In an uncertain financial climate it is very common for men and women to worry about unemployment. If you have already lost your job you face the long road to re-employment and if you are still employed you worry about job security. The truth is, when the news is constantly hammering us with images of factory closings, Wall Street volatility and budget cutbacks our nervousness is understandable. The key to negotiating uncertain times is to keep from being controlled by our fears and worries. Worry never solved a problem but just knowing that isn't going to stop this most natural of human reactions. How do we control our worries so that they don't spiral out of control and immobilize us?

Managing the Worry

First of all you need to take stock of your situation and create a list of action items to prepare for changes you might be required to face. Taking action, even if it somehow proves to have been futile later, will generally either reduce or banish entirely the stress and worry of ‘not knowing’. For example, even if you're still employed, taking action to update and polish your resume will ensure that if you need to search for a new job you're ready to hit the ground running. Training courses are another kind of action which can serve as insurance against stress. It only makes sense that learning new techniques creates positive thoughts and attitudes.

When One Door Closes

There is an old saying that when one door closes another opens and that's never truer than in the company world. Recessions can have a devastating effect on the unemployment rate and on established businesses, but many new ideas can find room to blossom into reality in this climate. Whether this means a restructuring that allows for new growth at an existing company, or the chance for extended training and refocusing, action during economic downturns will pay dividends when the economy turns again.

Take Stock, Take Action.

We cannot control the overall economy but we can take positive steps to prepare ourselves for any eventuality. We can learn new techniques that will make us more effective and valuable in our current jobs. Having these skills in our job repertoire will make us more attractive to prospective employers in any economic climate. We can ensure that our resumes adequately reflect our skills and experience and we can focus on finding the hidden opportunities around us. In the end run the differences between opportunity and misfortune are less than you might think. Take stock and then take action. You are going to then be able to leave the worry and the sleepless nights to others.