What
does the phrase "job security" mean to you? Twenty-five
years ago, job security meant finding a position in a good
company, showing up on time, and performing one's duties
reasonably well. Advancement within the ranks was also fairly
predictable.
When
I hear people use the phrase "job security," and
I think they believe in this career phenomenon of days gone
by, I begin to wonder about their views on Santa Claus and
the Tooth Fairy.
Most
of us know the definitions of terms like downsizing, rightsizing,
restructuring, temping, and outplacement... and we have
some idea that the buy-outs, mergers, and bellies-up that
businesses experience have something to do with a rapidly
evolving global economy. Many of us, working hard at "good
companies" don't fully grasp what this means to our
careers until it's too late.
If you'd
like to experience a measure of job security in the new
millennium, then I'd like to advocate a proactive rather
than reactive approach to career management.
The
advice I offer today falls into three categories: 1) surviving
and thriving in a constant restructuring company 2) increasing
your market value or "employability factor" and
3) keeping a roof over your head.
Part
1. To survive and even prosper in a continually churning
corporate structure, keep a positive attitude. Demonstrate
your willingness to embrace change. When new management
arrives, build rapport rather than mope about the loss of
co-workers who became friends. Continually seek ways to
add value at your current place of employment - broaden
your repertoire of skills. Aggressively pursue your own
professional development - take advantage of corporate-sponsored
training and tuition reimbursement programs. If those perks
aren't offered, design your own professional development
path - take advantage of the vast wealth of career-related
topics available for the asking at your local library and
on the Internet. Join professional associations related
to your field and/or industry. Stay abreast of business
news - be conversant in the market factors that catalyze
change in your company's industry.
Part
2. To keep your employability factor high, build and maintain
professional networks. I cannot stress this enough. When
you build outstanding relationships with managers, peers,
clients, and vendors, don't let it evaporate when the business
relationship changes. Get e-mail addresses, postal addresses,
and home phone numbers as your contacts permit. Why? So
that you can stay in touch with these people... they know
your value in the marketplace and will often be willing
to help you find your next position - and of course, you
will provide them with leads and support too, when the time
comes.
Even
if you feel like all is just ducky at work, I strongly encourage
a preventative maintenance program for your career. Keep
your resume updated and your interview skills sharp. Keep
an ongoing file of your accomplishments, performance evaluations,
and recently completed continuing education, and update
that resume twice a year. If you don't have anything to
add on a regular basis, refer to Part 1.
Another
way to remain gainfully employed is to rethink your present
definition of work. Consider temping, contract work, and
even moonlighting toward full-fledged self-employment These
are increasingly valid ways of being employed. Stay in touch
with your talents and aspirations and don't worry that career
switching or numerous jobs might "look bad" on
your resume. As long as you're learning and making a living,
no one will fault you for trying new jobs.
Part
3. To keep a roof over your head, and to keep yourself from
conducting a job search in "Titanic Mode," have
a solid emergency savings plan. I'm no financial planner,
but I definitely know that not having six months worth of
household expenses stashed away is financial suicide in
today's job market. Conducting a job search is sufficiently
demanding of most people's emotional capabilities without
adding an element of sheer financial horror to it.
Jobs
in corporate America may be shuffling faster than ever as
we approach the new millenium, but there's no reason you
can't start working now to stack the deck in your favor.
