Recession can be a very stubborn thing. Once it drops by, it can take a
while for it to fade away and disappear. However, that doesn’t mean that we
should simply sit back and let it overcome us. It can, after all, wreck
havoc on our finances and personal lives. In these tough times, finding a
job already seems improbable – just imagine being in the market for jobs
that are not affected by recession. But take heart. There’s still hope yet.

Here are top 6 tips for finding recession-proof jobs:

Look for jobs in secure industries.

If you’ve read the news by now, trying to get a job in an auto plant is like
trying to get on an elevator that’s going down – and you’re trying to go up.
The same is true if you’re trying to get a leg in real estate.

Instead of wasting your time trying to join an industry that’s experiencing
some bad times, try to set your sights on industries that have remained
stable or are experiencing growths. These include:

• Health care (nursing, caregiving, special care, medicine, physical therapy
  and other support manpower)
• Law enforcement
• Information Technology (network administration, software design and
  development)
• Support Services (customer service, administrative assistance)
• Sales and business development (product management, retail and wholesale)
• Engineering
• Education (teaching, school administration and other related support
  services)

Boost your resume.

If an employer sees nothing promising or exciting in your resume, they won’t
think twice about throwing your piece in the trash bin. Before you try to
hook a recession-proof job, consider revamping your resume right now. Take a
copy of your latest and review it. If your resume is several months old,
there’s a high likelihood that it needs a makeover.

Focus on accomplishments.

A common error among jobhunters is detailing their job descriptions in their
resumes. Although this is helpful in establishing their work experience, it
may not always give the prospective employer a good idea of what you can do.
Emphasize on the results that you have produced instead.

Adapt your resume.

Typing out and printing a generic resume is a huge mistake. Generic is
average, which means that you have very little to help you stand out from
the crowd. If you want a recession-proof job, make sure your resume is
something that your employers will find attractive.

Consider the industry you’re targeting. If the job calls for someone who has
a strong sales experience, emphasize your sales background. If the job calls
for someone who had been involved directly in marketing and promotions, show
your qualifications in these departments. The more relevant your resume says
you are, the better you’ll be at landing a recession-proof job.

Expand your reach.

Other than advertised job vacancies, consider other venues for finding
recession-proof jobs. Look for trade magazines, papers, clubs and
associations. You could also tap your network of professionals in the same
field.

Get further education.

In tough times, you ought to arm yourself with tougher credits. One is by
obtaining additional training or education. Getting certified or expanding
your professional qualifications will help make you a more desirable hiree.

Recession-proof jobs are usually the most popular among jobhunters who are
probably considering the same strategies as you right now. It’s likely that
for every recession-proof job that is available out there, there are
thousands of other jobhunters out to get it. If you have better
qualifications courtesy of better training and experience (in case you’ve
had hands-on education or internship), you’ll come out as the best, most
capable candidate.

many likes the idea of changing career plans during a downturn. However, if you
have already felt the effect of recession – say you’ve been laid off, why not
give a different career path a chance, right?

It may not have quickly crossed your mind to prioritize job security when choosing a job. However, whether you are choosing your first job or making a switch, it can be helpful, particularly during our present economic situation.

No job is 100% secure. That said, there are some industries that have workers feeling more confident that even if they get fired, the demand is so great that finding another job would be very easy.

So how do you choose a career that’s right for you during a recession? Here are
some recession-proof careers that are worthy of consideration:

Education

There is a great shortage of teachers. No matter how down the economy is,
teachers will always be in-demand. Children will continue to go to school. Also,
lots of unemployed adults may decide to further their education. Although
teaching is not one of the highest-paid careers there is, making only about
$30,000 to $45,000 a year, people will still settle for a career that does not
earn more because they are tired of being unemployed for a long time. This is
especially true for those who would want to try something new anyway or those
who despise the roller-coaster rid that a corporate life offers.

Healthcare

Job hunters with Information Technology background are said to be a good fit to the healthcare industry – particularly nursing. This is because Nursing is an
information-driven career. And, it is one useful career during a recession
because healthcare is an industry that does not usually get affected during
these times.

