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1. Get personalGetting too personal is typically a workplace no-no. But during a recession, sharing a few details about yourself with your boss might work to your advantage, says Stephen Viscusi, president of BulletproofYourResume.com, a resume-writing service, and author of "Bulletproof Your Job."

"I'm not telling you to brown-nose," says Viscusi. "I'm telling you to weave in conversations personal things about your life when appropriate, so the boss knows you have two kids in college. Should it matter? No. Does it? Often, it does."

2. Be visibleIn a booming economy, it may be OK to lay low and enjoy some downtime at work, but that's simply not the case today. "You want to be noticed, and be known as someone who delivers great results," says Tory Johnson, CEO of Women for Hire, a New York-based employment company. Do more than your job description calls for and leave the "that's not my job" attitude at home.

3. Be a cheerleader Sure, the mood in your office has likely gone the way of the stock market. Putting a bright face on before you go to work every day will make it that much easier to stand out as a positive force. "Bosses feel negative energy from unhappy employees, and it's easy to fire an unhappy employee," Viscusi says.

4. "LinkIn" to real life -Online networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook have gained plenty of popularity, but to really benefit from all those connections, you have to take them offline.\Do this now, while you're still employed. That way, should you need a job down the road, it will be easier to ask for help.

5. Freelance Freelancing will not only pad your budget in these difficult times, it will also expand your professional network, says Richard Bayer, chief operating officer of the Five O'clock Club, a career counseling organization. And if you do lose your job, you've got a source of income to tide you over while you look for a new one.

6. Take a pay cut It sounds counterintuitive, but in most cases, you'll do much better financially if you offer to take a pay cut instead of being laid off. That's especially true in this economy, when a typical job search will likely last much longer than usual. "If your boss says it's a numbers thing, you really are allowed to say 'What's that number, because I want to keep my job,'" Viscusi says.

7. Reinvent yourself Whether you're still employed and just looking around, or already looking, expand your search into other industries. "If you're an accountant out of a bank, there's nothing that says you can't go to a health-care company," Challenger says. And while landing a job in another location is difficult and moving for work is even harder, looking to your past -- going back to your hometown or prior jobs to reconnect with old friends and former co-workers -- may uncover unexpected opportunities.

Call today, so you are well on your way to recession proofing your career. Stay ahead of the curve with 

CP Consulting 866-754-9619