The year 2008 began with high gas prices and rumors of recession. It ends this month amidst an international credit crisis, federal bailouts for failing banks, layoffs, fear, and uncertainty. Last year's rumors have long since been confirmed: the recession is on. But how long will it last? How bad will it get? No one knows, and that's the part that scares us most. At least gas prices are down.

CNN reports that as of October (the most recent month for which confirmed figures are available), the number of U.S. jobs lost during 2008 is nearly 1.2 million. Over half of those losses occurred between August and October.

"It's pretty clear that we're in a recession," said economist Robert Brusca. "There is reason for us to believe we'll see...heavy job losses for awhile, and there's room for [the job losses] to get even worse."

The most recent job cuts have been spread across a variety of industries, including manufacturing (90,000 jobs cut in October), leisure and hospitality (16,000), construction (49,000), and retail (38,000). Professional and business services, into which category copier dealerships fall, lost 45,000 jobs in October.

These cuts have helped push the national unemployment rate up to 6.5 percent, the highest it's been since 1994. The "underemployment" rate, which includes part-time workers who are seeking full-time work as well as unemployed Americans who have given up actively searching for a job, has risen to nearly 12 percent.

President-elect Barack Obama revealed in November that his economic recovery plan, which many are comparing to Roosevelt's New Deal, will include measures intended to save or create 2.5 million jobs by 2011.

"We must do more to put people back to work and get our economy moving again," said Obama. "We'll put people back to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges; modernizing schools that are failing our children; and building wind farms and solar panels, fuel-efficient cars, and the alternative energy technology that can free us from foreign oil and keep our economy competitive in the years ahead."

"It's a recession when our neighbor loses his job," said President Harry Truman. "It's a depression when you lose your own." Here are a few tips to help you hang onto your job during these tough times:

1.  Distinguish yourself. Whether you're in sales, service, administration, or management, you've got to find a way to separate yourself from the crowd. If you can, work smarter. If you can't work smarter, work harder. Whatever you do, give it your all. When layoffs are looming, "average" just ain't good enough.
    
2. Be active. Doing merely what's expected of you is insufficient. Now's the time to prove to management that you're worth keeping. Initiating new projects, finding ways to cut costs or increase revenue, or volunteering to take on new responsibilities are good ways to demonstrate your value.
    
3. Don't whine. Attitude matters. Especially in times of crisis, companies need to have positive, energetic, visionary people on board. If you can't say something nice, or at least something useful, do yourself a favor and keep a lid on it.
    
4. Keep your skills up to date. In an industry as quickly-moving as ours, this is always a must-do. Keeping those certifications current is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
    
5. Network. According to a recent study, more than 75 percent of jobs are never advertised. Don't wait until after you've lost your job to get back in touch with all those ex-bosses, former coworkers, and industry contacts of yours. You never know who will have inside information about a job opening.
    
6. Update your resume. Hey, you never know what will happen. The more prepared you are to start looking for your next job, the quicker you'll find one.
    
7. Keep your perspective. Layoffs happen for reasons that are out of our control, and when they do, it's inevitable that a lot of good, valuable workers will lose their jobs. Is it fair? Nope. But them's the breaks. If you do get laid off, don't take it personally or let it diminish your confidence. Sometimes business really is just business.

Ricoh's GR Digital Camera on Display December 12th-21st at the Kansei-Japan Design Exhibition. Organized by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry and the Japan External Trade Organization, the exhibition is intended to familiarize overseas consumers with Japanese design aesthetics. The event will be held in Paris.

Sharp Signs Plea Agreement in Price-Fixing Case. The plea agreement, signed November 12th, stipulates that Sharp is to pay $120 million in fines to the U.S. government. Sharp will record this amount as extraordinary expenses for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Lexmark Introduces X658 Family of Monochrome Laser MFPs. The X658 family, part of the X650 series, targets the high-growth A4 letter size office segment. Prices start at $3,799.

Xerox to Team with HCL Technologies. HCL Technologies, a leading global services company, will serve as a systems integrator for Xerox's managed print services program, which helps companies control their office print environments to lower costs and improve productivity. "This partnership with HCL will open new opportunities for Xerox in this high-growth market while bringing sustainable business benefits to more customers worldwide," said Stephen Cronin, president of Xerox Global Services.

Last month we asked you whether your dealership employs a systems specialist to help sell or implement software solutions. Here's what you told us:

Reader comments included: "Having a specialist in our presentations allows my sales reps to become a single-source solution for customers or prospects. Additionally, we ask that the customer's IT manager be present in the meeting so we can...move the sale along faster."

"In today's copier market you are selling software solutions first. Hardware comes second."

"Solutions are the future of our industry, and the future is now. Someone tell our owner, please!"

"Wow, do we need this assistance!"

"This position is a must-have to provide additional value to clients."

Are you concerned about losing your job?