It was barely more than a year ago that job searchers were the ones being singled out but today it's the employers that are most sought after. A long term career view is now a desirable attribute for candidates looking for a career with respectable businesses.

While some businesses will be hit hard by the downturn in economic fortunes other industries and business enterprises continue to expand. So even thought the market may be slowing there's no reason why your career should do as well.

Job hopping where you can quit your job Friday and begin a another one Monday morning is no longer a reality. Now is a time to really consider your future objectives and where you would like to be a couple of years down the line. Building industry experience with reputable employers will no doubt stand you in good stead further down the line and as the recession passes you will be found with many more chances at your doorstep.

As employers look to construct a more productive and efficient work force flexibility becomes a critical attribute of any candidate. Proving yourself to be proficient across a multitude of tasks will really promote your chances as companies seek to add value to their individual organizations. Committing to the attainment of new skills at this time when others look to just get by will boost your chances of employment immensely.

Your flexibility will also need to apply to your salary. With more and more competition for jobs employers have a large selection of candidates and they won't be paying more than is required to acquire your services. Of course candidates with more advanced skills, knowledge and experience will always demand higher rates of pay. A recent movement by ever more budget conscious employers has been to offer supplements, such as flexible working hours, instead of an increase in wages.

Employers are increasingly taking more time to settle upon candidates and this is primarily due to the simple fact that there are more applicants per job than there has ever been before. This combined with the fact that permanent jobs are being substituted with part time and casual contracts means candidates will endure an extended hiring process. Although this does not mean it's time to sit back and relax, keeping a proactive frame of mind is essential.

Candidates that decide to put stop their job searches until the recession "blows over" are restricting their potential to grow their career. The type of candidates employers are looking for are individuals who can bring value and make a difference to their establishment. These types of people are always an asset regardless of economic uncertainties.

The not-for-profit and public job sectors remain resilient as per usual. The stability in these sectors has always been alluring and now with candidates being ever more concerned by job security and safety the popularity of these sectors is set to grow through the coming months.

You Can Survive the Recession - Summary

Now that employers are the ones in demand it's time for you to show why you would be valuable to their business enterprise. Fewer employment opportunities means a greater number of applicants, which in turn means more competition and extra time required for employers to select the correct person for the job. Since there are more individuals looking for jobs you will need to be more productive with your time and make sure you apply for as many jobs as you realistically can. If you commit to applying to more jobs than you normally would and make a concentrated effort to improve upon your skill set then you have the best chance of succeeding during the recession.