These days with cuts being made, it is important you look very busy at work and keep yourself under the radar in order to help ensure you keep your lively hood. While some of these tactics may be deemed "shady", the work environment is now more cutthroat than ever and it is important that you do whatever you can to keep your job and ride out the recession we are headed for. Here are a few tips that should be able to help:

You Will Need

• A cubicle or office
• A phone
• A highly visible and good-sized calendar
• And stacks of important looking papers

Step 1: Cover your tracks

Use either a bogus spreadsheet or a legitimate business email as your screensaver. If anyone interrupts your web surfing, you're hard at work with a mere click of your mouse.

Step 2: Fill your calendar

Fill your calendar with numerous cryptic reminders and appointments that no one else could possibly decipher. Enter a check next to some of them. Your boss will look elsewhere when assigning new projects. Don't use sticky notes to mark your calendar. You want permanent visible evidence of just how busy you are.

Step 3: Carry a legal pad

When you leave your desk, always carry a legal pad or file folder with you, preferably close to your chest.

Step 4: Keep piles of paper

Keep numerous stacks of paper on all surfaces of your cubicle or workspace.

Step 5: Stay Late

At least once a week, stay later than everyone else, especially the boss. Even if you stay only 15 minutes later, this gives the appearance of diligence.

Step 6: Look the part

By 2:30 in the afternoon, make sure your appearance is disheveled as further proof of how industrious you are. Men, loosen your ties. Women, place pens behind your ears and roll up your sleeves.

Step 7: Fake phone calls

Dial phone numbers with automated messages so you can strategically be overheard saying key phrases like "I'll get on it right away" or "Coming right up."

Learn more about how to look busy at work .