How do I do that? Is it possible to recession-proof my career? What control do I really have? If my employer decides to let me go, what can I do about that?
All these are great questions. Recession-proofing your career is about preventative maintenance. You visit your doctor annually, the dentist twice a year and you take your car in for an oil change when your supposed to (my mechanic lectured me on this several months ago). These preventative analytics are taken because they are an investment in your future. The same preventative maintenance should be/must be taken with our careers.
Step 1: Assessment
What are your talents, skills, and abilities?
What do you want to do next?
Where could you do this?
Do you need anything to reach this goal?
Step 2: Research
What do you know about the companies who might hire for this next opportunity?
Who are the people who hire for the job you would want?
Who do you know who works there or who has worked there?
Step 3: Presenting Yourself
When you describe what you do, does it sound valuable?
Is your message clear, focused?
Does everyone know what you can do?
How can you get the message out to more people?
Does your resume “sell” your talents?
Step 4: Project Management
What do you need to be doing to reach your goal?
How do you make time to follow your plan?
How can you most efficiently budget your time?
Step 5: Communication/Self Awareness Strategies
How confident are you in speaking about your abilities?
Have you identified your value to an organization?
How do you talk about your successes to a stranger?
Step 6: Project Evaluation
How do you know what you are doing is working?
Are your time lines and goals realistic?
The true key to recession-proofing your career is being in control and you do that by always having an eye on the future. Always be asking yourself, “What do I want to do next and where could I do that?”.
Don’t wait to be laid off to start this. Start today. The mindset of the unemployed is usually filled with a lack of confidence and desperation.
You are in control of where you are going, that is, if you know where you want to go.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
