the future.

You may have specific reasons or motivations for volunteering. A hiring manager appreciates candidates who have volunteer work aptly placed on a resume. A recent study found that volunteers have a higher likelihood of finding a job after being out of work than people who haven't made the effort to volunteer.

Volunteering and donating your time is a clear display of your intention to get involved and give back to your community. It also shows that you have initiative and enjoy trying new things. From that alone, employers can infer that you're the type of employee who is willing to help out and contribute to the greater good on behalf of their organization.

You might be wondering how do you leverage these sellable traits on your resume? The best way to format your volunteer work depends on your career level and where you are planning to go in your near future. 

Follow these tips to get your foot in the door:

Volunteering for New Graduates

Entry-level candidates with minimal work experience should highlight their volunteer work even if it becomes the main focus of the resume. Make an effort to showcase how you learned to utilize your communication, leadership and planning skills. Don’t forget to mention how these experiences motivated you to become more adaptable to ever changing work environments.

You can incorporate volunteering in the work experience section if you have little to no paid work history. Treat the experience as if it were a paid job, but make sure to indicate your volunteering status in the description or next to your title. 

List the following:

• Organization's name
• Location
• Functional title
• Date range
• Accomplishments

Volunteering for Career Change & Reentering the Workforce

Volunteering is an ideal way to develop and showcase new in demand skill sets. Employers will be interested in the fact that you made the distinct effort to acquire new skills. It's a great way to set yourself up for a career change. 

Again, remember to list this work as volunteering and not paid employment. Your experience won't be minimized, and you'll be showing employers that you're not embellishing your actual work history. 

Volunteering for Those On A Steady Career Track

If you have an established career path, you don't need to include your volunteer work. Your professional work experience will take center stage on your resume. 

Don't Risk Including Too Much Information

If you've volunteered with organizations that reveal information you wouldn't want a prospective employer to know, consider leaving them off of your resume. For example, if you've volunteered with religious or political groups, consider listing the skills you acquired rather than highlighting the affiliation with those organizations. 

Target the Employer's Philanthropic Leanings

Dedicate some time researching prospective employers to discover how much emphasis they place on community and philanthropy. Modify the volunteer section to reflect the stance of the companies that interest you. 

If you find out that a company that you're applying to champions a specific cause or organization, be sure to mention any similar companies that you've volunteered with. This demonstrates that you're familiar with the issues and could be a solid cultural fit within the company.