Redefining Job Security
I heard an interesting take regarding job security recently that’s worth a closer look:
The only job security you have are the skills you bring to the marketplace.
We all know there’s really no such thing as job security in the traditional sense (at least in the private sector). There are no guarantees when it comes to employment.
Adjust your thinking, though, and try looking at “job security” as something that’s in your hands…not the hands of your employer. It’s obvious that your skills (your marketability) are your most bankable asset. Paying attention to your marketability throughout your career is crucial.
Of course, a top notch skill set doesn’t ensure that you’ll hang on to your job with your current employer. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll never be downsized, or that your company won’t go belly up.
If you’ve kept yourself as marketable as you possibly can be, though, it will give you a professional advantage. That is your job security. It means the odds will be increased in your favor.
Why?
Far too many people don’t pay enough attention to marketability. They may give it lip service – and they may think they’re marketable. But if a person gets complacent and don’t stay on top of his personal “brand,” he’s probably not as marketable as he thinks he might be.
That’s a mistake.
You need to continually measure your effectiveness; analyze your key competencies; assess those areas in which you have gaps in your knowledge and/or experience; develop and refine your unique selling proposition.
What have you done lately to step out of your comfort zone? Would you describe yourself as a lifelong learner? How marketable are you?
One key adjunct to the whole idea of “marketability” is the fact that you must learn to be your own advocate on the job. Your skill set isn’t worth a lot if you’re an invisible employee. If senior management doesn’t know you exist, your skill set isn’t very bankable. An important component of marketability is making sure your accomplishments are known.
Start thinking about job security in terms of something you provide for yourself. Step one: make sure you’re as marketable as you possibly can be.
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Tags: Redefining, Security
