Job Worries? Create a Backup Plan

May 1, 2008 — -- Dear WOUNDED: I'm worried about getting laid off. What do I do?

ANSWER: Layoffs happen! During an economic recession, careers can take a fall from grace. When it comes to overcoming a fall, we think of Alcides Moreno. His name might not be familiar, but his story is impossible to forget. Mr. Moreno is the New York City window washer who fell 47 floors to the pavement and lived to tell the tale.

An NYC Fire Department spokesman said surviving such a dramatic fall was nothing short of a miracle. Don't get us wrong, miracles are great. We're just not sure that hoping for a miracle is the best strategy for surviving a career fall, especially during a recession. You'll want a backup plan to help you explore new options in the case of a career tumble. For more, check out our backup action plan at PayScale.com.

Unfortunately most of us don't just do our job, we ARE our job. A layoff can feel like identity theft. Ask yourself: What do you like to do? What was your all-time favorite project? What is your fantasy job? There are 28,800 job titles listed in the U.S. Government's Dictionary of Occupational Titles. There's probably a title in there that's a perfect fit for you. But it's not going to come looking for you — you're going to have to find it.

People reinvent themselves all the time. Take a look back at your own resume. Chances are you've had a dramatic career shift or two during the course of your work history. We all have. But we tend to forget the zigs and zags of our own careers. Gig Zig is a tool you can use to provide a variety of career options related to your current job and possible paths to get there. Talk to a career counselor. Ask friends and colleagues what sort of career they see you pursuing, you may be surprised by what they suggest.

Some people just aren't built to work for someone else. That's why it's important to explore the entrepreneur inside of you. Between the two of us, we've started six corporations, so we're used to the ups and downs of the start-up lifestyle. Create a business plan outline for your best ideas. Talk to entrepreneurs. Play a game of "Sim" business.