Can Your Job Survive The Recession

With unemployment rates climbing to a whopping 5.7 percent and almost daily reports of industry giants closing their doors, many of us have that queasy feeling of impending doom in the pit of our stomach. And unless we’re lucky enough to be in a “recession-proof” career (if there’s such an animal), the lingering question on all of our minds is whether or not our jobs are safe in these tough times.

This may be the time to become a team player, and being the best employee you can be may give you an added advantage over other employees. For instance go out of your way to be highly visible at work, especially to your supervisors. Don’t hesitate to go above and beyond and do that extra little something that sets you apart. There are some positions that the company can live without, so try to work your way into a core position that makes you indispensable. Come to work early and stay late. Live and breathe your company’s mission. Share its goals, and be an active participant in internal and external activities.

Since many companies have corporate offices in other states, the likelihood of your hard work and accomplishments standing out to them is lessened. You must do whatever you can to impress your local supervisor so that the message can be conveyed up the corporate channels. Being proactive is in your best interest at times like these.

If the times are telling you that there’s a possibility that you’ll lose your job, then you may need to change from a passive to a proactive mode. Get your resume updated and reprinted. And make sure your interviewing skills are sharpened, possibly even using your friends as guinea pigs to ask you questions. Making sure your job skills are updated and pertinent to the current market is as important as anything else.

It may seem like the possibility of losing your job can be debilitating, but there are things you can do to minimize its impact. Avoid making large purchases and make sure you sign up for credit insurance so that some of your bills can be covered. If you can manage it, try to set aside some money for a rainy day. And know that unemployment will likely be available to you, even though the amount maxes out these days at about $330 per week. If the working world leaves you aside, try to keep your head up and consider the positives. After every thunderstorm there is always sunshine.