1. Be prepared for sudden job loss. 對突然失業做好準備。

    According to federal data, the US lost 2.6 million jobs in 2008. And some experts are predicting that another 2 million may be lost over the course of 2009. Don't ignore the odds. It can happen to you, so be sure you're ready to start interviewing immediately.

    美國聯邦政府數據顯示，美國在2008年削減了260萬份工作。一些專家預計在2009年還有2百萬份工作將消失。不要忽略這個可能性。這可能發生在你身上，所以要隨時準備好面試。

    This means your resume should be up to date and ready to send in a moment's notice, you should have at least one interview outfit cleaned and hanging in your closet, and your online networks should be current. Reaching out to people immediately after news breaks of layoffs at your company can seem disingenuous. It's best to connect with other professionals when they won't feel pressured by your request.

    這意味著你該隨時更新簡歷，以確保能即刻發出簡歷。你至少要有一套干凈的面試行頭掛在衣櫥，而且網上通訊工具應為在線狀態。等裁員的消息出來才立刻去求助于人，這會讓人覺得你虛偽。最好是在你不這么急迫的時候和其他人多聯系。

    2. Network with your neighbors. 和鄰居建立關系。

    Forget rubbing elbows with strangers at networking mixers. Your next professional opportunity could come while you're mowing the lawn, walking your dog, or on your building's elevator. According to a report entitled "Place of Work and Place of Residence: Informal Hiring Networks and Labor Market Outcomes" authored by Patrick Bayer, associate professor of economics at Duke University, and others, "Residing on the same [block] versus nearby blocks increases the probability of working together by over 33 percent."

    別惦記著和社交網站的陌生人拉關系。你的下一個職業機會也許是在修剪草坪、遛狗，或在住宅電梯里時出現。根據杜克大學經濟學副教授Patrick Bayer的“工作地點和居住地點：非正式的招聘網絡和勞動力市場的結果”等報告，“和附近區相比，你有大于33％的可能性和住在同一個區的居民一起工作。”

    So, help your neighbor shovel his walkway. Hold the door for the woman who lives above you. Be extra nice to the kids playing in front of your home. Host a dinner party for some of the folks on your street. Your future boss could be living on your block!

    所以，幫助你的鄰居清理走道。出入大門時，為那個住樓上的婦女擋一會門。對在你家門前嬉戲的孩子多一點友善。為同住一條街上的人們舉行晚宴派對。你未來的老板也許就住在同一個區！

    3. Explore your options in health care. 尋找保健行業的就業機會。

    No matter what is happening with the economy, people still require medical care. And with a growing and graying population, a notorious nursing shortage, and the addition of 372,000 health-care jobs nationally in 2008 (while other industries practically perished), health-care promises to remain hot. Whether you're a care provider, an administrative professional, a food services worker, an IT specialist, or a marketing executive, your local medical centers or health-related businesses may have a position for which you're qualified.

    不論經濟如何，人們依然需要醫療保健。人口越來越多，越來越老齡，護理職位短缺， 2008年全美國新增了37.2萬醫療保健工作（而其它行業卻在衰敗），所以醫療保健行業還是蒸蒸日上的。不論你從事護理、管理、食品供應、IT，還是市場營銷，都可能在當地醫療中心或保健企業找到一席之地。

    4. Plan for your own future. 計劃好未來。

    If you want to pursue another profession or entrepreneurship in the future, lay the groundwork now. Being goal-oriented will help you remain positive during dark days, and running your own business can put your career's future in your own hands. Also, you'll be in good company.

    如果你想以后換工作或自己創業，現在就得打好基礎。以目標為導向，能讓你在“黑暗”時期保持積極；創業能讓自己把握職業未來。而且許多人將與你為伍，開始創業。

    President Obama is a small-business supporter, and Florida-based Internet marketing and website promotion agency Jorn and Price Marketing are predicting an increase in startups, saying, "New online startups will be everywhere. There are lots of very skilled people that have been and will be laid off or asked to take unacceptable cuts in pay. Many of these people will decide to go into business for themselves rather than fight a tough job market." If you could lose almost any job at any time, isn't it better to be your own boss? After all, not many folks would fire themselves.

    美國總統奧巴馬總統支持小企業發展。佛羅里達互聯網營銷及網站推廣機構Jorn and Price Marketing預測創業的人數將增加，他們稱“新興網絡公司將四處涌現。因為將要有許多高技能人才下崗，或者面臨無法接受的減薪。許多人將決定自己去創業，而不是在一個艱難的就業市場中戰斗。” 要是你隨時都有可能失業，那么給自己當老板不是更好嗎?畢竟，多數人不會炒自己的魷魚。

    5. Save some money in a very safe place. 將些錢存在十分安全的地方。

    In a mad world, you never know when you'll need a little mad money. So make sure you've got some on hand. Having a stash of cash -- at least six months of living expenses -- can make you breathe easier in scary times and give you the confidence you need to make careful choices about your professional life. In other words, you won't have to jump at the first job offer you get if it doesn't seem like a good fit.

    在一個瘋狂的世界，你永遠都不會知道什么時候突然急需用錢。所以你得存一筆錢。有一筆至少維持6個月生活的存款能讓你擺脫恐懼，讓你有足夠多的信心去對職業生涯做出仔細選擇。換句話說，你不必饑不擇食地接受第一個出現卻不適合的工作。

    The stock market proved to be an unreliable piggy bank in 2008, with Kiplinger magazine calling it "the worst bear market since the 1930s." So, do yourself a favor and accrue the king of all liquid assets in a manner in which you know you'll have it when you need it.

    在2008年，股市是一只不可靠的“存錢罐”，Kiplinger雜志稱之為“自1930年來最糟糕的熊市”。所以，幫自己一個忙，管理流動資產時，你要確保要用的時候就能用。