Start Planning Now.
So everyone says that the recession is over, but there doesn't seem to be that many (good) jobs on the market. The fact is that even when a recession is over it takes several months for the recovery to filter through into more jobs. Companies will try and make do with the staff that they have for as long as possible and only when there is no alternative will they actively go and recruit.
The problem is that there is a pent up demand from employees who have weathered the storm and are keen to move plus you have all those people who lost their jobs during the downturn. At some point in the near future the dam is going to burst and jobs are going to become available and there is going to be a lot of competition.
When this happens make sure that you are well placed to take advantage. By this I don't mean have your CV up-to-date - you should do this anyway. What I mean is what story are you going to be able to tell? What have you done over the last two years that makes you a highly marketable and sort after candidate? Don't be the candidate that just marked time and waited until things got better. Show that you have been proactive, that during the bad times you punched above your weight and added real value.
If you don't have a good story, then it is highly likely that you won't be as marketable as you think. Companies will need to recruit, but they are going to want to get good value for money. Are you?