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COMMENTARY | The reality of a person's career is that everyone must contrast the certainty of the moment and the uncertain possibilities of the future. When professionals find a positive work situation, it can be easy to become content and get lackadaisical about monitoring the marketplace. This doesn't mean that it is wrong to enjoy a job and try to be contented, but there is a balance that must be struck. I am a professional that has been working for a number of years and I try not to worry about the current economic situation. However, my mindset is certainly different than it was ten years ago.
Nothing is certain
I operate under the assumption that virtually no job is safe, even if I perform well and do everything that is expected of me. That is an unfortunate reality, but it is the truth in today's marketplace. In many ways, I would like to be loyal to an organization, but I have seen too many businesses that will let good people go in order to cut costs and increase earnings for a few individuals at the top. This doesn't mean that I am cynical about every company, but it is important to remember that many organizations have a constant need to cut costs.
Looking for new opportunities
In a difficult economy, I feel grateful that I have a job that gives me a positive level of satisfaction. However, I still look for new opportunities on a fairly regular basis. There is great value in finding a job that inspires contentment, but it is also important to monitor job sites and subscribe to various employment boards. In addition, I constantly look for new projects and unique opportunities simply because you can never have enough cash in a tough economy.
Ready to change careers
There are various statistics that are quoted when it comes to how often people change jobs. The reality is that research of this sort can be very hard to track, as career data can be very complex and individual to the person. However, I always have to allow for the possibility that I might change careers. I am not in the career that I trained for in college, and in my early years I didn't begin to anticipate my current line of work. The point is that sticking with one career in great, but in a recession I have to be prepared to take what is given to me.
Maintaining a level of balance
At the risk of sounding like a self-help seminar, you have to maintain a positive attitude in difficult economic times. For now, I have stable employment and I try not to take that for granted as people continue to Occupy Wall Street. It is pretty easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of the economy, but there are still great opportunities in this country and I have confidence that the job market will improve.
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