When the economy goes south and your company asks you to take a pay cut, stay home and watch the kids or just go ahead and retire, it’s tempting just to head for the hills. But you’re not welcome in most of those other places either. Taking a job at another company might be your best bet for keeping yourself employed. Working for different employers gives you access to fresh people and new skills that can translate into any number of positions in a new economy. And when layoffs happen at one company after another, hiring outside means staying connected to friends, family and colleagues so no one is left high and dry. Here are six tips How To Keep Your Job During Recession and to keep yourself employed during a recession.
Keep up on current affairs and related topics
It’s easy to feel alone and disconnected in a down economy, but keep yourself up to date with the news. Pay attention to what’s happening politically, what’s happening in the economy, and what’s happening in the world. Learn why things are happening the way they are. You can find a lot of information on the internet and it’s worth your time to learn how the current system works. You don’t have to be an expert, but you do need to be familiar with the basic facts. Keep up with current affairs related to your industry and find out what’s going on with labor laws and hiring patterns in your area. It’s also worth keeping an eye on debates happening locally and nationally. If there’s a particular topic that you’re interested in, there’s a good chance you can find a web site or social media group that’s discussing it. Keeping up-to-date on current affairs and related topics will help you frame your own thinking and career goals.
Network like crazy
It’s easy to think that the only way to find a job is to cold-call or send out mass emails to every employer in your contacts. But that might not be the best approach if you want to keep yourself employed. Employers and human resources departments don’t have time for the volume of messages — and especially not for “noise” from random people — that you do by networking. Networking is about building relationships and staying connected to people you know. Start by reaching out to friends and family members, then expand your network by reaching out to people you went to school with, your colleagues, former teachers, coaches and mentors. Be persistent, but keep it light and casual. You don’t have to be a networking expert, but you do need to have a basic idea of how networking works. Employers and human resources departments don’t have time to teach you the rules of networking, but they probably do have time to meet with you. Learn the basic rules of good networking and then follow them. Networking is a time-consuming activity that won’t get you a job, but it will make you much more valuable to employers and human resources departments if you do find a job.
Attend career events and networking meetings
If you want to keep yourself employed during a recession, it’s worth attending career events and networking meetings. These are both ways to build your network and make new connections. They’re also both low-key ways to meet people who may have connections to employers who are hiring. You don’t have to go to all-night events to keep your schedule, but it’s worth keeping your options open. Even a few hours of your time, at the end of the day, can be worth a lot when it comes to keeping yourself employed. You’re not going to get much back from your time either. Employers, human resources departments and others in your field may have slots open in their calendars that they can’t fit anyone else in. It’s worth your time to keep yourself connected.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a job or promotion
It’s easy to be afraid to reach out to employers or human resources departments in a down economy. Reaching out, even with a simple, straightforward request, can be nerve-wracking, but it’s worth it. If you’re worried that you’ll be turned down, ask a trusted friend or relative what they think. If you’re concerned that something else is holding you back from a job or promotion, find out what it is. Don’t be afraid to ask for a job or promotion, but don’t do it for the sake of asking. Do it because it’s the right thing to do and it will keep you connected. It’s worth keeping yourself in the job-hunting loop. You’ll likely be asked to stay connected to friends, family and colleagues if a recession hits again.
Be honest — be ready to prove your value
In a down economy, employers are willing to give you a chance to prove your value, but they’ll be much more skeptical than usual. Be ready to prove your value to employers, and to prove that you have something to offer. Hone your résumé, job-search and networking skills to the point where you can present yourself as an expert. Prepare a few elevator pitches that illustrate the value you bring to a new employer. Network like crazy, build your network and attend career events. If you keep yourself connected, you’ll be ready when employers come knocking. If you find a new job, make sure you’re ready to prove your value to your new employers too.
Stay flexible and open-minded
In a down economy, employers are looking for people who are flexible, open-minded and willing to learn new skills. Employers may be willing to teach you new skills too. It’s worth your time to brush up on new technologies, to review your soft skills and to refine your résumé and job-search skills. It’s also worth your time to keep yourself open to new opportunities. As the economy slowly improves, you may find yourself able to take advantage of opportunities you wouldn’t have seen when the economy is down. If the economy goes into another recession — or if another one hits unexpectedly – you’ll be ready. Believe or not, the new opportunities will arise when other down. And you can always consider remote jobs as your choice. Many website like Jobgiga or Jobmidas have plenty available remote position you can try as alternatives.
