If all the gloom and doom has you feeling anxious about the security of your job, here are six strategies fromMoney Magazineto keep your career rocketing in recessionary times.

Distinguish yourself.

With the downward economy, it's no longer enough to simply do your job -- even if you're doing your job extremely well. Now is the time to stand up and take on those high profile projects. This could mean volunteering for assignments no one else wants or devising solutions to meet key company challenges.

"The invisible guy is first to go," executive recruiter Stephen Viscusi toldMoney Magazine.

The bottom line: Tough times can give you an opportunity to take on more responsibility. Handle these responsibilities well and it can pay off later.

Be a moneymaker.

Even if it's not part of your job description, look for ways to bolster company revenue, either by boosting current revenue streams or generating new ones. This could be as simple as sharing client leads, devising follow-up projects or looking for new ways to cut company costs. (Be sure to put your ideas in a memo to higher-ups.)

The bottom line: Often the easiest jobs to cut in a downsizing are the ones that cost the company money rather than those that make money.

Cut the complaining.

No one likes a complainer, and lay-offs give managers the opportunity to get rid of people who make their lives miserable. So if you haven't exactly been a team player in the past, now is the time for an attitude adjustment.

You may also want to reflect on your choice of office buddies. If they happen to be Negative Nellies, you may be found guilty if only by association. No need to abandon these workmates entirely, just steer clear when the talk turns toxic. Better yet, make an effort to associate with the people the boss respects and offer to lend them a hand as needed. Who knows? You may also bask in the halo of their good reputation.

The bottom line: Avoid toxic talk and negativity.

Increase your value.

While it's never a bad idea to stay on top of your game, in these tough economic times it's especially important to stay on top of any advances in your field. You may also want to look for ways to expand on your core skills and responsibilities. Needless to say, if you possess an important skill that your co-workers don't, your position is more secure.

The bottom line: Expand your skill set and stay on top of advances in your field to become a survivor in tough economic times.

Go beyond your job description.

With many companies facing cutbacks, employees are being asked to do more work with fewer resources. The result is that everyone is working harder. Rather than gripe about the situation, embrace it by pitching in and establishing yourself as a valuable team member.

The bottom line: Offer to help out whenever hands are needed, and you'll increase your chances of staying on the team.

Make a sacrifice.

While experts admit this could be a risky move, offering to take a temporary pay cut or foregoing a bonus can sometimes save your job. In exchange, you could ask for other forms of compensation, such as stock options or a temporary cut in hours.

The bottom line: In a tough economy, taking a short-term hit could be the key to your long-term survival.

Source: Money Magazine
Provided by: www.50Plus.com
Article link: http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/article/50plus/how-protect-your-job-when-layoffs-are-looming-20090330