With the economy in crisis, and daily news of massive layoffs, many of us are worried about hanging on to our jobs.

It would actually be more constructive for us to be thinking about positioning ourselves for promotion. After all, as there are fewer employees in an organization, those who survive the downsizing often have increased opportunities to move up. Here is how you can be poised for success when those opportunities arise.

1. Know the criteria on which employees are judged and evaluated. The more you know about what is important to your organization, the more you can rack up points.

2. Help your boss succeed. And, when you perform well, share the credit with him or her.

3. When you bring your boss problems, always bring solutions. In fact, make a reputation for yourself as a problem solver.

4. Be dependable. People who can be relied on are rewarded.

5. Accept challenges eagerly. In fact, seek them out.

6. Good cheer and a positive attitude can take people a long way in the workplace. Never engage in gossip or criticism of colleagues. No exceptions.

7. Accept praise with humility. Accept criticism without anger or hurt.

8. What skills does your organization need that your colleagues do not have? Developing them will show initiative and greatly increase your value.

9. Do not neglect to take the time to organize yourself. Good organizational skills are always noted and valued. And, the higher up the employment pyramid you go, the more important it is to be well organized.

10. Continue to develop and maintain good relationships with co-workers. Be as helpful to them as possible, and be quick to offer encouragement and praise.

You never know when that next opportunity to move up the career ladder will come or whether it will be in your current workplace or somewhere else. But, by taking the steps above, you can put yourself in a great position to be a serious candidate.