If it’s truly going to be a surprise, there’s not much you can do on the day it happens, other than roll with the punches and maybe meet up with some friends after work for a beer. However, you can take some important steps to insure that you’re well-protected if you ever find yourself in this situation, so that you can improve your odds of landing another job quickly, before that creepy desperation sets in and you start to make recruiters and HR specialists uncomfortable. Consumerism Commentary describes 5 ways to prepare yourself for unexpected “career mobility.”

• Keep three to six months in accessible funds. This includes cash, “highly liquid” savings or money market accounts, a Roth IRA, and—worst case scenario—a credit card.
• Keep your resume and portfolio current.
• Always be networking.
• Get recommendations without asking. Save your thank you notes and email compliments—you never know when they’ll come in handy to impress a future prospective employer.
• Study your industry. It’s easy to settle into a job and let innovations pass you by, but it’s the quickest way to knock yourself out of the running when you re-enter the market.

“Always Be Prepared: 5 Tips for Unexpected Job Loss” [Consumerism Commentary]
(Photo: Getty)

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