"Companies are looking at how they keep their bottom line strong by driving more revenue and by saving money," says Dwayne Ashley, CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. "If you're really trying to make sure that you're going to be one of the ones seen as an asset to the company, you first want to show how you can bring dollars or how you can help save money for the company."

From finding new ways to save on printing paper to building and strengthening relationships with clients, you can step up and show that not only do you care about your job but you also care about the company you work for.

"You've got to make sure you're being highly productive so that it can clearly be quantified that you're having an impact on the bottom line," Ashley says. "That's going to make them look at that person and say, 'This is a person who really cares about their job and really cares about the company's viability long term.'"

But don't stop there. Showing your worth to your company comes in many forms--and strengthening the bottom line is only one facet. Too often, people sign their own pink slips by having blinders on when it comes to their assigned duties, meaning they don't extend themselves to other areas or projects beyond their own.

"It's really important in looking at how you have cross-functional skills, because as people are going to have to cut, they're going to be cutting where there's the least productivity," Ashley says. So the more often your skills are transferred to other areas, the more recession-proof you'll be, she says.

Keep an open mind and think outside the box when it comes to securing your job during a recession. For example, it's never too late to learn a second language. In a globally diverse economy, knowing a second language could launch you to the top of your company's asset list.

Here are five more ways to recession-proof your job:

Keep networking

Now is not the time to lose contact with people in your networking circle. In fact, it's ideal to do the complete opposite.

Ashley says, "You've got to be out there going to trade shows, industry workshops, meeting people in the industry because it's an opportunity for you to provide leads to the company on new-client opportunities."

Call or e-mail those you haven't contacted in awhile and set a date for lunch or even a few minutes on the phone to catch up.

"Build a network," says Pipier Bewlay, senior vice president of human resources, training and development at INROADS. "A lot of individuals wait until they're looking for a job before they build a network and you need to have that as an ongoing piece, whether it's through alumni associations or professional groups."

Pick up new job skills

If there were ever a time to acquire new skills, it's now. Beef up your résumé by learning new, up-to-date computer programs that many companies use or by gaining an understanding about how other departments run.

"This is a prime opportunity to learn a new computer program, to learn about how the sales division is doing or what they're doing and look at how you can add those skills to your menu of assets," Ashley says. "It's always important to gain new skills because it also helps make you more marketable. And let's face it--if you go back to school and you're improving your skills, the company is going to get the benefit of that also. So it's a win-win for everybody."

Be flexible when it comes to budget cuts

If you're in a job you enjoy and the company has to implement salary cuts, you may want to consider adjusting to it before you jump ship.

Ashley says, "When people know you're there beyond just getting the financial benefits and that you really are concerned with the long-term viability of the company, the long-term gains are stability … when the company returns to good times, they are going to think about those employees that have been there with them when the times were lean, and those are the people that are going to get rewarded."

Go back to school for a second degree or new career path

If sustaining a salary cut is just not an option for you, don't pigeonhole yourself into thinking you can't advance your career during a recession or start a new one. It is possible.

"If you're going to change careers, you have to understand what that new environment looks like," Bewlay says. "What does the new industry look like? You need to make sure you gather a lot of information before you make a final decision."

While deciding whether a move or second degree would be the best fit for you, reach out to your network.

"Talk to individuals who may be in the career that you're looking at to determine 'Does it look good on paper or is it really something that I want to do?'" Bewlay says. "Sometimes it may be a difference from what happens on a day-to-day basis versus what a person may think the job is. You just have to be smart about it."

Love the job you're doing and do it well

"One of the key things is being passionate about what you do because in times like these, we know that employees go through depression and morale can go down," Ashley says. "If you're passionate about what you do and you're energized about the industry that you're in, that helps you to overcome a lot of those challenges because you know that you're a part of something bigger."