There is a lot one can do to increase their chances of keeping a job or if worse comes to worst finding another. Don't panic it's a tough world out there with people losing there jobs. Just last night my friend was telling me how in their company 15 highly paid colleagues were sent home, reason downsizing. Have we not had this many times of late? People who are well prepared usually find a new job pretty quickly and in most cases a better one. While for others it's an opportunity to venture in an entirely new career path or maybe follow new dreams e.g. business.

But whatever you decide, you need to take positive action long before rather than being caught off guard. Start by making sure your skills are up to date by taking short courses and reading widely. Or find new skills that are mostly valued by employers everywhere. This include focus on customer satisfaction, creative problem solving, operating word processing and spread sheets, accepting responsibility, ability to work in a team, time management and contribute to discussions and also understanding what makes businesses successful.

Update your contacts as you also increase your network. Apply for jobs all the time even if it's just for practice. Doing volunteer work will go a long way to improve your profile and make your CV sound interesting. It should talk of your achievement and not just your qualifications. Your CV should be customized to match the current mindset of your target companies. These companies may receive thousands of applications hence you'll get about 10 seconds of eyeball time. Which means don't use write on lined exercise paper, instead use prefect paper, typing and layout. Address the letter to the relevant selection criteria for the job.

Work on your interview techniques especially the first few minutes, because often decisions are made as you sit down. Make sure your hand shake is dry and firm. Good eye contact, wear a warm smile with a good body posture and introduce yourself in a relaxed and confident manner. Think of how to sit, where to place your hands and your opening words. You need to appear to be say you are the right person for the job hence be alert and look confident even if you don't feel it. Get there early, no excuses are ever good enough for being late. Ease your nervousness by talking to anyone like the receptionist or the secretary just before you enter the interview room. It'll get your brain in the right gear.

If the interview is being done by more than one person maintain eye contact with each one of them. Listen closely, speak clearly and also use facial expressions and gestures that are receptive to the interview line of thought. Give honest answers to questions asked, never bluff and never slag off a previous employer; it's a huge turn off. If you haven't done your homework properly there is no point turning up for the interview. Because if your skills, background, experience and style aren't right you're not going to get on well.

Consider your core value before applying for example if you are an honest person and the company that you are looking to work for is know to take a few corners, you wont fit in. So don't apply for everything. Ensure you know everything about the job you are applying for and what it involves. If possible whose the boss and what the organization does. Know how the dress, it's not a laughing matter every organization has a mode of dressing (usually unwritten). Match there style dressing so that they may visualize you working with them.

Its not often you get a chance to talk about yourself to someone who want to know and hence your pleasure to do so will tell the interviewer you're the right person for the job. Take it easy and enjoy yourself.