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See the original image at money.cnn.com

8 ways to recession-proof your job

money.cnn.com — Worried your employer might cut your position in a downturn? Here are 8 tips to help you avoid the ax, and how to keep your career afloat if you don't.

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  • DeadFox1, on 03/17/2008, -2/+361. Think of ways to generate revenues or cut costs.
    2. Be visible.
    3. Talk up your contributions.
    4. Keep a broad perspective.
    5. Get your skills up to date.
    6. No whining allowed.
    7. Never stop networking.
    8. Update your resume, return headhunters' phone calls, and start picturing where else you might like to work - just in case.
    • fkr3, on 03/17/2008, -6/+79. Have three jobs, so you're statistically more likely to keep one.
    • 2h3px, on 03/17/2008, -3/+149. Self-employ.
    • hurt911gen, on 03/17/2008, -10/+6Join the armed forces.
      • foofoobee, on 03/17/2008, -2/+5Yeah, recession-proofing will be the least of your worries then. You can move on to thinking about bullet-proofing and bomb-proofing.
      • hurt911gen, on 03/17/2008, -0/+2You don't have to be a marine infantry grunt.

        Hell, don't want to get hurt, join the AF food services, the pay is still the same.
        • foofoobee, on 03/17/2008, -1/+2If you're going to work in food services, you could do that just about anywhere. I'm not seeing the advantage offered by the armed forces in this regard.
          • crowbar77, on 03/17/2008, -0/+2Because the US is always at war and always needing more people, whether its soldiers or cooks.
          • hurt911gen, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1Advantages: MUCH higher pay, 100% health care and housing benefits. After a while once you are an e-4 or e-5, all you have to do is come in and make sure everyone is doing their *****.
          • tkotam, on 03/18/2008, -0/+1March 17 2008 will be the turning point of the US military. After today, there will be hundreds of people joining the army, specifically asking to be deployed to FOOD SERVICES. :-)

            Don't laugh because this kind of make sense. Imagine having hundreds of people distributing food in Iraq and Afghanistan, the people there will like the US of A a lot more. I am sure suicide bombing rates will go down,..... way down.....
      • Scaryclouds, on 03/17/2008, -0/+4Considered it but the private sector pays so well :/
        • Charlotte_Web, on 03/17/2008, -0/+3Military pay sucks, but you have to look at it long-term. You can get experience in the military that you can't get in the civilian world, and you can take on responsibilities more quickly than you might in the private sector.

          Education benefits are huge, too, both within the military and for higher education. I had a friend who got his BS in pre-med and the Army paid for his doctoral program; he just had to fulfill a 6 year commitment.

          The military is definitely a stepping stone to greater things if you play it right.
          • Jlaugh, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1I don't know about that I come from a military family, those benefits my cousins and uncles got came with a healthy does of post traumatic shock and alcoholism. My Uncle still has flashbacks from Vietnam. He even talked me out of joining the military in the 90's and he retired a Lt Colonel.
          • Scaryclouds, on 03/18/2008, -0/+1You maybe right. But what stopped me is the commitment time. I'm already in the career field I want to be in (Software engineering), I'll be through college, so the military won't pay for that, and there aren't many jobs related to programming in the military. So while the military does offer a lot of excellent experience, most of it won't relate to my job, which is very important. If I took a 2 to 3 abatement from programming I would be pretty close back to square one.
    • brokencode, on 03/17/2008, -0/+5Win the lottery.
    • KnifeOrSpoon, on 03/17/2008, -2/+59. Encrypt and backup your projects and work material and make sure someone sees you doing it!
      10. Rewrite key systems of projects in an archaic and hard to understand format (i.e in PHP use the callback() function LOTS!
      11. After doing the above, let your co-workers & supervisors 'overhear' conversations between yourself and headhunters (you could get a pay raise, or even a better job out of it)

      Just a select 'black hat' list of things you can do ;-)
      • tobias1482, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1I don't understand 9 unless you're advocating stealing. If you're skilled, recreation from your knowledge shouldn't be a problem if hired for a similar task.

        How could number 10 even happen though... Isn't there a source control system and code reviews? If not, then you're devaluing yourself even more by not stepping up and instigating at least the first system. If I worked with you and you pulled number 10 though, I would go out of my way to see you removed from the project / team/ company. That's just childish and doesn't forward the project and in the long end just ends up wasting time. Also, there is always someone else who can decipher bad code and this can easily create a poor reputation for you.



