4 tips for keeping your career afloat amid the sinking economy

September 26, 12:53 PMJobs and Careers ExaminerKristina Cowan

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Americans are nothing if not problem-solvers. We know how to press on through hard times (the Great Depression and World War II, for example) until we reach the other side. The last year, and particularly the last week, have delivered an endless stream of bad news and dire predictions about the job market, our economy and America's future on the global stage.

But while it's important to stay informed about Washington and Wall Street, the antics of corporate moguls and lawmakers shouldn't slow us down, especially where our careers and personal livelihoods are concerned. Whether you're laid off or content with your current position, there are steps you can take to make your career-life better.

1. Slammed by the financial upheaval? Consider jumping ship. If your job has been directly affected by the recent financial shakeup, consider repositioning yourself in a new industry. A Wall Street Journal article offers guidance on planning such a strategy. Look into areas where you have hobbies or personal interests, examine transferable skills that would apply to a new industry, and be ready for changes to your income.

Perhaps most importantly, the story suggests "learning the landscape" of a new industry. "The recent turmoil at financial firms underscores the need to go beyond research on compensation and industry trends," the story says. "Educate yourself on how a company or industry runs and pending legislation that may affect the employment outlook in a field. Review analyst reports, scour RSS feeds, and set up Google News Alerts by keyword once you've narrowed a field of interest."

2. Job searching? Look for ways to streamline your search. Almost half of human-resources managers have expanded the list of places they look for job-seekers, and 23 percent have shortened the time from an initial meeting with a candidate to a job offer, according to a survey by Personified, a subsidiary of CareerBuilder.com. This means opportunities for job-seekers. Mary Delaney, president of Personified, encourages job-seekers to take advantage of the opportunities by networking, staying informed about job openings at your current company, and tapping into online job sites.

3. Feeling secure in your current gig? Keep polishing your marketability. Even if you're not looking to switch industries, you should always find ways of making yourself a hot commodity on the job market. Some key ways to do this, according to Livemocha, an online language-skills service that's free, are by learning a foreign language, obtaining a professional certificate, and getting more familiar with all types of technology, from basic word-processing software to social networks and interactive meeting software. "If there's a new development that will revolutionize your industry, find out how you can get training online, through a professional development service, or at a local community college," according to Livemocha.

4. Salary stretched thin? Devise personal-budgeting strategies. I examined different ways Americans are managing stagnant pay and the rising cost of commodities in a recent piece for PayScale.com. Some are using a budget for buying groceries and clipping coupons, while others are driving less and relying more on public transportation to save on gas prices. Depending on your situation, paring down comfortably is possible.