Auditing

Auditors are also usually unaffected by downturns. In a recession, individuals
and firms are more probably doing their best to get more deductions. More people are monitoring their books, so the demand for auditors or accountants is much greater.

Energy and Utilities

Energy consumers may cut back, but the consumption will not stop. The same with utilities, people will still light their homes. So, jobs like maintenance and
utility administration prove to be more stable than others during a recession.

Pharmaceuticals

As long as physicians prescribe drugs, people are still going to take them. This
means that if you are working as a pharmacist or as a quality assurance analyst
in pharmaceutical laboratory, you are in good hands.

Military

Since the military is always hiring, particularly during wartime, during a
recession soldiers will not be that affected. Serving the military also means
that most of your living expenses will be covered.

Security

Recession does not stop crime. With the increase in layoffs, more people are
considering robbing banks and doing other crimes. So, the need for security
workers becomes greater.

Environmental Sciences

The convenient truth is that the eco-friendly trend is not going anywhere. This
means that choosing a career in environment-care-related industries can be a
good career choice.

Government

Working for the government can be one of your best choices during this downturn.
This is because many stable jobs can be found in the federal government. The
government will not cease from functioning even during crisis.

With that variety of career choices, it will not be that difficult to find one
that will save you from this economic situation.

Secret: (I’ll add that online work is an excellent option: contact me on the buyandsellland.com contact form if you’d like to know more)

Ask an economist to define recession for you and chances are, they’ll tell you
that it is a state of the economy where it declines for at least 6 months. But
that’s just a pretty, picture-book definition. Recession can affect not just
cities and countries, it can also affect individuals and families on a more
personal level.

To help you implement tax and personal anti-recession steps,
here are things you can do:

Start saving. Now.

If you have a nest egg stashed somewhere, good for you. Boost it with more
savings. If you don’t, it’s time to start immediately. Implement tax and
personal savings steps in order to fight the effects of recession.

Cut back on spending immediately.

If you think you need everything you buy, gather your last few weeks’ worth of
receipts and rate each item according to necessity. Chances are, there are a few
things there that you’ll realize now that you didn’t really have to buy. and

If you see the same pattern in most of your receipts, that’s a sign that you
ought to cut back on your expenses and seriously implement a budget or spending plan.

You could, for example, cancel gym memberships and take up running or home
exercises instead, buy items on sale instead of at regular prices and put off
any large purchases – cars, TVs, video equipment, furniture, etc.

Take big chunks out of your debt.

Your debt can get you down and it will not hesitate to do the same thing to your
credit score. During a recession, a bad credit rating is just not something you
want to have. If you have debts in some form (loans, credit cards, mortgage,
etc.), try to pay off as much of your debt as possible. The earlier you do this,
the better it will be for your finances.

Clearing your debts is an excellent anti-recession step because it helps save
you money in terms of interest. It will also give you peace of mind and the
personal satisfaction of being in charge.

Consider investing? Ask a professional.

An experienced financial adviser can help you understand the kind of options you have, given your own resources and the type of risks you are willing to take.

Recession can make investing much more of a challenge, particularly for the
uninitiated. That is why you’ll need all the help you can get in order to find
the best places where to put your money in.and

Know your deductibles.

Review your tax code for the types of items that you can include in your
deductibles. Remember that not all expenses can be used as deductions. Only if
you can prove them ‘ordinary and necessary’ will the tax man consider them.and

Keep all receipts for deductions.

Audit or no audit, it pays to have documents that support your tax claims,
especially if they refer to deductions. Get organized regarding your files,
particularly those that pertain to your business or work. Keep things where you
can readily access them and use for reference later.

Consider leasing your business vehicle.

If you want to give yourself better tax performance, a good anti-recession tip
to follow is to lease that car of yours. This will help get you better
deductions compared to what you’ll receive if you purchased the vehicle.

When in doubt, always refer to a professional.

The personal anti-recession tips you obtain will usually work seamlessly but
some steps involving taxes might have certain limitations. Before implementing
these steps, you might want to consult a basic taxation guide or see an
accountant or bookkeeper. They can guide you on what you can and should do based on your own unique circumstances.

