Over the last few weeks we’ve been assaulted by a barrage of media outlets spewing the same thing. RECESSION… Whether it’s the nightly news, NPR or the Wall Street Journal, the “R” word has been on everyone’s lips. And why not? A recession affects us all whether it affects us directly (loss of a job) or indirectly (belt-tightening measures like low or no annual increase) in the face of rising costs. So the better question to ponder isn’t whether or even when (for you pessimists out there) it’s what can I and should I be doing to ensure I’m able act/ react to what happen. Here’s my list of things you should be doing now to prepare for what may be inevitable:

1. Update your resume. Not because you may need to use it to find a job (although that’s not a bad idea) but to help you focus and better understand what you’ve accomplished to date and what you still need to focus on. Career Planning 101 people.

2. Start reading the trade journals (InformationWeek, CIO, etc.) to better understand what initiatives are still strong in 2008 and what tools/ technologies companies are looking for. If you’ve got experience in these areas make sure it’s prominently featured on your resume and provide details. If you don’t have skills in these areas do what you need to do to get it.

3. Initiate calls to those recruiters you’ve worked with successfully in the past. Get on their radar now and they will keep you in mind for those needs as they arise. Also, offer to help them with information and referrals where you can. TRUST ME ON THIS – Recruiters help those that help them. Period.

4. Renew contacts with your network of friends and associates at other firms. The worst time to be contacting your network is when you really need it. Invest time now and it will pay great dividends in the long run.

5. Get your family financials in order. The Three Little Pigs taught us everything we need to know about weathering a “storm.” Nuff said.

In general we continue to see the market for Information and Business Technology professionals to be solid with the supply of top talent being exceeded by demand. Of course that can change and we at MRT are taking similar measures to insure we continue to thrive regardless of the prevailing economic climate, and we believe this advice will help you to do the same as well.