According to a recent Harvard Business Review article, your best line of defense against layoffs may be a positive attitude.

The article's authors, Janet Banks and Diane Coutu, write that “while everyone prefers working with a personable superstar to an incompetent jerk, when people need help getting a job done, they'll chose a congenial colleague over one who is more capable but less lovable.” When it comes time to make the hard decisions about who stays and who goes, managers are likely to axe the people who are most unpleasant to work with, regardless of how much talent or skill they have to offer.

"Don't be the guy who's always in a bad mood,” warn Banks and Coutu." Who wants to be in the trenches
with him?"

Certainly, there's more to positivity than simply being cheerful. It also requires optimism, forward thinking, and a willingness to work hard and take on new responsibilities. Layoffs, the article's authors note, can occur at any level of a company and “can create vacuums above and below you.” Workers who are able to fill those vacuums and pick up the slack will be as close to indispensable as anyone can be in this uncertain economy. “Prove your value to the firm by showing your relevance to the work at hand, which may have shifted since the economy softened.”

In any business, particularly one as service-oriented as the copier industry, concentrating on what's best for the customers will never steer you wrong, say Banks and Coutu. “Anticipating the needs of your customers...should be your top priority. Your job is less likely to be eliminated if customers find that your contribution is indispensable.”

To put it more simply, just do like your mother told you, and treat everyone—your customers, your coworkers, and your bosses—the way you'd want to be treated. In times like these, nice guys finish first.

Out of work? You're not alone The unemployment rate continues to rise, with analysts expecting it to near ten percent by the end of the year. If you're out of a job, make sure you submit your resume to Copier Careers®—as the number one recruiter in the industry, we're better equipped than anyone to match qualified candidates with copier industry jobs. Then read these seven job hunting facts. After all, knowledge is power.

1. A majority of all open jobs are not advertised. Estimates range anywhere from 70 to 95 percent. Whatever the exact figure may be, it's certain that job seekers need to look beyond the classifieds if they hope to find work quickly. Social networking and cold calling are some of the job seeker's most powerful tools.
    
2. Most unemployed people in this recession will remain unemployed for approximately five months. (Source: US Department of Labor.) Fewer jobs and more competition make landing that new position a more lengthy process than ever. Don't get discouraged if you can't find a new job right away—it will happen for you, but you'll need to be persistent. 
    
3. One-in-four human resources managers receive more than 75 resumes for open positions. (Source: careerbuilder.com.) With competition this stiff, you need to do everything you can to make your resume and cover letter stand out. Right now, "qualified" just isn't enough.
    
4. 60 percent of HR managers spend fewer than two minutes reviewing an application. (Source: careerbuilder.com.) Make sure your application materials are brief and to-the-point. Busy employers aren't willing to wade through bloated cover letters and wordy resumes. Do yourself and your HR rep a favor, and cut to the chase.
    
5. Most HR managers report that half of the resumes they receive are from unqualified candidates. (Source: careerbuilder.com.) If you think you're going to squeak by without the necessary education, experience, or certification, think again. And if you don't meet the minimum requirements for the job, don't waste your time applying.
    
6. More than half of HR managers use an applicant tracking system to screen and organize resumes. (Source: careerbuilder.com.) To improve your ranking, incorporate keywords from the job posting into your resume and cover letter. Doing so also shows that you're paying attention to what the employer is looking for.
    
7. Approximately 40 percent of employers plan to trim benefits and office perks this year. (Source: careerbuilder.com.) For those of you who are employed, say goodbye to dental insurance, company parties, and free coffee. In the coming months, employers will be looking to trim all the excess they can. Complain all you want, but it probably won't do you any good—there are plenty of unemployed people who'd be happy to trade places with you.

Eric Armour Named President of Xerox's Global Business and Strategic Marketing Group. Armour, who is currently serving as VP, will be responsible for the worldwide management of Xerox's integrated strategy, launch, and marketing for its $5 billion production and $8 billion office businesses. He joined Xerox in 2007 as the company's chief strategist.

X-Solutions and Sharp Announce Release of SimplifyScan for Sharp OSA-enabled MFPs. SimplifyScan allows users to easily capture documents and distribute copies to any location on their network, directly from their Sharp MFPs. "Adding value and creating a positive user experience is what we want to provide with SimplifyScan," said Stephanie Bourgeois, VP of X-Solutions. "Sharp shares our dedication to delivering best-in-class service to our customers, and we look forward to working in tandem to deliver valuable document management solutions."

Lexmark to Broaden Its Retail Distribution Network. The company's Professional Series line of printers and all-in-ones, which includes wireless color AIOs and monochrome and color lasers, will be distributed via Staples, Office Depot, OfficeMax, InkStop, MicroCenter, and Fry's. "The announcement of these retail partnerships is a key milestone in Lexmark's strategy to become a premier printing solutions provider for the small business marketplace," said Paul Rooke, Lexmark's executive VP and president of the company's Imaging Solutions Division. "These partners are valued resources to America's small business communities and provide them with the tools and services to help them reach their goals."

HP Announces New and Updated Programs to Help Spanish-Speaking Customers Get Online Help and Support. The programs include a Spanish language peer-to-peer online support forum and an updated Spanish language Customer Care site. "These programs represent a growing evolution in consumer support," said Jodi Schilling, VP of Americas Customer Support for HP. "Providing a way for Spanish-speaking customers to assist each other through a community and get better support online helps us achieve our goal of improving customer satisfaction worldwide."

Last month, we asked our readers whether their companies operate blogs. The results were split right down the middle: 50% of respondents said their companies do operate blogs; 50% said they don't. The comments were similarly divided, with most people either loving blogs or loathing them:

Reader comments included:

“I say blogging is a great use of marketing resources.”

“It's a waste of time and energy." 

“They're a good marketing product, but a real pain to maintain."

“Our blog generates name recognition for our reps and our company. It's very cost effective for us.” 

“A total waste of time for business.”

“Blogs are a great way to communicate with clients and potential clients.”

“Our blog is the best lead generator I've ever used.”

“We do a monthly newsletter to customers and potential customers, and many times I visit those very customers and see the newsletter in the trash. I suppose a blog may at the very least cut down on paper consumption.”

Has your company cut back on perks during this economic downturn?

- Yes.
- No.