GeekMBA360

Penelope Trunk had a great post about the 3 things to learn from the crashing careers of the super-rich . For those of us who work in the high tech industry (or any industry), we’ll be affected by the current economic crisis. There is no job security for any of us in this market, and layoffs will happen to many companies.

Let’s hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

The best time to look for a job is when you’re still employed. You should always keep your options open, and look for better opportunities. I’m not suggesting that you should be constantly job-hopping, but you need to keep an eye on the job market, just in case something happens.

One powerful strategy is to establish a network of headhunter friends. You’re the product in the job market, and your headhunter friends are your sale people. If a headhunter calls you, make sure return her calls even if you’re not interested in the opportunity. Talk to her, learn more about what companies she works with, what kind of clients she serves, and figure out a way to work together in the future.

Talk to your headhunter friend about your career aspiration, what you plan to do next, what you’re looking for in your next employer, etc. Ask her to keep an eye for you on certain companies. Ask her for feedback on your resume.

Build an ongoing relationship with your headhunter friends. Take them out for lunch periodically. Help them as much as you can. Refer job candidates and job opportunities to them. Help them connect with others.

Form a network of headhunter friends. Let the job opportunities come to you while you’re still employed. You will build a "safety net" for yourself in case that you need look for a job.