Feeling Secure

In the past, job security came from working for a company that rewarded employee loyalty. That no longer is the case.  Today, job security comes from two, and only two, sources: Who you are, and who trusts you. The question – is that necessarily a good thing? Shouldn’t job security require dedication and loyalty?

In today’s outsourced and globalized business world, if you’re just “average Joe”, you’re nobody. Sooner or later you’ll be replaced, if indeed you’re even still employed.  It does not matter how much tenure or seniority you have. If you really want job security, there must be something about you that’s different, that makes you more relevant than everybody else who does what you do. More importantly, other people must perceive that difference and see it as valuable.

Maybe it’s a set of skills that goes beyond the norm. Maybe it’s the way you present yourself. Maybe it’s the way you approach problems and solve them. It can be anything of value, anything that makes you unique. Find a way to identify yourself.  Are you the guy that doubled sales in two territories?  Are you the person who was responsible for increasing the profit margin for the company two-fold?  Personal branding will take you far.  Make no mistake about it.

Who trusts you? The other half of the job security equation is the people who trust you to be the person that you know that you are. Plenty of people in this world have hundreds or even thousands of social networking contacts, but are in fact isolated, without any useful business contacts. The only business contacts that are truly important are the ones that really trust you. How do you determine the “trust” factor dynamic? Sit down in a quiet place and list out everyone you know. Include friends, family, colleagues, and co-workers. Take about 20 minutes. Once you’ve built your list, rate those contacts. If you’ve got 20 or more people who trust you, you most likely have true job security. Your challenge is now to expand the network of people who trust you. For all practical purposes the only way to do this is to provide something of value to everyone you meet, and do this with complete and total consistency.

In addition to being trustworthy and knowing who you are, make sure you are the one who is willing to take on extra work and always have something positive to say. Help another team member who’s falling behind. Do things to show your boss that you love your job and you’ll do what it takes to help the company succeed. This kind of commitment can help to set you apart from the crowd. Keeping your skills current is essential if you want to offer value to your company. Make sure you’re up to date on your industry’s certifications and trends. Take outside classes and read trade publications, so that you know what’s going on in your field.

Be an individual.  Be confident.  Work hard and more.  Job security is a good thing in today’s difficult job market.

Source: “Living with a Lack of Job Security.” Mind Tools New Articles RSS. Web. 03 Feb. 2013.

 

 

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