Did the above title scare you? Good! Because, like it or not, at some point in your life you will lose your job, if you haven’t already. I myself have lost jobs at least 3 times in my life. Call it getting laid-off, being downsized, or just being fired- the sad truth is that jobs are never a guaranteed, sure-fire thing. In fact, as our economy worsens, jobs will become ever harder to obtain and keep. As workers are let go, the ones that stay behind will be forced to work harder and/or faster. What will result (if it has not already) is a stressed-out, overworked, and underpaid labor force.

Why do I bring all this doom-and-gloom up? For the simple reason that you cannot depend on your job to always be there for you. No matter how indispensable you think you are, or how much profit you have brought to the company, or how many hours of work you have put in, just remember that anyone is replaceable. And when it comes to corporations, money is #1, customers #2, and then employees get to be #3 (hopefully). 

So, what can you do right now to prepare for the inevitable? Here is an 8 step plan to make yourself more versatile in the working world and less dependent on your current job:

1. Network.  It’s imperative that you locate your city’s or town’s professional societies and mingle with colleagues at least once a month. Don’t just show up for the free drinks and hors d’oeuvres, but actively seek out new faces, pass out your business cards, and ask advice. Then, follow-up with thank-you e-mails to those persons who told you something particularly useful.

2. Volunteer. Volunteering doesn’t have to eat up your entire weekend. You can spend 1-2 hours helping out in a soup kitchen, for example, or 2 hours planting shrubs by a local nursing home. But volunteering, aside from doing good for the community, also provides you with some great resume and interview fodder. And, you just never know when you might require some volunteer help yourself.

3. Socialize. Stay in contact with the friends you’ve known since high school or college. Go out every now and then to a bar, dance club, or sporting event. Join a soccer league or a brewing club. In other words, don’t depend on your coworkers to be your only social (and job opportunity) outlet. 

4. Save Money. It is absolute insanity to spend every penny you earn. Set aside at least 10% of your paycheck for savings. If possible, have the money withdrawn automatically into a savings account so you don’t even know it’s missing. That way, in the event that you are terminated from your job, you will have some cash saved up. Most financial experts recommend that you have at least 6 months of earnings saved up for a rainy day.

5. Set Up Passive Income. Whether you set aside money into a bank CD, or a dividend-paying stock, do whatever you can to make passive income for yourself. This way, should you lose your job, you’ll have at least some automatic money coming in every month. Given enough passive income, you may not even need to return to work!

6. Make Yourself Indispensable. In the cartoon "Dilbert", Wally, one of the disgruntled employees, says "I need to become indispensable so I don’t get fired for my behavior." Sage advice, Wally. Whether you are fond of your current job or not, you must find ways to avoid getting caught in the first wave of lay-offs. Learn a new skill, or show off something that no one else knows or does. Volunteer for special work projects. By differentiating yourself from the crowd, you are less likely to be the first item on the corporate chopping block when downsizing commences.

7. Stay Current. Don’t allow your job to pigeonhole you into a certain, and often outdated, skill set. Expand your mind by taking classes in your professional field. Take on tasks in different company departments. Keep abreast of new technological developments, including those that are available online (e.g., Web 2.0).  

While we may depend upon our employment for long-term sustainability, we should also expect a time when we are without gainful employment of some kind. By planning ahead, unemployment will not be as scary as imagined. In fact, our unemployment, carefully planned, may even allow us to try out new professions, commercialize on our hobbies, or just take a breather from the 9-to-5 daily grind.