By Bill Meyer
We live in tumultuous times. The political unrest in the world has certainly played havoc with our quest for security of any type particularly job security. The rollercoaster ride that we have experienced with the stock market reflects the uncertainty of the world situation and with the job market taking its cues from the financial markets it has been unsteady at best.
The question looms, because of all this upheaval, how do people realize job security in such unstable time? This question has been asked of me thousands of time during my twenty five years as a career consultant and continues to be at the forefront of people’s minds today.
Addressing the Challenges
People who are frightened by words such as “downsizing” “rightsizing” “lay offs” or “reengineering” must first identify why they are threatened. The answer for most people is that they are relying on their employer rather than themselves for the security. Reliance on one’s employer is risky business because there are so many variables that are beyond your control such as merging with another company or being bought by another company.
True career control is experienced by people who continually explore alternative ways of marketing their skills and adapting their skills to meet the demands of an ever-changing marketplace.
Steps to Realizing Job Security
- Stop blaming the economy or your employer - career is a personal responsibility. Therefore, it is up to each individual to plan and manage their own career. It is important to realize that successful people don’t just get the breaks they make their own breaks by proactively conducting their careers.
- Establish career goals that are self-directed rather than other-directed. The counsel and advice of others is extremely valuable but you must recognize that this advice is nothing more than information not a directive.
- Strive to gain a better appreciation of those qualities that make you unique and stop marketing yourself with your business card/job title.
- Develop a career plan - start by doing an assessment of your skills and how you have used these skills to make your employers money.
- Review and update your resume to reflect your rediscovered skills and be sure to back up your claims with specific accomplishments not just work history.
- Evaluate your network and get reconnected by making time for yourself and your career development.
- Expand your contacts. Broaden your circle of influence by investigating membership in professional associations and joining one that match your interests.
- Learn a new skill or enhance an existing one. Whether it is facing your fear of joining the “technology generation” or improving your communication skills. Programs such as Toastmasters have done wonders with some of my introverted clients.
Today’s approach to career management demands a new and proactive approach. Nineteenth century philosopher, Henry David Thoreau said it best when he said “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors.