How to fireproof your job: the pink slips are flying in today's lousy economy. Here's what to do to cover our ass before one lands on your desk.(You You You)

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The recession hasn't put everyone's job in jeopardy. If you're the boss's favorite, the top salesperson, and the office whiz kid all rolled into one, then ... well, actually, you could still be laid off. And some experts are saying things will get worse before they get better. So whether you think you're secure or you're living with the ax hanging over your head, you need to employ these five keep-your-job strategies.

Stay Positive

Put yourself in your boss's shoes for a moment. If you had to give someone the ax, whom would you choose: the upbeat go-getter who has a smile for everyone or the sad sack who's just punching a clock and using up the nondairy creamer? Productivity and salary are, of course, major factors when it cymes to trimming staff, but don't underestimate the value of a positive attitude. "Making the best of everything instead of complaining is exactly what the higher-ups want to see," explains Gayle Lantz, a consultant to NASA and Microsoft and author of Take the Bull by the Horns. Ask for constructive feedback from managers, and request to be put on any projects that interest you ... even if it means taking on some extra work.

Become the Go-To Girl

With the economy as bad as it is, there's a good chance the people around you are 'also worried about their jobs ... mad that includes the ones who are giving the orders. So it's more important than ever to make it clear that you share your boss's goals and are able to do what it takes to achieve them. "A great way to ensure job security is to invest in your manager's success," says organizational-development expert Mike Cook, author of Thrive: Standing on Your Own Two Feet in a Borderless World. "Many people look at their boss its an obstacle. However, if you take the opposite viewpoint and become invested in your boss, he or she will naturally become invested in you."

In other words, you need to become indispensable. Figure out exactly what winning would mean to your superiors--beating last year's sides figures or landing an elusive account. Then show your boss that yon have all the tools to make it a reality: skills, information, and the willingness to work. It may mean doing some cross-training on your own time to, say, become a PowerPoint gum. But the eventual rewards will be more than worth it.