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Each month, JobFox, a leading job research company, releases its list of the professions in greatest demand by recruiters and other employer agents. In the most recent report, JobFox added a twist, publishing a list of jobs that remain in high demand despite the current economic downturn.
Jobs high on the list include sales reps, software developers, nurses, accountants and accounting staff, finance executives, and administration assistants. But this data, while interesting, doesn’t help you that much if your company is feeling the pinch and needs to take action. The truth is, in tough times, no job is necessarily secure.
So instead of looking for, or switching to, these so-called recession-proof jobs (which could easily change in next month’s report), you’re much better off taking some simple steps to try and recession-proof your career. The following are a few tangible ways to help you avoid the chopping block in today’s tougher economy:
Make yourself invaluable
Go above and beyond your basic job responsibilities. This is more than just getting to work on time and not missing deadlines. It means volunteering for more responsibility. It means finding ways to generate revenues and utilize cheaper resources to complete your job with the same high standard. It also means having the kind of positive attitude that lifts morale and increases production. Remember, it’s a lot easier to lay off the whiners and the nay-sayers who pollute the work environment and promote failure than it is to “give the sack” to hardworking employees who are making a real effort to adapt and adjust to the clear challenges that the company is facing.
Step into the limelight
A great way create value is to be visible, to distinguish yourself in a positive way. Some people think that the best way to survive a downturn is to try and sink below the radar, to do your job well, but to stay out of the way. And while this might work for a little while, ask yourself this: Does your employer know how crucial your skills are to your company’s success? If you’re not sure, now is not the time to be a wallflower. Get involved, and show your company that they need you now more than ever.
Improve your skills
A great way to recession-proof your career is to update your skills. Take a few classes. Get that certification or advanced degree you’ve been thinking about. Let’s face it, in tough times, if your company sees your skill set as obsolete, they just might invest in someone who is better-trained. By improving your education, however, your career is much safer now and in the long run. Besides, even if these classes or degrees don’t help you keep your current job, your new education and skills could help you secure a new one if it becomes necessary, maybe even a better one!
Networking vs. Not Working
The best part about improving your education is the people you meet in the process. In an educational environment, you’ll meet tons of people in your field at various stages of their careers. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn from and to help these professionals. Join networking groups. Take calls from headhunters. Polish up your résumé. Find out what others in your field are doing, what their plans are, and share your plans with them. The time to start networking is not after you’ve been laid off, so don’t wait. This kind of preparation is more than just being cautious, it’s being proactive, which can provide, if nothing else, confidence in even the most desperate times.
Surviving the storm
The best way to survive a tough economy is to understand that each downturn is different and that, eventually, things will improve. In fact, there hasn’t been a recession yet that we haven’t overcome as a nation, and today’s market is no different. We will get through it, and we will continue to grow and thrive in the next upturn. And by being proactive now in our professional careers we can weather the storm and come out stronger on the other end. After all, when it comes to the economy, if there’s one thing you can count on it’s that everything is cyclical, from the financial markets to the job market to the real estate markets.
As a mortgage professional, this is an important concept I’ve accepted and embraced a long time ago, and it’s how I’ve managed to continue to thrive in any market cycle. Did you know that, since 2005, more than 65% of professionals in my field have gone out of business? My company, however, has continued to grow based on the many referrals of satisfied clients who I’ve helped and continue to help reach all of their financial goals and needs as homeowners.
If you or anyone you know could benefit from my unique mortgage services as well, please don’t hesitate to call me. We’ll take good care of them and provide them with the same great service we provide you. Also, if you have any more tips for recession-proofing a professional career during an economic downturn that I should add to my list, please share them. They will definitely come in handy in the future when the economy comes full circle. |
