6 Career Mistakes To Avoid During an Economic Downturn

Lately, the U.S. economy has been confusing to average consumers and experts alike. While wallets received a mild break from inflation in the last month, concern over a potential recession continues to grow with each passing day.

When dealing with an economic downturn, there are certain career moves that put you at a disadvantage. Here we explore some career mistakes you could be making and what to do instead.

Even if your industry has not suffered a downturn or your company has a long history of not letting people go in lean times, it’s wise not to take your job for granted. You should always have a backup plan. Don’t be complacent, keep your skills and resume sharp and think about what you would do in the case of a layoff.

When things are good, it’s easy to get lulled into a state of complacency, forgetting to update your resume and portfolio. But that’s the first thing you’re going to need if you suddenly find yourself in need of work, so make sure it’s always up to date and showcasing your best work.

The signs of an economic downturn are usually there if you’re paying attention, so you will probably have some warning signs that change is coming. In these times, networking, which is always good for a career, is even more important if it looks like your job might be in jeopardy. Though it’s more challenging to network in a pandemic, many groups, meetings and conferences have gone virtual to maintain connections.

If you get the cues that a downturn is coming and you think you might need to look for a new job, don’t wait. Millions of others are probably thinking the same thing and might jump on hot new job leads before you can. There’s no harm in checking out new job leads; you don’t have to accept one until you find a good fit.

Economic downturns hit different industries in different ways. Those that have easily adapted to a digital method have had better success since the pandemic hit. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to awareness of industry trends.

Stay aware of both industry and job trends, to help you understand what is affecting potential changes and to keep your toe in the waters of jobs that might be right for you.

During the pandemic, the U.S. government established a temporary moratorium on evictions, and many companies have offered temporary payment deferral plans. While this has helped many struggling people, that moratorium just ended — and only some states have enacted ones of their own. Expecting to count on deferred bills for too long will just mean an unwelcome and hefty bill to pay later on. Instead, try to pay as much as you can and continue to seek new work if you’re unemployed.