As companies continue to cut costs, the days of frequent promotions are a distant memory. So are the days of endless opportunities to show off your skills. Layoff survivors, faced with fewer options are finding themselves in career purgatory--there's no way up and no way out.
After talking to career coaches, managers, recruiters, and psychologists, Fortune put together eight tips to help workers break free from the inertia.
{{B}}41. Avoid taking cover{{/B}}
Don' t hide out behind your computer. "You should really work to increase or maintain the visibility that you have," says David Opton, founder and CEO of career management firm ExecuNet.
{{B}} Build a circle of allies{{/B}}
Fortify your current relationships and work on making new ones, both within and outside the office. "Allies will be helpful in terms of letting you know information, like if there's a job possibility that comes up," says Dee Soder, founder of the CEO Perspective Group. Who you know can make a big difference, especially in difficult times.
{{B}}42. Load up on new tools{{/B}}
This is the perfect time to acquire new expertise. (If the boss can't pay, do it on your own.)
{{B}}43. Look beyond your job description{{/B}}
People don't get promotions just because they do their jobs well; they get promotions because they take initiative. Lauren Doliva, a partner at recruiting firm Heidrick & Struggles International, has a client looking to hire a COO.
{{B}}44. Manage your own PR{{/B}}
"Doing well is part productivity and part publicity," says Marilyn Moats Kennedy, a managing partner at Career Strategies.
{{B}} Be creative{{/B}}
Remember, says Doliva, "people hire us to think, not just to do." This is the perfect time to tackle the project that you've always wished you had more time for. Soder recommends scheduling an hour each day to work on extra things such as new initiatives or ways to improve your job or that of those above you.
{{B}} Take responsibility for your success{{/B}}
Be proactive, not reactive. Says Kennedy: "If you're waiting for something to happen to you, it's not going to be anything positive." Figure out your goals and let managers know what they are; identify your weaknesses and work on them; find better ways to harness your strengths. For nontangible skills--leadership, management, communication-coaches recommend hiring a coach. A client of Soder's was put into a new management role, but didn't feel like she had what it took to oversee a bigger team. She went out and hired a coach who helped her learn how to interact with top executives as well as how to run a bigger territory. She has since been promoted again.
Taking responsibility for your own success is something everyone should do, regardless of external factors. Otherwise you're heading straight for burnout.
{{B}}45. Adjust your attitude{{/B}}
Don't panic. Even though the economy is in a recession, your career is not coming to an end. How you look at the situation will have a big impact on whether you stay stuck or move ahead. "One can choose to say there is no opportunity or one can choose to look for it," says Doliva. In fact, many coaches believe that being stuck is just a state of mind.
[A] Let people know when you accomplish something or when you put in the extra effort to get a project done early. Without being cheesy, make sure that you're giving off the right vibes by keeping a positive attitude, avoiding emotional outbursts, and appearing calm and organized. And don' t forget to look the part. Many didn't get promotions because of their professional presence— grooming, clothes, and body language.
[B] When someone brought up the VP of operations, who was the obvious candidate for the job, the CEO rejected him outright. "He said no because the VP only does what's expected," says Doliva. "The CEO didn't see him as someone who would take the risks and the time to do the job better." Now is not the time for complacency, even if you're not gunning for a spot in the executive suite. Coaches suggest that employees come in early, stay late, and take on extra projects. Little things can make a big difference.
[C] Brush up on computer skills, audit a class, or get a certificate or degree in your field and when jobs do open up, you'll be ready.
[D] "What you don't want to do is start getting depressed", adds Melissa Karz, founder of Kadima Coaching. "Be what you want to attract." It might be helpful to hunt for motivation in other places. "Now is the time to start taking a look at how fulfilling your life is-outside of work," says Lois Frankel, president of Corporate Coaching International. Find exciting activities to replenish yourself with and then bring that positive spirit into the office.
[E] Amid all of the layoffs, you've managed to keep your job but the chances of moving up are slim to none. Nobody above you is going to leave now, and there's no money for special projects to prove yourself. You're stuck. Here's how to avoid fading into the woodwork
[F] Speak up in meetings, join task forces, and volunteer for difficult projects that coworkers aren't willing to tackle.