10 ways to recession-proof your IT career

Tech leaders are known for planning ahead, and many are watching the state of the economy with interest, as inflation is on the rise, coupled with pandemic-related supply shortages and other global factors that increase the risk of a recession. The same forward-thinking approaches that help tech companies adapt — when faced with other forms of disruption — can also be applied to your career.  

There are steps you can take to protect and advance your career in worrisome economic times, including developing new skills and changing old habits. Progressive companies stay ahead of the curve by looking ahead, and you can do the same by making good use of your time and seeking new opportunities.

Here’s a look at 10 ways you can help protect your career prospects in uncertain economic times.

Keep your blade sharp

When facing a recession, Scott Caschette, CIO of Schellman and Co., advises an approach akin to investing in a downturn by looking for emerging opportunities for growth.

“The trick is predicting which way the sector shift is going to go,” Caschette says. “Look for, or better yet, predict which large companies will need IT skills on the inverse side of economic downturn. Chances are they will be looking for talent.”

Here, Caschette suggests making use of any job-related data you can find. “A trick I learned a while back was to search all of the staffing and recruiting websites and aggregate the data for the most recurring job opening types,” he says. “It will establish up-to-the-minute skills trends for you to understand the tech opportunities in your area.”