by Dionne Mahaffey

Created on: June 11, 2009   Last Updated: June 14, 2009

At first, you thought your job had potential. You got praise and perks. Now you've been passed over - twice! - for that promotion (and, since then, that job has been eliminated anyway). And you're left with the now soul-sucking same routine you mastered after a week on the job.

Quitting seems too risky - and may not be your best option. Why?

Well the current economic downturn is the obvious reason for not quitting without a plan.So keep your current job and craft an exit strategy. You're in a much better position to snag a new gig if you've already got one; you'll be seen as more desirable to potential employers and have more leverage in salary negotiation when - and if - you decide to dive into the new-job pool. And you want to be able to secure strong references. (Ask a trusted senior co-worker.)

While you're mulling what to do - here's how you can hang in there and hang onto your sanity:

*Review your job responsibilities. Is there a way you can improve the efficiency of what you do, and, with that goal in mind, have something you dread doing reassigned to someone else? Make this a win-win by offering to take something off a co-worker's plate in exchange for her taking on your task. Check with your colleague first and then clear it with your boss. Offer to do something that will expand your skill set. Be sure to position the swap as streamlining and cross-training.

*Look for opportunities where you want to grow, and volunteer to fill in or take training to earn more skills. Prospect for a team project that will expose you to people outside your department. You'll learn something new and just hearing different chatter will begin to shift your thinking and help you feel less stuck.

* Can't find an opportunity internally? Enroll in a class at a junior college or university - online of offline - to start dabbling in new arenas, spark your imaginination and maybe offer some fresh perspective on approaching your current job.

*Don't underestimate the impact of changing your physical work space. Whether you believe in Eastern thought or not, "Office Feng Shui" (Chronicle Books) by Darrin Zeer, is chock full of great ideas for enhancing the harmony of where you spend the majority of your time. It comes down to this: The more natural elements you add - plants, a small desktop fountain, pictures of favorite outdoor scenes - the better the "chi" (energy) you'll get to flow around you. Bring in (healthy) treats and voila! Your space has become instantly more pleasant.

Certainly much more appealing than the unemployment office.

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