Don’t wait for your company to start laying off people before you start looking for a new job or consider going back to school for additional training. If you have a keen eye, you can start to look for the warning signs of your job being in jeopardy.In today’s economy, having a jump-start on job searching can be the difference in getting the job or being up against your peers in a larger hiring pool.Here are some warning signs to look out for:

• Mergers and Acquisitions: If your company is merging with another, you can bet that there are other people who can perform the same job as you. That puts your job in jeopardy.
• Jaguars Become Rabbits: If you see the boss down-grading his nice, new Jaguar for the more reasonable Volkswagen Rabbit, it’s not a great sign. This could mean a drastic cost-cutting measure including layoffs.
• People No Longer Seek Your Opinion: You used to be the “go to” person when people were seeking advice on critical projects. Now they seem to go to everyone else but you.
• You Are No Longer on the Invite List: A drop-off of meeting invites could mean that they are seeking others before you. If everyone is still busy with meetings and the only meeting on your calendar is going to get a manicure, your job could be getting cut.
• Your Competitors Are Slicing Their Workforces: Competitors starting to lay off people in your industry could mean that your company might follow suit.

Watch out for the signs to be more ready to switch careers in the midst of a career recession. This also could be the perfect time to go back to school to earn your degree or continue your education. The more skills you have, the better way to land a new career or simply stay in your current one.

If you’re ready to learn new skills, then USCS can help you find the right school for you. Start your search today!