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

2. Simple tips for employees during recession times
Markets
o We all know that markets have slumped
o We read about job-loses in news papers
o People talk about atleast 24 months of recession
o Early entrants are not getting jobs
o Companies are closing
o Sales are not picking up
o Suddenly cash has evaporated from the market
o Profitability is severely hit

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

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

5. Simple tips for employees during recession times
Basic Do’s
o Be punctual to office
o Ensure you pick up new skills
o Ensure you deliver as per deadlines
o Ensure that you contribute to knowledge forums etc
o Do something innovative
o Take training programs
o Organize team meeting to improve productivity
o Always be engaged & productive
o Work doubly hard and save money for your company
o Be cheerful, keep smiling, life goes on 

6. Simple tips for employees during recession times
Daily Expenses
o Take a stock of your expenses – actually write it down
o Tick “Need to have” vs. “Nice to have”
o Knock off all “Nice to have expenses” – Right Now!
o Assuming 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!
o Other tips to cut expenses –
o Going to malls is expensive
o Good restaurants are expensive
o Impulsive shopping is expensive
o Taking flights is expensive
o Eating out daily is expensive
o Check services which you are not using but have subscribed to
o Going on vacations is expensive

7. Simple tips for employees during recession times
The big loans
o Home Loan & EMI
o If you own one home and you are living in it and paying EMI, then see if you can
partially fore-close it.
o If you have two homes and paying EMI on both –
o See 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.
o If 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.
o If 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?
o Investing in stock and mutual funds?
o Generate spare money every month – take a Systematic Investment plan (about
15% of your salary) – keep buying at low values for the next 24 months
o Buy an asset – buy a house/apartment/land?
o If 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.
o First preference – Buy Land (always buy small sites, it is easier to dispose.
Else farm land is a great option – big land, low cost)
o Second preference – Buy House + Land (again buy from known developers)
o Third 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?
o Enroll in a course / training / education as you are searching for a job. It enhances
your skills
o Enroll as a trainee anywhere you get an opportunity. Most trainees end-up getting
confirmed employment as a build relationships in the company
o Do 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
o Go through references of people who are already working.
o During job-interviews – the keyword which employers are looking for is “flexibility”
o Agree for “any place/date/time” to take job interviews. If you don’t somebody else
will take that interview slot.
o Please 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?
o The new principle – “Happiness is inversely proportional to expectations/desires”.
More the expectations / desires – lesser the happiness and vice versa
o Some other ways to live great life –
o Spend time with family – go for a picnic in a nearby garden
o Exercise and walk a lot, drink lots of water
o Listen to Radio, watch some TV
o Visit Libraries, read books which you purchased, but never had a chance to
open them
o Go to friends place a for a dinner
o Enroll into a hobby – music, painting etc
o Do social service – start teaching, mentoring etc
o Spend more time with your children
o Join laughter forum, attend conferences and meet interesting people
o Go 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