Taking Control of Your IT Career in the Face of Layoffs

With unemployment rates at their highest level in six years and layoffs planned at some of the biggest companies, tech workers are feeling anxious about their jobs and powerless in the face of economic uncertainty. Two IT staffing experts offer some empowering advice for all IT workers.

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If you work in IT at a financial services company-or any organization reeling from the country's economic woes-you're probably feeling insecure about your job not-not to mention powerless over market forces beyond your control.

Management consulting firm Janco Associates reported on September 15 that the financial industry turmoil, along with HP's announcement that it would lay off 24,600 employees over three years, would "glut" the IT job market.

But, in fact, there's quite a bit you can do right now to quell your anxieties and take control of your career.

John Estes, a vice president at staffing firm Robert Half International, and John Baschab, a senior vice president at Technisource, a staffing and IT managed services provider, offer these nine tips for those IT workers who are concerned about losing their jobs due to the economic turmoil on Wall Street and across the US economy.

1. Ask the Right Questions. If you are concerned about layoffs or the effect of a potential merger, Estes advises that IT workers ask their managers some key questions: How will this affect my job? Are there other opportunities within the company that I could apply for? If I am laid off, will the company offer outplacement services or some type of severance pay?

2. Remember: You've Got Skills. Financial services IT people happen to have the most in-demand skillsets right now, especially security and compliance, notes Baschab. "This, combined with a blue-chip name on the resume, should ease the job search," he adds.

3. Dust Off Your Resume. It's always a good idea to be prepared with an updated resume, Estes notes. "You never know when an opportunity may present itself, or when an unexpected change may occur in your organization," he says. "The early bird gets the worm, so the sooner you get your resume posted, the better your odds of beating out your competition." (For more on this see "Your Resume Is Mission Critical.")

4. Tap into Your Network. Estes advises IT people to write a list of everyone they know who may be in a position to help them uncover a new job opportunity. And consider everybody: family, friends, business associates, clients or vendors, alumni groups, professional or social networking groups, and church or community members. "Your contacts can be an invaluable source of job leads," he adds, "so don't leave any stone unturned."