Today job security is defined as the ability to manage your own career. Ask a group of individuals who are unemployed what they would value in a future employer and you will hear words like stability and job security. This makes sense because so many have been recently burned in their employment and are now in a career transition. Consequently we are seeing a shift toward survival in our culture.
Part of my job as a Career Coach is to gently convince people that the concept of job security looks much different than it used to. Many people realize this and state that this has been the case for years. However, I am surprised at how many people I interact with who know this but do not practice it. Today we are expected to change jobs upwards of 12 times over a career.
Today, job searching and career management are core career competencies. If you do not know how to manage your career effectively, you are likely to have a stale career at best. Take the reins to your career and start intentionally and strategically directing your career. Whether you are unemployed and looking to make ends-meat, or in a “stable” position, you should always have an “emergency job search plan” in place.
Based on the changing employment landscape, you should be asking yourself the following questions (and taking some serious actions!):
- What are my strengths and how can I leverage them?
- Where do I fit best and where would I be most likely to blossom?
- What are the gaps in my skills that I need to fill to be competitive tomorrow?
- Where is my career going and where do I want it to go?
- What people do I know who can help me reach my goals?
- Who are the people that I need to meet to achieve my goals?
- What does my personal economy look like? (finances, retirement – even if you are young)
- Can I describe my value to an employer in 30-60 seconds?
- Do my background and résumé make me marketable?
Thoughtful reflection on these and other questions is not a touchy feely exercise. It is the difference that makes a successful career during a shifting time. When it comes to your career, get off the bus and take the wheel yourself.