Recession does not mean boredom for your family. You do not have to slump  down
at home trying to sleep the recession away when you can still have fun without
having to spend too much. Here are some ways to keep your family entertained
without putting a big dent to your budget.

Grow a Green Thumb – Low Cost Way to Have Fun and Have Food

Gardening is one of the most productive and yet less-costly ways to entertain
oneself. If you have the kids helping, you can double the fun. Just as long as
you do not use high-maintenance, which are also usually expensive plants, you
can have a ball growing vegetables and fruits that you can also use to make your own meals. This means more savings for your family!

Watch your Local Sports Team – Inexpensive Way to Support your Local Team

Kids enjoy watching sports. Support your local sports team by adding yourself
and your kid as part of its seated cheering squad.

Go to community events – Low Cost Activity to Enjoy your Neighborhood’s Events

Your local local colleges, city bulletin boards, newspaper listings, and
libraries usually post special entertainment events that you can attend for
free.

Host a Garage Sale – Fun and Inexpensive Way to Earn Extra Income

It’s high time to get rid of your old bags that only gather dust in your closet.
And what better way to get rid of it than to sell it in a garage sale. A garage
sale is not just a way to earn you extra money, it can be highly entertaining,
too. Getting the whole family to participate, from gathering the items, pricing
and selling them can be a whole bunch of fun.

Backyard Camping – Go Cheap, Local and Fun

You do not need to travel miles to be able to enjoy camping. Your backyard can
be one cheaper and less-stressful place to have camping with your family or
friends. Just make sure to make the ambience conducive to camping. If you want,
you can even invite your nosy neighbors to join you.

Purchase annual passes – Low Cost Amusement

Amusement and water parks usually offer annual tickets that do not cost much.
Take advantage of these offers if your family is into this type of
entertainment.

Enjoy YouTube – Free Techie Fun

The Internet technology now offers free entertainment via online videos. YouTube
is the most popular source of these videos. You can also watch movies through
other free movie sites.

Belt it out – Enjoy and Learn while Saving Money

If you do not have a karaoke microphone, you can borrow from your friends. There
is also an online version of karaoke that you can also use as a form of free
entertainment.

Play Online Games – Not Just for Kids but for Your Wallet’s Health, too

There are millions of free online games that you can enjoy with your kids.
Whether you want to play word games or puzzle games, the variety of online games
is endless.

Set a Family Day – Regular Way to Save Money and Have Fun

Whether you play scrabble, go camping in your backyard, or watch online videos,
setting a regular family day doing these simple and yet fun activities will
condition your family to look forward to less-expensive ways of having fun. It’s
a great way to bond with your family members, as well.

The impact of recession can be very damaging not only to households but to  businesses as well. Learn about these effects of recession and prevent your business from succumbing into its deadly claws.

1. Customer scarcityWhen you have too few customers, consequently, your income suffers as well. The rising prices make customers too picky or less interested in giving you business. Existing customers may also be re-assessing their spending, which results in fewer orders for you. So what do you do? How about changing your customer acquisition techniques? Have you tried online marketing? This may not be suitable to all businesses but there’s no harm in considering it. Online marketing has many forms and doing your assignment will prove to be helpful in determining which technique will benefit most your business.
2. Ridiculously high credit card debt

   Inflation is likely to happen during inflation, which means your expenses can be higher than normal. If you have been relying on your credit card for payments, you now need to monitor your spending really closely. This is because losing track of your expenses can surprise you one day when you no longer have enough funds to pay off all your debt. You do not want to have problem with your credit card because a bad rating will not be of great help when you are trying to obtain approval for loans.

3. Increase in cost of utilities

   The rising price of food, electricity and gas can put a big dent to your business. This can be especially true if you run your business form a physical location. Increase in monthly bills means lower income. So how do you resolve this? There are so many ways to save money on utilities. One is to cut back on non-essentials. It the weather does not need for a full blast AC unit turned on, turn it off. If you can turn off the lights more often without making the business operations suffer, then do so. If you can use less expensive packaging methods or materials, please do take advantage of cheaper alternatives. Re-assess all the nooks of your business. Take a harder look to your books to get deductions. Lessen expenses in every way possible. Make the most out of technology. If you can automate parts of your business, do so. You can also hire contract workers such as virtual assistants to help you be more productive and to allow time for you to brainstorm on how to improve your business.

