At Lander International we are celebrating our 30th anniversary, so we've been through recessions before, but we feel the effect of the current economic downturn on the audit profession has been profound. Departments across the nation have had to scale back, the Big 4 public accounting firms have laid off record numbers of talented auditors at all levels from partner to new staff. Everyone is wondering how much longer the current downturn will last.

At the 2009 IIA General Audit Management Conference in Washington DC we launched a survey asking the leaders for their opinions on the direction of the economy and the impact and implications of the economic situation for the Audit profession.

Job hunting during a recession is difficult and exhausting, but there are definitely some steps you can take to improve your situation during such trying times. The most important first step is to develop a strategy for your job search. One important element of any strategy is to stay connected -- don't personalize disappointments, realize that everyone is affected by the shortage of good jobs and the very competitive marketplace seemingly full of very qualified auditors.

Here are some specific steps you can take:
1. Take advantage of this time to improve your educations and skills. It might be a great opportunity to pick up an MBA or take technical training, even if it means stretching your budget.