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My brother is the only person I know who has remained fully employed in an IT job for over a decade, never languishing because of a layoff. Meanwhile, almost all of his same-aged friends and colleagues have been fired or let go at one time or another. How does he do it? Well, I asked him and this is what he told me:

1) Be responsible: this is the bottom line. You need to be there when they need you there. Don't complain about long hours when the going gets tough. Sure, they aren't covered in your salary, but if your employer says jump - you jump.

2) Be respectful: don't pass the buck, don't whine, just do your work and do it well. Word gets around in an office. By not engaging in gossip about the boss and not trash-talking your colleagues you could save your job. If someone else isn't doing theirs, trust the higher-ups to figure that out on their own.

3) Continued education: always be on top of the next new thing. At best, your employer will sponsor or co-sponsor you to learn new skills. At worst, take some time on the side to develop skills that improve your worth to the company. this does more than teach you new skills - it shows your deciation to the company.

4) Stay informed: be vigilant about where the hirings and firings are coming from and why. If you see trouble coming your way try to dodge it by communicating with your boss directly about your concerns, or by expressing an interest to move vertically or laterally in the organization.

5) Be prepared: always be ready to jump ship if things go catastrophically wrong in your company. Have an exit strategy. Know what other jobs are available and, if you can manage it, keep contacts in other companies so you have an 'in' if the time comes that you quickly have to get a new job.

Each of these has helped my brother stay continuously employed through the dot-com bubble AND through when it burst. He is responsible and respectful, always learning new things (often in part paid for by his employers), attuned to what is going on in the office and in the field generally, and, most of all, he is always ready to cross over to a different company in the case of a disaster.

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