How to prepare for a layoff-heavy 2009

The holidays have come and gone, and unfortunately, there's one gift that few of us received -- job security. That's right. With jobless claims at a 26-year high and the unemployment rate relentlessly climbing, many Americans will enter 2009 with jobs that may not exist two, four, or six months down the line. What's worse, no matter how many hours you log at the office, you can't shake that feeling that you're working on borrowed time. That's the bad news. But according to Dr. Richard Bayer, the good news is there are things you can do right now to help you keep your job and prepare for the worst in case your fate ends in a layoff.

"Many people are returning to work after the holidays to companies that are in limbo," says Bayer, Chief Operating Officer of The Five O'Clock Club, the nation's premier career coaching network, and author of The Good Person Guidebook: Transforming Your Personal Life. "They're doing everything they can to survive the recession, and layoffs may be part of the equation. If you think your company might go this route, you do have options: work hard and prepare for the just-in-case scenario of being forced into the job market."

As COO of The Five O'Clock Club, Bayer knows all about helping people deal with job loss and changing careers. The Club is the only career program in which members meet with professional coaches and peers on a weekly basis in a friendly, club-type format. It offers small group career coaching across the U.S. and Canada.

"The Boy Scouts motto, 'Be Prepared,' should be your motto as well in this difficult economic period," says Bayer. "Whatever you decide, whether you want to wait things out at your current job or search for greener pastures, you can't be complacent. You should either be looking for opportunities to stand out at your current job or searching for another job that provides you with more job security. Knowing that you are prepared for whatever happens should give you some comfort moving forward."

Bayer offers some "act now" tips that will help neutralize some of your layoff fears and prepare for the uncertain employment future:

Get your ducks in a row. People who have not yet been laid off should start testing their market with a preliminary job search, advises Bayer. It shouldn't be an aggressive job search, but you need to go through all of the initial steps. And this is especially important if your company has just downsized -- after all, just because you were spared the ax this go-round doesn't mean you will be next time.

"Go ahead and take a look at the opportunities in your area and industry," he says. "Update your résumé. And keep an open ear regarding your company's future plans.

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