Your Job is Not Recession Proof

Hey, good news--No job is safe.

Google "Recession Proof Career" and you'll get tons of websites that will give you: 8, 10 or 7 ways to protect your job, standout at work, develop your skills, use social networking, etc. Much of it is great advice, but the truth is that no one is immune to the economy.

So why is this something to cheer about? Because it means this is your chance to play around with a variety of jobs. To make it now you've got to start thinking outside the job and DIVERSIFY your career. The new career model won't leave you stuck in a cubicle.

Isn't everyone always droning about how they hate getting up in the morning to do the same old thing? Go to the same old job? See the same old people?

Well if you haven't been forced out of the rut by layoffs and closures, the best way to recession proof your career is to mix it up. Now is your chance to enrich your life and start bringing in income by playing around with different things.

Some ideas for additional income sources:

• Open an eBay shop


• Start consulting


• write a blog
  
• sell your crafts


• get a second job that doesn't consume your brain


• launch your own business (this might seem crazy, but if you don't need a lot of start up money this is a good time to play around with your business model)

The key is to think of your income source as you would an investment portfolio. Put all your prospects into one investment (your job) and if it goes under you are screwed. But if you diversify by having several income sources, you've always got something that will bring in cash.

Does taking on more work make you tired just thinking about it? Look at your life. What do you do when you come home? Can you squeeze in a few extra hours? Stop surfing the web and open your online job.

Through diversification you'll add more depth and excitement to your life. Remember those old 60s tv shows. The dad went to work, the same job everyday. Didn't you feel sorry for him?

Long gone are the days when you worked for one company and retired with a comfortable pension. And gone are the days when your 401(k) was your ticket to a charmed retirement. Even early retirement buyout deals are in the past. Now even offering health insurance is a burden for many companies.

Sure some industries will fare better than others, but for most there is too much that is out of your control. If you are in sales you might be working extra hard, but if your buyers aren't able to make it work on their end it will effect you. If you work for a large company you can't do much about benefit cuts.

Jump in to new opportunities, but as always be cautious about get rich scams and anything that requires you to dump money into it.

3 Moves to Career Moves to Make Now

I guess anybody can be surprised by a layoff. But really in times like these only the completely ignorant would think that there job is layoff-proof.

Actually the people who don't get laid-off are probably the ones that understand that anyone is dispensable. These people know that while the rumor mill isn't usually 100% correct, there is often some truth in what's whispered behind the cubicle. They also make it there business to know at least a little about the company's performance.

But I was a bit surprised today to read PsychCentral's post by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. naming 7 Ways to Cope with a Layoff. And so if the rumors are twirling and there's hard talk about profits. I propose that you do steps 4,5 and 6 before the cut happens.

4. Take Stock in Your Finances and Budget

If you aren't working toward ridding yourself of debt and living within your means you're just putting your head in the sand. And that includes paying attention to that failing 401(k) and protecting your nest egg.

5. Take Care of Insurance

Without a doubt the biggest bummer about being unemployed is the loss of health insurance, especially if you have a family. COBRA isn't a solution either. It's extremely expensive. Start researching options and paying attention to your junk mail. If you find a plan you like keep it in your back pocket...just in case.

6. Hit the Classifieds

Everyone knows that the best time to look for a job is when you aren't looking. There's a lot less pressure and if you get interviewed you won't emit desperation.

IF, and I really do not wish this on anyone, you should be downsized then definitely take a look at the other 4 steps (Keep Your Emotions in Check, Get the Information, Regroup and Reframe, Don’t Give Up Hope). But taking care of 4, 5, and 6 will make these other steps a heck of a lot easier.