While On-the-Job .... Stay Prepared

While trawling across the Net today, I chanced upon a video from PinkSlipMixers.com, an interesting forum that provides a platform for job seekers to network and hopefully find leads. The persons in this video are based in the US and most likely found themselves without a job in the economic recession of 2008.
Being in an emerging market - India and that too in the Silicon Valley of India - Bangalore, the chances of being laid off and having to hunt for a job for 6 months or over may not be a present and widespread reality or so I thought until I stood on the brink of being let go.
One day I was scaling the heights of professional success, well-known within the company, acing the appraisal and successfully completing initiatives and the next day I had to introduce myself to the new management team and build my official profile all over again. Although the lay-offs did not come to pass, as I look back to those dark days, there are a few things that I have filed into my repertoire of life lessons:

Image courtesy:  http://www.freeimages.co.uk

1. Stay market-attuned: The demands of the activities at work would take all of my energies and leave very little motivation to stay updated in career developments. To track career trends, one's skill gaps, and evaluating whether or not an investment in a particular trend is worth it, is an activity well-worth the time.
2. Build relationships: Relationships with co-workers is important to nurture when the going is rough as well as when its smooth. After all, co-workers understand office situations better and can be a source of support and objectivity. Peers, juniors, and seniors all have a place in the web of office relationships. While co-workers lend an internal support system, building an external network of professional contacts is invaluable. To share thoughts, be challenged, to learn, and find mentors - LinkedIn connections must go beyond the acceptance of the request to connect.   
3. Continuous learning: Learning more about the current sphere of work and the next are important. To spend the time to comprehend and translate the learning will take us a long way. Make sure that resume is being embellished with achievements every 3 months or so. Getting a coach - whether virtual or real - to guide you through the twists and turns that your professional life will take will continue to inspire learning.