Dear J.T. & Dale: Our company is in the process of eliminating employees who cannot perform at its new standards. It keeps changing things daily. I am 46 years old, and I really don’t want to have to start all over again. I do my best, but I don’t always feel I’ve done enough. What should I do? — Elizabeth

J.T.: First, go back and get clarification on the new standards and on what quantifiable steps can you take to ensure that you’re meeting them. Ask your manager for a definition of a successful employee in your position. That way, you have recourse if they decide to fire you.

Dale: Let’s not talk about “recourse.” We don’t want you to just be getting by, Elizabeth — we want you to thrive, to be given bonuses and promotions. And you can’t get there by focusing on not getting fired. Instead of asking your managers to define minimum acceptable performance, ask them what it takes to be a star. Ask them who they consider the top performers, and then study those people.

J.T.: Also ask for as much feedback as possible, to ensure that you are doing a great job. But that said, my bigger concern for you is your fear of losing your job. I suggest that you take steps now to alleviate this. To start, get your resume updated and register at a staffing agency. They’ll be able to tell you about the various job opportunities available to someone with your skill set. I’ve known people in your position who end up finding an even better job that they never would have considered if they hadn’t been pushed to check out their options.

Dale: I can practically feel you cringing at the thought of testing the job market, Elizabeth. But you can’t think of a new job as having to “start all over again.” The best careers are evolutions, gracefully easing from one job and interest to another. It’s not starting over; it’s growing and learning. So, work at learning and growing within your current job, but never forget that you’ll probably have several more jobs before you’re done. If all goes well, none of them will be “starting over.”

Jeanine “J.T.” Tanner O’Donnell is a workplace consultant, career coach and author of CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to A Satisfying Career. Dale Dauten’s latest book is “(Great) Employees Only: How Gifted Bosses Hire and De-Hire Their Way to Success” (John Wiley & Sons). Please visit them at jtanddale.com, where you can send questions via e-mail, or write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019.