    • Scaryclouds, on 03/17/2008, -0/+4While I understand #3, ut still seems kind of dick, and ultimately your contributions should speak for themselves. That is if you have to talk up your contributions to keep your job then you probably aren't doing that good of a job.
      • blackinthmiddle, on 03/17/2008, -0/+2While I hate the whole "pat yourself on the back" approach, you've gotta be kidding me if you think just being good at what you do is enough! I've been in a number of situations where it was obvious my job was simply to make someone else look good and the more chameleon my approach, the better. I used to do web development for the largest pharma (in terms of sales anyway) a couple of years back. I had a boss who was a complete imbecile when it came to technology but somehow was the tech director.

        If we had a meeting and I had to make a case as to which way we should go in solving a problem, she would ALWAYS call me in for a pre-meeting. She would ask me question after question and write down my responses. Then, when the meeting came she'd push me aside and answer all of the questions. Of course, because she didn't know tech she would often answer things incorrectly, agree to impossible deadlines, etc. Bottom line; she was living off of my knowledge and did everything in her power to make sure nobody knew who the hell I was. Thank God I don't work for her anymore.
        • Scaryclouds, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1Understandable, I wasn't taking into account situations like that.
      • DrMonkeyLove, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1No. You really do have to sell yourself. You have to be in people's faces letting them know the great stuff you're doing. I'm absolutely serious about this. The higher ups don't have the time to keep track of every little thing everyone does, or they don't take the time to see what you've been up to. If you don't tell them explicitly, they'll just assume you've been doing an average job at whatever it was you were supposed to be doing.
    • spargett, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1So overall, work harder than you ever have before.

      Wow, revolutionary!
    • cbergstrom, on 03/17/2008, -0/+212. Work in a vice industry. Gambling, entertainment, etc. For example, I write software for DISH Network. I'm not worried about my job for the next 3 years :P
  • NikolskiN, on 03/17/2008, -15/+4I'm so happy I live in Europe and don't have that problem here.
    • insomniac8400, on 03/17/2008, -3/+10And there are no gays in iran.
    • fasda, on 03/17/2008, -0/+8hey what's the unemployment in France like 8%?
      • Jlaugh, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1America doesn't keep track of homeless people our unemployment rate is about 8% higher than the official record.
    • sanman, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1Airbus says for every 10cents that the US dollar falls in relation to the Euro, they lose $1billion. Europeans are outsourcing their jobs to America, thanks to the falling dollar.

      For Europeans, we can add:
      9) Stop whining for a 3-day work-week, or you may end up with a zero-day work-week
      • fasda, on 03/17/2008, -1/+1but couldn't they just live off of generous unemployment benefits?
    • shundi10, on 03/17/2008, -0/+0And you're crazy if you don't think that most of the major companies in the US that are in financial trouble have substantial interests in Europe...
  • PopWireless, on 03/17/2008, -8/+3Damned good advice.
  • Matters, on 03/17/2008, -2/+26This used to be advice to get promoted...
    • 2h3px, on 03/17/2008, -1/+3That's so 20th century. It's all about middle management now.
  • badtiki, on 03/17/2008, -4/+3yeah I used this advice to get promoted too, but when the business got hit I was the first one cut since I was the highest paid and now some kid is doing my job for half the pay! But in the larger scope I got snatched up by a much larger company that didn't blink at my salary request and my old employer asked that I stay with them on call. Plus my new employer hired my wife. So getting to the point - do what you want but whatever is going to happen will happen - just keep your head straight and do a good job and everything will work out in the end.
    • fkr3, on 03/17/2008, -0/+3So you and your wife are putting your eggs in the same basket? Doesn't that seem a little risky?
      • badtiki, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1It actually works for us since she was unemployed to begin with. So right now its a win.
  • dildoolielly, on 03/17/2008, -5/+14"""Worried your employer might cut your position in a downturn?""

    "A" downturn? You mean THE downturn?
    • chuckDontSurf, on 03/17/2008, -0/+6No, "a" downturn. This isn't the first, and it won't be the last.
  • AManWithNoName, on 03/17/2008, -0/+18This would be nice if I hadn't already lost my job. >.
    • hassanchop13, on 03/17/2008, -0/+6i gave you a pity digg up.
      • hongkongjapie, on 03/17/2008, -0/+6I gave you a good samaritan digg up.

