And what you can do about it…
No job is totally secure these days. So how do you know if you’re in solid shape to weather a storm? Take a look at this list.
- Do you like your job? If not, you may not be performing at your best level.
- Do you seek, and get, regular feedback on your job performance from your boss? If not, you don’t know if you’re sitting pretty, or on thin ice. You need to know that. You also need to know if you boss has any concerns, so you can address them now, not after the ax falls.
- Do you have a LinkedIn profile with at least 100 connections? This is how you keep track of people who can help you with a job search. It’s also one way that recruiters can find you. Don’t wait until your thirsty to start digging your well, by then it’s too late (applies to the following question as well)
- Do you have lunch / drinks / coffee with a colleague outside of your department at least once per week? A solid network of friends and colleagues can keep you informed of opportunities and problems.
- Do you have six months worth of salary in cash? Because it is entirely possible you may get laid off with minimal severance pay, and you want to avoid financial distress while you search.
- Do you participate in professional / trade / union meetings at least once per quarter? This is a great way to meet people who can help you to learn, grow, and find new opportunities.
- Do you volunteer in your community? This is a great way to meet people and to feel good about your community.
- Do you have a network of non-work friends who can help you out emotionally if you get laid off or fired? Being unemployed can be devastating emotionally, and men in particular tend to “turtle up” just when they need their network of friends and colleagues most.
- Do you keep up-to-date on the newest technology / issues / techniques / trends in your field? If not, why would anyone hire you? Seriously!
- Can you describe what you do in a way that someone outside your field can understand? This is huge, especially if you have a job title like “Digital Channel Marketing Manager” that is hard to understand. People need to know what you do, in order to know how to help you. If you are a waiter or a plumber, people understand what you do, everyone else needs to work on this.
Each NO is a potential trouble spot that you can correct by changing your answer to YES.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons