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Recession-Proof Your Career
By Jessica Delli Santi
With unemployment heading for double digits and the US economy shedding hundreds of thousands of jobs each month, now is the time to bolster your skills and polish your resume. The last thing you want to be doing during the most dismal economy in decades is looking for work. So if you're gainfully employed and need to stay that way, there are some fundamental steps you can take to recession-proof your career.
Now - before economic hardship at your employer forces your hand - is the time to act. Consider these recommendations by personnel and recruitment pros that can keep you in the best position to hold onto the job you have.
1. Make yourself more visible and seek more responsibility. By volunteering for new tasks you demonstrate to your employer that you are an asset to your company.
2. Pick up new job skills. If pink slips are in your company's plans, now is the time to stand out among your peers and show your value as an employee. Becoming a subject-matter expert in an area vital to your company's business will make you a keeper if and when your company must make cuts.
3. To that end, now's a great time to head back to school to earn an advanced degree or professional certificate. The explosion of online education, night and weekend classes and "executive" degree programs aimed specifically at working professionals makes it easier than ever to earn new credentials while maintaining your current job. The 2008 Sloan Survey of Online Learning, released in November 2008 before the severity of the current downturn was completely clear, found that two-year and private for-profit institutions, which "tend to offer programs that have traditionally been tailored to serve working adults," were already bracing for an upturn in enrollment stemming from the recession and high unemployment, as were all types of colleges, though to a lesser extent.
4. Start networking now. Many people wait until they are looking for a job to begin networking, but recruitment experts insist that networking should be standard operating procedure at all times. If you're not already a member, join relevant professional associations, which can provide training and education opportunities, and attend their functions regularly. The cost of membership is typically nominal and a good investment in your career. Also, colleges offer career counseling and other services that can help you get your networking in high gear. You never know who could prove to be a valuable resource to your current employer as well as in any future job search.
5. Remain positive and continue to excel at your job to the best of your ability. It is easy to be distracted and preoccupied by the constant stream of layoffs and bad economic news. But a positive frame of mind goes far and will help you stand out as a vital member of your team. When businesses struggle and sales lag, that's when leading companies gain market share from weaker competitors and the most creative and innovative employees can shine brightest. Focus your energies on problem solving and creative solutions, rather than complaining and commiserating with your peers about how tough times are.
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