Associated Press

Think about your next job before you have to, urges a management specialist.

A down economy is a signal to make sure your skills and situation are healthy, says Dr. Jordan Kaplan, professor of managerial science at Long Island University in New York.

Keep tabs on the job market by regularly reading the classifieds, he advises.

And do a hard-headed self-analysis of your strengths, defining what you do best and what you'd do if you had the opportunity. Also consider your weaknesses. In this, you also might find it useful to get opinions from a few trusted outsiders who can give you disinterested advice.

Also look at the opportunities at hand in your company. Find out which departments are looking for employees. Kaplan says one of the biggest mistakes many employees make is not looking for possibilities within their current companies but outside of their current area of responsibility.

And of course, check out the competition. Are they hiring or laying off? Keep tabs on them and on trends in the field by checking what's being written or said about them in the business media. Also take a look at their annual reports. Companies that consistently have good sales and revenue numbers that outperform expectations are good bets for tracking for future employment. You also should make it your business to be abreast of the shape of other companies in relation to your own, so you can judge if it's smart to “jump ship” ahead of time.

Kaplan also advises developing other ways to make money. Take a part-time job even if you don't need it, or start a home-based business.

Go back to school. If you don't have a degree, get one. If you have one, get another.

While you're still on the job, find out about your current benefits package, including medical coverage and pension money, and how long you can keep these if you're laid off. Also consider how much unemployment insurance you'd be entitled to, and what kind of severance package to look for.

And finally, make sure you're saving money consistently. With money in the bank, you're far less likely to jump at the first job that comes along.