Recession-proof your career

Recession-proof your career Recession-proof your careerPosted October 13, 2011, by Helen Isbister Employers are starting to feel the vicious bite of the global financial crisis and many are cutting back on costs and staff. Dont panic, but do prepare yourself so youre not the first to go if your company decides to downsize. If you have a feeling your job could be on the chopping block, then get pro-active to either save it from redundancy or jump ship before the company goes under. You might not be able to recession-proof your specific job, but you can definitely recession-proof your career Be indispensable This is the time to shine more than ever before. While a year ago you might have been arriving early and putting your hand up for extra assignments in the hope of a pay rise and promotion, now its all in the personenname of keeping your fingers tightly clasped around your security pass. Make your work bigger and better, then indulge in a little self-promotion so your stunning resul ts dont escape the bosss attention. Dont be a business expense The bottom line is at the forefront of the bosss mind right now, so demonstrate that you are personally keeping profits as high as possible. Pinch pennies, cut costs and generate sources of revenue so that the boss will see you as a money saver rather than a business expense. Minimise the bells and whistles on your projects and go easy on cab charges so that they dont begin to think of you as an unnecessary cost just waiting to be cut. Its all about attitude Whingeing about extra hours, a less-than-impressive pay review and company stinginess will only fast-track your road to redundancy. The last thing the boss wants is a morale-killer lurking in the office and they might even think they are doing you a favour by giving you the boot. Remember that any stinginess might be out of necessity rather than cruelty, so you are just going to have to grin and bear it for the time being. Update your skills Keep building skills that add value to you as an employee. It doesnt take the latest technology to figure out that someone who is up-to-date and useful across different areas of the business wont be the first one shown the door. If your current job is not salvageable, no matter how many extra skills you have tallied up, then at least hunting for a new gig will become a whole lot easier with your bulked-up resume. Network Dont wait for the redundancy slip to make its way onto your desk before you start schmoozing, catching up with old colleagues and lunching with interesting new contacts. There is no point rallying your contacts in a time of crisis when you havent been there in the good times. Make a list of at least 10 business contacts and start locking in times to catch up. They might find you a brilliant new job sooner than expected, be able to help you out if things go bust at your current employer or, at the very least, be fun to have a drink with. Keep an eye out Keep your resume fresh, keep your eyes peeled for job ads and call back those headhunters. It pays to always be one step ahead of the game and, if you are going to have to start a job search, its good to be aware of whats out there. That said dont jump too soon. If you know a new job could be waiting in the wings, its definitely worth picking up a solid redundancy payout on the way out the door. Get a job where there is a skills shortage While some industries, including retail, manufacturing, finance and technology, are vulnerable during recessions, some industries survive (even thrive) in the downtimes. Resources industries are still in the grip of a skills shortage, which means not only will you be able to land yourself a job but a very decent salary to go along with it. Despite a slowdown in residential construction, builders, plumbers and other tradies are still in high demand on commercial projects. Health and education are resilient regardless of economic growth or decline. Australias ageing population means the n eed for careworkers and nurses is rising, and teachers are always in demand. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchescareer objective examplespersuasive career change cover lettercareer advicecareer objective for accounting internshipcareer personality test CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineHelen IsbisterRelated ArticlesBrowse moreJob hunting tips7 Questions a Job Recruiter Will Ask You Are you meeting up with a recruiter soon? If so, then preparing before you go to meet them is important. 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