Make no mistake about it. t, one that’s ever worsening. Trouble is, we don’t have the latest monthly figures (September’s Jobs Report) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, on which we confidently rely. And until the government reopens, we won’t know just how bad things are. But we can extrapolate from recent data, and what see is far from a walk in the park.
For instance, the 88,000 net jobs created in the four months prior, didn’t amount to a single average month under the previous administration. And with increasing layoffs in the government sector, plus tariffs being tossed around all over the place, it’s reasonable to assume that trendline is not improving. On the contrary.
So when we say “hope for the best and prepare for the worst” what does that mean? Here are the four fundamental things to do in girding for a down market.
Your résumé must be brought current.
If your last revision was more than six months ago, you’re woefully behind. Surely, you’ve put points on the board, but do you remember what they all are? Don’t
Mobilize your network.
Don’t.wait. You’ll need it sooner than you think. Same goes for your profiles.
Do this ahead of time. , not just when you need help.
Upgrade your skills.
AI has changed everything, including you. Get with it.
Know your industry, not just your business.
Take the long view, and broad scope. You can always tell the ones who do; they’ re t the top of the org chart,