    • aunjar, on 03/22/2008, -0/+1I have been there... I understand... But, keep moving...
  • pathetik, on 03/17/2008, -7/+5Get off your A$$
  • SHv2, on 03/17/2008, -0/+5This is advice that should be followed regardless of whether we're in a recession or not.
  • doctechnical, on 03/17/2008, -1/+36Become a plumber. Good pay, recession-proof, and it's pretty hard to outsource plumbing.
    • hurt911gen, on 03/17/2008, -1/+31And as an added bonus you get to have random sex with resident house wifes.
      • hongkongjapie, on 03/17/2008, -4/+1Pron is *fiction*, if a housewife ask for extra plumbing services she's most certainly uglier than a plane wreck. And if you also think you need to have a mustache to score, throw out your 80th p. collection or you Wii.
      • Jones82, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1He fixes the cable?
    • hassanchop13, on 03/17/2008, -1/+6thats what mario thought until luigi's mansion came out
    • fasda, on 03/17/2008, -0/+9same goes for electricians too
      • Jones82, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1and automotive repair
      • blankoboy, on 03/21/2008, -0/+1Not when there's no money for electricity or cars.
    • chuckDontSurf, on 03/17/2008, -0/+13Isn't it funny how for most Americans, we've been told all our lives that a college degree was the only way to succeed, when in fact a competent trade worker can make a pretty damn good living without a lot of the stress that comes along with white-collar jobs?
      • Dissonance, on 03/17/2008, -0/+7I've often wondered about that too. And where were all the guidance counsellors recommending Investment Banking? I had no idea about such a job when I was in high school, now that I'm older and realize how lucrative it can be, I wonder why I had barely heard anything about that career path when I was younger.
      • blackinthmiddle, on 03/17/2008, -0/+12If I could give you two diggs up, I would. When the dot com bust happened in '01, I was luckily able to keep working. However, I had to hustle my ass from contract job to contract job, CONSTANTLY looking for the next rock to put my foot on so that I didn't fall.

        "Broadvision? Yeah, I know that (which I did)."
        "Perl, yep, know that too (while reading up on php. It was the new thing coming out.)"
        "PHP? Of course."
        "What's that? We've only got money for two more months (true scenario)? Don't worry, honey. I found a new job."

        No way to live when you've got a mortgage and two kids. I had many a friend with a masters call me asking if there was any work to be had where I was. Meanwhile, my friend's brother drives a truck for UPS and makes $90K a year with overtime! For that year or two while I was desperately hoping from job to job, I'd often look at the UPS driver passing by, listening to sports on the radio, with a big content smile on his face and wonder what the hell did I do wrong!
      • fasda, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1well i guess because supply and demand there is less of a overall demand for trade jobs then white colored ones
  • NightVortez, on 03/17/2008, -1/+12Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler.
  • Frnnkdlxx, on 03/17/2008, -0/+2Become a police officer? CPS a baby and profit??

    I'm tryin' heeaaa!!!
    • spargett, on 03/17/2008, -0/+2That's one field that will expanding for quite a while. We're gonna get you terrorists!@#
  • RachaelMichele, on 03/17/2008, -5/+6Thanks to Bush my husband's job of dropping bombs for the Air Force is about as recession proof as it gets. Unfortunately, his family, who has to deal with the deployments, (getting ready for his 5th tour this summer! Yippie!) is not. Thanks a lot, Shrub.
  • screwy3333, on 03/17/2008, -1/+4Two Options:
    1. Become proficient in Gimp.
    2. Learn how to program using Ada or Cobalt.
    • sanman, on 03/17/2008, -1/+1Seriously though, open-source stuff (Linux, AJAX, MySQL, etc) is on the rise.
  • Alix7, on 03/17/2008, -2/+5Immigrate to Canada.
    • jumbalia, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1There actually is a huge labor and skilled workers shortage in Western Canada at the moment. No experience, right out of high school, I was working full time at $12/hour in a cabinet assembly factory. I saved enough in 5 months there to come to Japan and live here while I teach English :P If you don't mind the cold you can work as an unskilled laborer up north in either the mines or oil rigs and make 60K-80k a year, easy. Even more if you have a trade or prior experience. Those jobs are a bit to dirty for my liking though, and it sure would be a bitch to live in northern Canada.
  • ryanonfire, on 03/17/2008, -1/+7Become an accountant. Which ever way the economy goes businesses still need people to count their losses.
    • blackinthmiddle, on 03/17/2008, -0/+2I make good money as a developer but my wife does even better as a guidance counselor. She works in an expensive area and the perks she gets are enviable. And, of course, she has tenure so she'd pretty much have to kill someone to lose her job! Teachers and cops in the suburbs (NY) routinely make six figures, although I could never see myself as a cop.
      • jumbalia, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1Teachers making 6 figures?? Maybe in a private school, but definitely not public schools - unless your a school administrator.
  • ThePenrod, on 03/17/2008, -0/+12I sell graves at a cemetery... how's that for recession proofing your job!
    • InfiniteNothing, on 03/17/2008, -0/+2I dunno, I hear cremation is on the rise ;)
  • Napoleone, on 03/17/2008, -4/+3The only recession proof job is prostitution.
    • asskey, on 03/17/2008, -1/+9Immigrants will do it cheaper.
      • MrTea, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1Pimps might even start outsourcing to India too. *shudders*
  • lead2thehead, on 03/17/2008, -2/+2This used to be common knowledge. Then somewhere along the line, Americans got lazy and stopped caring. In the past you had to be good at your job to get ahead. Now most employees are just dead weight. You can excel simply by showing initiative.
    • Jlaugh, on 03/17/2008, -0/+4Nah if you show initiative your the first to go as your a threat to middle management.
      • lead2thehead, on 03/17/2008, -1/+0Nonsense. Your manager will keep you around because you make his job easier and you make him look good to *his* superiors. If your manager perceives you as a threat rather than an ally, you need to brush up on your social skills.
        • blackinthmiddle, on 03/17/2008, -0/+4I love it when people try to fit everything in a nice little box. What happens when your boss is on six different medications to keep his mood stabilized (true story)? What happens when your boss comes in on one of his "off" days and fires the ENTIRE sales department. This was my first day on the job! Another true story.

