Lindsay Olson is a partner and recruiter with Paradigm Staffing (and PRNewser guest columnist). She specializes in helping companies and agencies find public relations and communications professionals throughout the United States. She has over ten years experience recruiting in the PR industry and also writes a career-related blog at LindsayOlson.com. You can find her on Twitter via @prjobs.

Her latest column is a two part series on how to prepare yourself for a layoff and the immediate steps to take if you are directly affected.

The Wall Street Journal reported on February 26th that over 5 million jobless claims have been made so far, a 26-year high. Many companies have already made significant cutbacks and the news isn’t very hopeful for the short-term. Anyone can fall victim to the corporate axe.

Of course, now is the time you should be proactive in positioning yourself to retain your position and show your value to the organization. But there are no promises in a questionable time.

While I would never advocate living your every day in fear of a layoff, it is important to be prepared should a downsizing affect you. Here are thirteen steps you should take to prepare yourself for before and after a layoff.

1. Update your resume. If you resume hasn't been updated in a few years, you will be surprised at how much more time it will take you than expected.

2. Give some serious thought to your recent accomplishments and write them all down. Prepare your professional portfolio. You'll need a clip book, writing samples, PR plan (or mock plans), etc. Find the copies of your quarterly and annual reviews.

3. Clean up your web presence. Make sure all of your online profiles are up-to-date and correct. Search your name and make sure you a comfortable with your findings. There is no doubt a future employer will be investigating.

4. Get your finances in order. Make sure you have at least three months of liquid savings and continue to pay down your debt. It may make sense to reduce your 401K contributions temporarily if you don't have a savings. Just make sure if you get an employer matching contribution, you are contributing enough to take a full match.

5. Update your contacts. Make sure you have the email addresses and contact numbers of your professional network before you need it and in a safe place. Reach out personally to people in your network on a regular basis and keep your relationships fresh.

This is part one of a two-part series about how to prepare and handle a layoff. Part two, coming soon, will discuss the eight steps to take if you've been affected by a layoff.