You may suspect layoffs are coming ... but are you absolutely sure?

Companies change course all the time. Perhaps you're not the one who
will get laid off. Perhaps no one will be laid off. You never really
know until the actual day arrives.

This means you must keep all of your preparations secret. Don't
let anyone at work know that you are updating your resume or
gathering papers for a portfolio -- it could put your job in
jeopardy. Instead, try to keep up the appearance of "business as
usual."

This includes: Do not provide your workplace phone number to
networking contacts and do not use the office copier to make copies
of your resume.

And if a coworker starts to talk to you about the possibility of
getting laid off, try to change the subject. Panic begets panic --
gossiping about possible layoffs will only make your work environment
even more tense.

hotjobs.com

If you suspect you may become a victim of layoffs, you need to start
thinking about a potential job search as soon as possible. And the
best place to start is with your resume.

Even though you have not been laid off yet, you should revise your
resume as though you have. This is one less task you'll have to do
later on when you might have to worry about other issues such as a
severance package or health insurance.

Having your resume prepared in advance will relieve some of the
immediate pressure of pulling your information together and allow you
to calmly start a proper search.

It's always a good idea to maintain a strong career network. You
never know when those connections may come in useful.

If you suspect that layoffs are around the corner, now is the
perfect time to reconnect with those contacts you haven't spoken to
in a while.

Begin by updating your network. Get the latest phone numbers and
e-mail addresses of people you've lost touch with. Then call or
write these contacts and chat a bit. Don't come right out and ask
for a job (save that conversation for later, if necessary).
Instead, just use this time to get your network moving again.


hotjobs.com

One of the biggest problems that laid-off workers face is the
realization that they don't have any examples of recent work to show
prospective employers.

Presentations, speeches, writing samples, performance reviews,
complimentary letters written by your supervisor or others in the
company -- these can all be gathered to form an impressive portfolio.
But if you're laid off, you may not get the chance to retrieve these
documents off your computer.

The solution: If you suspect layoffs are coming, begin gathering
copies of the work you are most proud of.

An important note: Do not put anything in your portfolio that could
expose you to legal trouble. Private company information and data,
for instance, are usually confidential and cannot be used in a
portfolio. If you are unsure if a piece of your work is confidential
or not, err on the side of caution and don't include it.

hotjobs.com