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Often considered a relatively safe, high-demand industry, the tech sector has been hit hard by the recent economic changes impacting the U.S. With more than 164,000 layoffs in 2022 and 170,000 lost in the first three months of 2023, according to , many tech workers are feeling considerably less secure and looking for ways to shore up their career paths against roller-coaster market trends. 

Whether you’re currently out of work or just looking for recession-resistant jobs, there are several ways you can help improve your chances of maintaining your position when the market is down. Here are five of them.

1. Look for hardy sectors

2. Identify perennial roles

While working in a recession-resistant industry helps, it’s also a good idea to seek roles that are more likely to weather economic storms.

Notable industries include healthcare, government and education. These industries tend to be , according to a recent CNBC article, and encompass a wide range of roles from teachers to law enforcement.

Beware of roles that can easily fold into the responsibilities of an adjacent function, such as social media management or brand marketing. Jobs like these can be important to a company in good times but look like nice-to-haves when a business is cutting back during a recession. If another team can do what you do, your job may be first on the chopping block.

3. Learn how to identify company red flags

When you’re evaluating job opportunities, always remember that you’re interviewing the interviewer and should do your best to spot any red flags. In particular, do your homework on sites like �����Ի��� to check for signs of high turnover (particularly executive turnover) or a history of layoffs, which are signs of instability in the company.

If you’re in tech, the site , which tracks startups, funding rounds and press releases of companies big and small, is one resource for understanding how a company is performing, how much capital it’s taken in and whether the leadership team is stable.

In an interview, even if you’re not in sales, it’s best to ask about the company’s revenue performance. Has the business been meeting its targets? Are the sales reps making their numbers? Are other employees consistently achieving their bonus criteria? If your interviewer squirms in response to any of these questions, you should dig deeper to understand why.

4. Differentiate your role

5. Optimize for adaptability

Jobs come and go, but adaptable people are always in demand. Develop skill sets that will serve you in any job, and always be learning. In a topsy-turvy market, a jack-of-all-trades is a master of none but often better than a master of one.

Relationship management skills (both internally and externally) and project management skills go a long way regardless of your industry or job function. Demonstrating highly versatile skills can be a shield of immunity when management is looking at whom to cut.

Complacency, on the other hand, begets risk, and those who count on things staying the same are most vulnerable to change. Strengthen your position by reading your industry’s trade periodicals and spotting innovation and trends. Integrate continuing education into your lifestyle, taking courses in new or emerging skill sets. Take on challenging projects and ask your employer to fund relevant training to develop your skills in ways that advance the company’s interests.

While no amount of training and skill development can totally shield you from a round of layoffs when a recession occurs, developing an adaptable mindset and building highly transferable skills can ensure that even if you do lose your job, you’ll be better prepared to look for a new one.