3 Things I Would Do (Right Now) To Keep Your Career Safe In The Economic Downturn

The news is making it pretty clear that in 2023 we will experience a significant economic downturn.

This will be my fourth time going through an economic downturn. However, for many younger workers, this will be their first experience with it. Do you remember the first time you realized no job (and the income that came with it) was safe? I do.

You always remember your first recession as a worker...

I graduated college in 1990 when the economy was terrible and there were no entry-level jobs. I recall saying to my parents,

"I thought getting a college degree guaranteed I'd get a good paying job out of school?!"

I learned quickly getting that first job would be a hard and humbling experience.

Fast forward to dot com bust of the late 90s...

By then, I was working in the staffing and recruiting industry. I watched tons of software developers and other skilled workers get laid-off from high-paying jobs and opt to hold out for replacement jobs that paid the same. Many of them drained 401Ks to cover living expenses and still ended up taking jobs at a 40% pay cut when savings ran out.

In 2008, I decided to become part of the solution.

I actually started my company, Work It Daily , as a result of the 2008 recession. As a career coach, it was impossible to handle the number of requests for one-on-one coaching calls during that time. So, my team and I built an online platform that enabled me to coach a lot more people at once by recording video tutorials and storing them in a private community where members could access them on-demand, connect with other professionals, and get direct help from trained career support specialists. Thank goodness for technology.

Why am I telling you all this?

I feel the above makes me qualified to share with you three things I believe every professional should do right now to keep their career safe in 2023. While they aren't hard or overly time-consuming, they can help you minimize the chances off dealing with an extended period of unemployment. They are as follows:

1. Keyword optimize your LinkedIn profile. This platform works like the Google search engine. When recruiters need talent, they put in keywords related to the skills sets they were told potential candidates need have to do the job. In an economic downturn, many companies stop posting jobs publicly. Why? To save money and to avoid getting thousands of unqualified applicants who apply to jobs they aren't a fit for out of desperation. Instead, they do private, proactive searches on LinkedIn and then contact the talent directly. Your optimized profile will increase the chances the right employers find you in when there are fewer jobs available.
2. Make an Interview Bucket List. Getting hired is still all about networking. At least once a week, I'm saying to clients, "when it comes to your career, your network is your net worth." Identifying a list of 20 companies that hire for your skill set and networking with people that work there can significantly increase the chances you can navigate your way through the hiring process to get an interview. During economic downturns, hiring managers will say to employees, "Who do you know for this job?" as a way to limit the number of applicants they get for a role and increase the chances the person will integrate easily with team. By using LinkedIn to build connections, you can find out about unpublished job opportunities faster.
3. Turn on Creator Mode and post daily. LinkedIn's new Creator Mode is designed to notify the platform that you are curating information and ideas related to your work and industry and then sharing it with people who follow you. When you turn this on and then start posting articles, videos, polls, graphics, and general thoughts on a daily basis, the platform rewards you with more exposure. This helps you to gain visibility with peers in your space, while simultaneously giving recruiters a chance to learn more about your skills and abilities. Not to mention, it's a GREAT way to serve your network by sharing information that could be useful to them in their own careers. In short, participating on the platform as a creator is a way to stand out and get noticed without looking like a narcissist or know-it-all.

In my experience, doing the above is like grabbing an umbrella on the way out the door when you think it might rain. These three tips are the perfect insurance policy with no downside if it doesn't pour down on you.

PS - If you are looking for some specific training on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile and leverage Creator Mode, I did a 2-hour workshop recently that you can check out HERE .

Now, tell me about the first time you learned that EVERY job was temporary. I'd love to hear your stories in the comments below.