Line your wallet. Hopefully this is obvious, but start saving money. You should have a rainy-day fund of at least three months—but given this economy, even more is better. The money you have saved should be enough to cover rent, utilities, insurance, car payments and gas, food, and emergencies like a trip to the hospital or a broken muffler. Yes, that’s a lot of cash. But if you lose your job and don’t have another lined up, you’ll need the extra security.
Cover your bases. Make sure your résumé is up-to-date, your references perfect, and your professional networking skills flawless. Everything should be good enough to print or send at a moment’s notice. After all, if you hear about a potential job that sounds like a great fit, you want to be ready to leap on it.
Sniff around. Talk to your contacts in your field. If it isn’t public knowledge that your company is in trouble, be savvy before mentioning any work issues. Instead ask about job openings, prospects, and other opportunities that might be right for you. Remember, you don’t need a job right now, but you might need one soon. If you hear about something that sounds perfect, pursue it fiercely.
Alert your inner circle. Don’t give out insider secrets, but let your friends and family know that the chances you’ll be looking for a job soon are good. Ask them to keep you in mind and help you in your search—as many as 70% of jobs are found through the “hidden job network” of friends and acquaintances.
Know where your loyalties lie. Do you love the company so much that you’re willing to stick it out even if the company has to shut its doors? If the answer is yes, know that the remainder of your time there is likely to be stressful and intense and that there are no guarantees that any of your hard work will result in another job. After all, everybody you work with will be looking for a job too.
And then be prepared to walk away. The economy is brutal, and finding a job may be tough regardless of if you are unemployed now or in six months. If you can’t take the stress and uncertainty of working in a dying office and you feel like your job prospects are good, then cut your losses and move on. At the end of the day, you’ve got to be concerned about you and moving your career forward.
