Make Your Job Recession-Proof

Things Are Changing

It’s not something we often think about, but when unemployment is climbing in the US (currenlty 5.7%, nationally) we start thinking about the possibilities. Recent lay-offs locally have this weighing heavy on my heart, so I wanted to post on it.

Let’s face it, there is no such thing as a ‘safe job’. Everyone is replaceable (at least that’s what my old employers used to tell me), and unless you’re an owner, things tend to fall down hill. So, what can you do to recession-proof your job? Well, let’s dig a little deeper and see what comes up.

Survey Says

According to JobFox, a leading job research company – there is a short list of jobs that seem to remain in high demand even though the economy hits some turbulance. These jobs included:

Sales Representatives (Specifically, salespeople who can actually sell)
Software Developers
Nurses
Accountants
Accounting Staff
Finance Executives
Administration Assistants

Okay, with that said – don’t go leaving your job to get one of these. It would be silly and probably not necessary.

How Do You Stay Off The Chopping Block Then?

Since I don’t think changing your job to one of the seven listed above, I figured I’d give a little advice on how to secure your current position. Here we go:

Make Yourself Invaluable – Go above and beyond your basic job responsibilities. You’ve got to do more than just show up for work on time and meet deadlines. Volunteer yourself for more responsibility. Be an asset to your company. Find ways to be more efficient and create more income for your company. Bring a more positive attitude to work, it will increase production. Just remember, it’s a lot easier to lay off people that are whiners.
Step Into the Limelight – A great way to be valuable is to be visible. Distinguish yourself in a positive way! Some people try to stay ‘under the radar’ when it comes to getting the job done. The problem here is your work can go unnoticed and you’ll be overlooked as a stellar employee. Get involved and show your company that you’re more valuable now than ever.
Improve Your Skills – Employers like people with great skills. Numb chucking skills, computer hacking skills, you get it. No seriously though, take a few classes. Depending on your line of work, you could also get additional certifications or an advanced degree. It’s easy to loose your job to someone that is more qualified or more educated.Honestly, ‘sharpening the saw’ is always a great idea. If you are highly qualified, you might be leaving your current employer to go to someone that will pay you more for your hightly valued skills.
Network vs. Not Working – The cool part of becoming a student of your business is the opportunity to meet others. You’ll be able to meet other professionals at different points in their careers. Listen to these professionals, they will teach you things! Take time to join networking groups, get out and meet people (not at bars, but professional development opportunities). If headhunters are calling you, listen to them – you never want to close doors to opportunities like these. Creating these relationships NOW will make a job search much easier in the future, god forbid you have to.
Everything is Cyclical – It’s funny (in a sick way) that everything happens in patterns. Real estate markets are cyclical, job markets are cyclical and financial markets. Don’t worry when things get rough, that means things are about to get a whole lot better!

Take the Advice from the Mortgage Guy That’s Still In Business

Seriously. Think about it. Since 2005, 65% of the professionals in my industry have left the business. Most of these individuals left before lay-offs forced them out. It’s crazy to think about it.

I don’t want this blog post to be about me, but i pulled these suggestions from what I’ve been doing in the past year. By creating a different type of mortgage experience, we’ve created an easy way to stay in business. People dig it.

Need to Network?

If you’re personally looking to network, but don’t know where to start – please contact me. I’d love to help you out. I don’t want anyone to be scared of what’s happening in the market, I want Iowans to thrive in this market.

Original Photo Kudos