4. Funds gone kapoot

   If you started your business using a loan, you might find yourself out of savings to fall back on if you need funds to survive the recession. To control this, have a suitable savings plan, wherein you can put in some of your income. This allows you to have a backup plan whenever the current downturn happens.

5. Low staff morale.

   Slow periods mean sadder employees. Why not add incentives and create contests to boost the morale of your sales team? This is the best time to get your creative juices flowing to help motivate your employees. Having motivated employees means increased sales. So, don’t be too stingy with incentives and praises.

Have you felt any of these yet? If so, what are you waiting for? Try out the suggestions on how to control the effects of recession.

Recession, for the uninitiated, is the decline of the economy. It is a
widespread decline in the Gross Domestic Product, employment, and trade, which
lasts from 6 months to one year. One of its usual effects is running out of
funds because of the high prices of commodity and the increase in unemployment
rate. So, if you are running a household, how do you make sure the impact of
recession will not be too much to bear for your family? Here are some
anti-recession tips that you can find useful during these hard times:

Grow Your Own Fresh Produce.

If you have been relying on the supermarkets for your daily meals, it’s high
time to consider growing your own food. What can be better than taking advantage
of your green thumb to avoid having to buy fruits and vegetables? If you are
renting, growing vegetables and herbs in pots, also known as container
gardening, can be useful. Mint, sage, rosemary, basil and thyme are great herbs
for container gardening. If you do not have enough time, opt for low maintenance
vegetables. Examples of low maintenance vegetables include garlic, onions,
turnips, cabbage, leeks and kale. Now if you have a bigger backyard, growing
your own fruits can be fruitful (pun not intended). Although this might require
longer time since fruit trees can take at least about two years to yield crops.
You can also do better in keeping a wide variety of your fruits and vegetables
through trading with your neighbor’s grown fruit trees, vegetables and herbs.

Make Your Own Meal.

If you have the time, learning how to bake can be one great way to spend your
free time. Aside from saving money, it can also be one fun way to relieve your
stress. Fast food restaurants can be very tempting but if you have the skills
(or not, since you can learn to cook), then why not prepare your own food from
your own grown fruits and vegetables and home-baked bread. If you think your
skills are too limited, the Internet offers gazillions of simple recipes that
even kids can make. Make your own coffee and you can also brew your own beer if
you want.

Improve your grocery shopping habits.

With the right shopping attitude, you can reduce unnecessary cost. You can
prevent yourself from succumbing into impulse buying. You can do this by
creating a list of items to buy before going to the supermarket. One tip is to
not go to the grocery to shop when you are hungry. Yes, hunger causes you to buy
items you do not need. Buying all the items you need in one go can help avoid
using gas for unnecessary trip and also get rids of temptation. Also, before you
unloading your cart, check again which items you can do without. You will be
surprised that there are just so many of the items that you picked up that you
do not really need.

Cut back on non-essentials.

You like soda? You like steak? But do you like to survive the recession? Then,
cut on soda, meat and other non-essentials. You do not have to stop drinking
soda or eating meat. But if you will only compute how much you can save without
consuming any of these as often as you used to, you will see that it’s enough to
tide you over.

Don’t come undone with your own expectations.

Determining whether you have gotten yourself a good deal in buying real estate,
or simply just about anything, depends on your priorities. We all differ in
priorities, that’s a fact. So if you’d like to make sure you satisfy yourself,
get your own expectations in check. Creating a checklist can help you here.
Finding a property to buy with a checklist handy can greatly facilitate the
process.

Don’t be too you-you-you.

Sure, you were advised to know your priorities and to create a checklist to
boot. However, flexibility can also get you a long way. Be objective with your
judgments and take a hard look at the property you are planning to buy. Think
hard and see if you are actually being too choosy to the point of being
impractical. Would you like fancy or functional? Is it comfy or uber-elegant?
How about trying to meet in the middle? Have you asked for suggestions from
experts of family or friends with experience? Do they agree with you? Although
you do not need to wipe your slate clean and accommodate all their opinions, are
your expectations realistic enough and what about your budget? Remember it is
recession.

