1. Employee - What do I do during recession? TGC Prasad, Bangalore

2. Simple tips for employees during recession times Markets oWe all know that markets have slumped oWe read about job-loses in news papers oPeople talk about atleast 24 months of recession oEarly entrants are not getting jobs oCompanies are closing oSales are not picking up oSuddenly cash has evaporated from the market oProfitability is severely hit

3. Simple tips for employees during recession times I am employee oI need to keep my job oI need to pay EMIs oI have a family to run oI need to keep working to sustain myself oI need to feel secure oI need to save a little money for a rainy day o….

4. Simple tips for employees during recession times Basic Don’ts oDo not take too much vacation oDo not complain oDo not waste time gossiping oDon’t resist a transfer oDon’t resist travel oDon’t resist a salary cut oDon’t resist extra-work load oDon’t resist extra time at office if needed oDon’t change jobs in this market. It is too risky.

5. Simple tips for employees during recession times Basic Do’s oBe punctual to office oEnsure you pick up new skills oEnsure you deliver as per deadlines oEnsure that you contribute to knowledge forums etc oDo something innovative oTake training programs oOrganize team meeting to improve productivity oAlways be engaged & productive oWork doubly hard and save money for your company oBe cheerful, keep smiling, life goes on

6. Simple tips for employees during recession times Daily Expenses oTake a stock of your expenses – actually write it down oTick “Need to have” vs. “Nice to have” oKnock off all “Nice to have expenses” – Right Now! oAssuming you didn’t have a job – Plan for cash to survive for 24 months. Apparently, this recession will take atleast 24 months to come out of. Sit on cash! oOther tips to cut expenses – oGoing to malls is expensive oGood restaurants are expensive oImpulsive shopping is expensive oTaking flights is expensive oEating out daily is expensive oCheck services which you are not using but have subscribed to oGoing on vacations is expensive

7. Simple tips for employees during recession times The big loans oHome Loan & EMI oIf you own one home and you are living in it and paying EMI, then see if you can partially fore-close it. oIf you have two homes and paying EMI on both – oSee if you can rent the second home – don’t bother about amount of rent. Rent to get cash flows going. Don’t feel bad that rental is not good enough. Trust me – it will soon be a great feeling to rent. oIf you have enough money, then fore-close a significant part of it. If your interest rate is less than bank FD (which I doubt), then you don’t have to fore-close. oIf you think the property will fetch a decent value, then sell it (though it is a buyer’s market)

8. Simple tips for employees during recession times Do I buy anything now? Do I invest? oInvesting in stock and mutual funds? oGenerate spare money every month – take a Systematic Investment plan (about 15% of your salary) – keep buying at low values for the next 24 months oBuy an asset – buy a house/apartment/land? oIf you have cash and feel secure, this is a great time to buy. You can negotiate hard with builders/developers. Actually, you can write your own terms on the agreement. oFirst preference – Buy Land (always buy small sites, it is easier to dispose. Else farm land is a great option – big land, low cost) oSecond preference – Buy House + Land (again buy from known developers) oThird preference – Buy apartment (you always wanted to buy that 3-bed/4- bed apartment from a reputed builder, but could never afford) – now is the time to ask for free. Some are being sold at ridiculous prices.

9. Simple tips for employees during recession times I am looking for a job – what do I do? oEnroll in a course / training / education as you are searching for a job. It enhances your skills oEnroll as a trainee anywhere you get an opportunity. Most trainees end-up getting confirmed employment as a build relationships in the company oDo not have any preferences regarding – City, Salary, Designation, Location, Shift etc. Just take it and gain experience. It is the first step to a long career oGo through references of people who are already working. oDuring job-interviews – the keyword which employers are looking for is “flexibility” oAgree for “any place/date/time” to take job interviews. If you don’t somebody else will take that interview slot. oPlease improve your communication skills – this one skill fetches jobs!

10. Simple tips for employees during recession times These suggestions are tough – do I live life or not? oThe new principle – “Happiness is inversely proportional to expectations/desires”. More the expectations / desires – lesser the happiness and vice versa oSome other ways to live great life – oSpend time with family – go for a picnic in a nearby garden oExercise and walk a lot, drink lots of water oListen to Radio, watch some TV oVisit Libraries, read books which you purchased, but never had a chance to open them oGo to friends place a for a dinner oEnroll into a hobby – music, painting etc oDo social service – start teaching, mentoring etc oSpend more time with your children oJoin laughter forum, attend conferences and meet interesting people oGo for concerts

11. Simple tips for employees during recession times Don’t worry – what goes down will always go up Markets will rebound – these tips will prepare you to be a winner