How To Recession Proof Your Career By Lisa O'Brien Are you worried about your career and the stability of your current job? If so your concerns are not unfounded. Like everyone else in the world I have been shocked and horrified by media reports on the unfolding economic disaster. As a career coach I am most concerned about how this will impact the careers and job security of my clients. In this current market I urge you not to panic but to take the following steps to protect your career. CareersCoach tips on how to recession proof your career: Build a case for why you are important to your employer Plan for the future by building a bridge to your next job Build the reputation of being a can-do problem solver Get to work early and stay late Help your company to grow and survive by identifying and promoting ideas that will increase revenue Build your personal brand - so that people know who you are and what you can achieve Don't skimp on training, work with a mentor and career coach to get the edge Here is a breakdown of how you can apply these recession proofing steps to your career. How to build a case for why you are important to an employer You work hard every day but are you aware of the results that you are achieving for your employer? Take the time to list all of the achievements that you have made for your employer. Focus on income that you have brought into the organization, money that you have saved the organization and how the work that you do more than covers the cost of having you in the role. Plan for your future by building a bridge to your next role Nothing lasts forever including your current position. Don't get worried about that fact; instead focus on planning for what you will do next. Identify transferable skills that you have and what career direction these skills could take you. If necessary do additional training and consult a CareersCoach each time you are faced with a career roadblock. Be a can-do problem solver In tough times people who are good at solving problems rise and survive. Take a little bit of time each day to identify any problems. Then most importantly identify a solution to the problem. Take your solutions to management and watch your credibility and career rise. Get to work early and stay late I kind of hate to promote this because I believe very much in having a good work/life balance. But look at it this way; if your employer has to decide who to lay off one of their considerations will be to look at who is working the hardest and to keep that person. That said, results are what are most important. Be the ideas guru Every single idea that you have, if well thought out and well applied to your job, is worth money. That is money that your employer might just be counting on to be able to keep things running. Be known as the organization's ideas person and you will indispensable. Build your personal brand Your personal brand is who you are and everything that encapsulates that. It is the way that you present, the results that you are known for, how you make other people feel and what people can expect from you. Take it a step further and network yourself by attending functions and getting to know people within your organization. That way people will get to know who you are and will want to be associated with you. Lisa O'Brien is a Career Coach and Author. Visit http://www.careerscoach.com.au for more information. Also see: • Are you leading your life--or is it leading you? • Quick ideas to finding time for you • Executive moms balancing secrets