Don’t be over-confident during a real estate recession.

Many think that since it is recession, they can just buy and buy and buy
properties. Although many property sellers are usually on the lower part of the
scale during these times, not all deals are the best ones. You still need to be
as careful as ever in purchasing real estate.

Before pursuing a short sale…

Many would pursue a short sale trying to grab a good deal. However, before you
buy a property with a price that seems too low for the location, asking your
agent to investigate if it is a short sale won’t hurt. This is important since
you should not just make an offer on a pre-foreclosure, short sale property.

Beware during recession since there are not too many fish in the sea

Er, properties to buy. Home sellers do know that during a recession, they may
not be able to sell their properties for a better price. This means that they
would have to wait longer to put their home out on the market. There may be
properties for sale, but they get bought quicker, too. It would be helpful if
you are prepared enough to make a purchase without dilly-dallying if you really
are into it.

Recession or not…

Your decision should not be clouded in buying a property. Always shop for the
lowest price, which fortunately is more attainable during recession for buyers.
However, do not forget that the lowest-priced property is not necessarily the
best one.

In summary, there are some advantages to buying a home during recession.
However, if you do not really have the budget or are not that well-educated in
the real estate industry, do not feel pressured to jump in.

Recession is a word that fills people with dread and bad visions. It’s a time people consider bad for finances, a time  capable of magically shrinking a dollar’s value overnight. It also automatically increases the cost of basic living. And where money is a huge concern, people always ask, ‘Can I still save for real during a recession?’ The answer is: of course you can. You just need to be wise and creative about the whole thing. Here are ways how:

Plan your purchases.

By planning your purchases, you’re effectively planning your expenses. This will help eliminate the danger of impulse buying and unnecessary spending. Try to look at the bigger picture when it comes to your basic needs.

Plan for a week’s worth of groceries, for example, so you’ll have an idea of which items you truly need (and want) and which items you can do away with. To make sure that you maximize your planning efforts, consider incorporating items on sale into your planning. If there are foods on sale that week, for example, why not plan your week’s menu using what’s currently on slashed down prices?

Implement the ‘B’ word.

Budget, that is. If you want to be able to save money during a recession, learn to discipline yourself and your family. Using your plan as a reference, come up with a weekly or monthly budget and then stick to it. If you must overshoot it, you should have a very good reason to do so. Otherwise, don’t spend.

Keep an eye out for bargains and discounts.

Learn to monitor stores for seasonal sales. You’ll save a lot of money by buying items on sale than in their regular prices. During a recession, that’s considered wise spending. Check out store or newspaper ads and don’t be shy about asking for cheaper alternatives, getting store rebates or using discount coupons. Consider buying at discount stores as well. Each dollar you don’t pay is a dollar you save.

Buy in bulk.

If there are items in your house that are often in use (paper towels, canned beans, yoghurt, etc.), consider buying in bulk. Many stores offer items in packs, which means you’ll save money in the long run if you buy them instead of paying for individual items.

Put off bigger purchases.

A good rule of thumb is, if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. If, for example, you have enough money for a downpayment on a new LCD TV but will have to borrow money off your credit card just to tide you over for the next few weeks, it would be really insane to make a purchase. Wait until you can truly, comfortably afford something. The worst you can do during a recession is not just failing to get money saved but also going into debt.

Practice prevention, not cure.

If you look closely, there are many things you do in your home that are siphoning precious dollars from your wallet. Simple steps such as repairing and maintaining your home and appliances, using more efficient equipment and cutting down on unnecessary consumption can do wonders for your wallet and piggy bank. And what better way to treat a recession than to be prudent?

Earn extra money.

If, after all your efforts, the money you have saved is still not enough, don’t let recession get the better of you. There are times when your efforts are just not sufficient – mostly because you don’t earn enough. Instead of asking for a raise that might never occur or waiting for a promotion to drop on your lap, consider finding other means with which to earn (and save) money.

Consider getting a part-time job, work extra hours, do selling on the side or offer your skills as a freelancer. The extra income you earn, along with your recession-powered money-saving plan, will help you make enough until after the tough times are over.