          Here's the bottom line: there are *very* few jobs that will guarantee you anything. Plumbers, electricians, teachers, cops and nurses are the only ones I can think of right now.

          Imagine this scenario. You need a triple bypass operation and on the scheduled day of operation, instead of being prepped for surgery, you're given a plane ticket! This surgery has become routine and the chances of success are just as good with the doctor in India as the doctor in the US for a tenth of the price. Mind you, I read this in Men's Health a while back and is probably more propaganda than anything else. Point is, it's very conceivable that this could happen. Believe me, when tech jobs were being outsourced to India, I thought long and hard about switching careers.
  • aserer511, on 03/17/2008, -0/+2the guide forgot one key tenet: be competent. heh.
  • displaced1, on 03/17/2008, -2/+6#9 Get your ass off Digg and get back to work.
    • Aeaus, on 03/17/2008, -0/+2Don't know why you're being dugg down :)
      • blackinthmiddle, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1Probably because it's Sunday (well early Monday morning)!
  • troycott, on 03/17/2008, -0/+4The irony is probably that most people reading this while procrastinating and slacking off at work.
    • Jones82, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1How dare you!
    • lightningrod220, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1troycott, this is your boss. Don't bother coming in to work again. You're done here.
  • lenninct, on 03/17/2008, -0/+19. dont sleep with your secretary/boss...
    • bxblox, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1Inaccurate. Sleep with boss then blackmail with threat of sexual harassment suit.
  • wracker92, on 03/17/2008, -0/+0The writer forgot #9: get some revealing dirt on your boss and then threaten to post it on the internet if your job gets canned.
  • shibainu, on 03/17/2008, -0/+10dont call in sick, even if you have the flu. give it to all your coworkers
  • marklittle, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1Keeping some 0% credit cards or a low rate Heloc http://www.findheloc.com can be useful as insurance against a few months being laid off.
    Or just stick your hand out and wait for a bailout.
  • serpentor, on 03/17/2008, -0/+2They forgot the most obvious - work for the government.
  • protodon, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1I wish this were true of the place I used to work. You could not get fired no matter what you did. Come in late? Talk back to superiors? Take a 2 hour lunch? Surf digg all day? No problem. I still quit though because my super was a douche. I have a problem with people who think they have authority...over me anyway.
  • InfiniteNothing, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1Tallest blade of grass is first to be cut.
  • digitallysick, on 03/17/2008, -0/+2Better advice, start your own business so you don't have to depend on someone else for your pay check.
  • KingGorilla, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1I am so going to send this link to my grandpa 70 years ago!
  • dragonsky3, on 03/17/2008, -1/+0good advice ! I will paste it to iterracialrasources.com which is a niche interracial dating site for singles. It will cause huge discussion there
  • jumbalia, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1I wonder if this story would have made front page even a year ago? You know times are getting bad when...
  • JMellissa, on 03/17/2008, -0/+2In the face of an economy that failing fast and hard, there's really little or nothing you can do to save your job. If their closing the plant, you're out. that's IT.
  • collegedegrees, on 03/17/2008, -2/+0Also get a college degree to boost your CV. http://www.instantdegrees.com to get a College Degree Legally in just 5 days
  • jeffmccord, on 03/17/2008, -0/+1As a recruiter for the last 9 years, I can attest that this article is downright true. All of these things mentioned are good ways to keep your job. And yes, companies are in the beginnings of the "freak out" phase due to everyone losing their profits and budgets, etc. Trust me, read this article over and over... it'll help.
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