[ironlake]

I was in tech for 2001 and 2008 recessions.

In both cases, the short answer is I got lucky. In 2001, I happened to be in an area that did not have a lot of exposure to the dotcom bubble. In 2008, I had just started at a new company after fleeing a sinking ship. Being in a big corporate environment gave me a place to hide.

Companies will use a recession to trim fat, tell you how lucky you are to be employed, and make you work harder for the job you have. Notice how little they cut from the ranks of middle management zoom wranglers. Remember how you're treated and move on as soon as the job market improves.

As with any time, cash helps. Having a partner that works helps. Community is important.