When I first started I was told to do 3 things. 1.) Grow my skill set. 2.) Develop & grow a network. 3.) Save for future impending layoffs.
I was pretty green at the time but I took the guidance from people who have been around the block a time or two. These are the three things I have lived by for a few years and when I got laid off in October I was so glad that I was prepared. I wish I could thank those who gave me this advice when I first started in this post but it would be against site policy. Still - I just want to say thank you.