The news media has been talking a lot lately about how our economy is headed for a recession this year. Even the Presidential candidates on both sides are putting this at the top of their agenda during their political campaigning. Now whether this is true or false, you still need to prepare yourself in case our economy does slip into a slight recession.
Companies may use the economy as an excuse to lay-off employees, restructure or even cut back on compensation programs. For example, restructuring sales commission plans to favor the organization and not the employee to help the bottom line. No matter what happens, this is not a time where you want to be unemployed! Finding a job during a recession can be a very difficult task, especially if you are let go from your current employer.
In order to help prevent you from getting laid off or permanently let go from your current position we have come up with a few easy ways to help recession proof your career.
“If you prepare for the worst, you can expect the best”
Keith Zimcosky, President Interview Connections
- Update your resume! The last thing you want is to be surprised by a lay off and have to rethink about all your past and present work experiences. Finding a new job is very stressful, especially when you lose your current job unexpectedly. Keeping your resume current will ease your stress and allow you to start looking for a new job sooner than later. Your resume should always be current but it should especially be current if you are working for a struggling organization that may use the economy as an excuse to cut back on costs by eliminating positions.
- Become an expert at what you do! Learn every aspect of your current job and take on tasks that will force companies to have to keep you in the event of a lay off. Make it known to your current employer that you want to go back to school and take more classes which will help you in the current field your in. Ask questions and show you want to learn more about your current role.
- Stay positive! Now is not the time to go to your boss and start complaining about the organization or how unfair things may be in your current position. Offer assistance and show you are a team player! Reinforce through your actions that you enjoy your job. Now is not the time to come in late or leave early. Stay a little later if you have to. Show your organization you are committed to making them profitable, this will make it more difficult to let you go.
- Avoid negativity in the workplace! Every organization has those employees who do nothing but complain. They talk about the organization and have an attitude that everyone is out to get them. Avoid these people like the plague! Should a restructuring take place, they are the first to be let go! You do not want to be apart of these groups. You can be the most positive person in the world but the old saying, “guilty by association”, certainly falls in to play here. Focus on yourself and not what others are saying. Don’t get caught up in office gossip!
- Start sending out your resume! When interviewing with some organizations the interview process can take months. Be prepared and start that process now! Even if you are not in a bad situation right now, it may not hurt to start sending out resumes to stay ahead. Should companies start restructuring and letting people go, and you are working for one of these companies, you want to stay one foot ahead of your competition. New job candidates will flood the market and there will be a lot of competition for the available job openings out there. If your company is having a hard time paying their electric bill, this is a good sign to start sending your resume out to begin the interviewing process, because odds are they will cut employees to save on expenses.
No matter what happens Interview Connections is here to help! Hopefully all the talk about the economy slipping into a recession is just hype but it still can’t hurt to prepare.
