Recession is a worse economic disease, worser than the medical diseases like Influenza A (HINI), SARS and AIDS combined.

Influenza A, SARS and AIDS  only affect thousands of victims, while recession victimizes millions of people around the globe, bringing untold miseries, economic deprivation and social disintegration among families.

In the face of recession, many companies across the world have become bankrupt, with more businesses in the brink of collapse. Still, more enterprises are closing shops.

Results?  Lay-offs, retrenchments and unemployment here, there and everywhere.

Yet, there is always a way to hang on to your present job even in the midst of financial crisis and recession. To stay on the job, you need to do the following:

1). Go the extra mile. You must not only maintain your current productivity and efficiency in doing your job, but you have to do more – you must take on extra projects. This may require spending additional hours on the job to help the company attain its objectives, measured in terms of sales, quota, revenue, and profit.

In going the extra mile for the company, all aspects of your job must be look at with a “How can we do this better” attitude. Of course, it is not enough to do a good or even better job. You must also increase your likability factor in the eyes of the employer by working as a team player and by not complaining and criticizing others.

Going the extra mile will make you more valuable and dependable to the company such that your presence is and will be highly needed.

2). Develop or learn new marketable skills during your non-working hours. In the face of recession, planning is always essential. Planning means doing things today with tomorrow in mind. It means preparing for future contingencies, since the effects of recession are unpredictable. There many employees who had jobs last week but found themselves laid off  this week.

Having new or extra skills can yield dividends for you, because there are still many companies that are hiring and, chances are, a company still need persons who possess skills like what you have.

3). If the above two alternatives fail and you are still laid-off, then be your own boss by creating your employment. This means you start your own business based on your skills, hobby, or marketable idea. Fortune always favor the brave and going into business is a brave decision, taking a calculated risk to create your own job. If your venture becomes successful, you not only create a job for yourself but also for other laid-off and retrenched workers.

This way, you not only recession-proof yourself, you also helped others become like you.

     Result? Laid off and retrenchment here, there and everywhere.

     Yet, in the midst of it all, there are still jobs available, and many companies are still hiring.

     Below are some of the hottest job skills, the most marketable skills, which can land you the job you want.

     1. Public relations – if you can use speaking and writing abilities effectively with the public.

     2. Budget management – if you can handle money, make financial decisions, analyze numerical data.

     3. Supervisory – if you can supervise and coordinate with superiors above you and the subordinates under you, give instructions, listen, and demonstrate respect and receptivity to others.

     4. Time management – if you can cope with deadlines, handle stress and beat the clock.

     5. Speaking – if you can speak effectively with individuals and groups, listen carefully and portray ideas clearly.

     6. Writing – if you can write reports, memos, letters and essays in plain language.

     7. Teaching – if you can impart knowledge, develop skills in others and motivate them to perform.

     8. Interviewing – if you can acquire information and make good judgment, ask good questions, and evaluate responses.

     If you have any or some of these skills, you can still get hired, even if many companies are making lay-offs.