Conventional wisdom: HR is the the last to go. New wisdom: Nobody’s safe.

Fortune Magazine asked some of the country’s top employment consultants for advice on how to hang onto a job in a tough, downsizing economy. The responses boiled down to four approaches:

1. Stay visible. Nothing wrong with putting your nose to the grindstone, but you have to lift your nose every once in a while to let people know what you’re doing. Don’t make the mistake that others will automatically notice all your wonderful work. They’re too busy noticing their own wonderful work.

2. Stay inside the lines. The experts say that companies tend to get more conservative and stick closer to their core as times get tough. Translation: Mavericks are not especially appreciated. Innovation is always good if if gets the desired results. Being different for the sake of being different is dangerous, especially now.

3. Stay busy. The key to this one to to manage yourself — every day — and pick up projects rather than waiting for the boss to dole them out. Volunteer for stuff. Finish tasks that have been on the back burner. Heck, fix the back burner if it needs to be fixed.

4. Stay social. No one’s telling you to kiss the CEO’s behind, but be careful about blowing off the all-employees get-together because “I have too much work to do.” If the boss thinks the get-together is important, it’s important.

Tags: downsizing, Fortune Magazine, HR