TIP of the WEEK: Times are tough and we want you to stay ahead of the game!

[AJT]

Times are very uncertain right now and you want to minimize the impact on your job prospects and your finances. We wanted to help you weather the storm by providing you with some tips on how to stay ahead of the storm and not just duck out of site until it's over.

1. Focus on You
In times of economic uncertainty, remember to focus on what you can control, not what you can't. Make time to take stock of what it is you are looking to accomplish in your career AND in your personal life. It’s important to always maintain that balance because you cannot have success in 1 without the other. There are many self-assessment tools available -- attainment tests, personality inventories, interests and motivations inventories, behavior profiling -- which can help you to develop a personal business vocabulary.

These tools can start you on your way to articulating who you are and how you like to work. Self-assessment can also be a great way to identify development needs. In a competitive marketplace, taking time to concentrate on yourself and your training needs will give you an edge. It’s all about being informed and having a strong sense of yourself and what those around you are looking for.

2. Be Flexible
Great opportunities are available, but you may have to be flexible in terms of geography or sector to take full advantage of them.

You should also be flexible when thinking about the types of positions you would consider. Be open to temporary, temp to perm, contracts, and projects. Once you're working, shine like a diamond and they'll want to keep you. Add value to their organization and the opportunities will be there.

3. Be Visible
The best time to network is when you are not looking for a job; so, in times of economic uncertainty, you should be proactive and start introducing yourself to people and increase the size of your network.

4. Be Informed
Make it your mission to build your industry knowledge. Being aware of facts and trends in your industry, and just having an over-all awareness of what is happening around you proves credibility, passion and commitment, and it cannot be built overnight so start reading up now. Take a look at our Marketplace for the latest accounting magazines available.

5. Be Positive
In a competitive market, it's important to stay positive and believe in your talents. Surround yourself with positive people. While the news may be full of stories of an economic downturn, remember that markets are cyclical and will recover.