Protect Yourself in a Volatile Job Market
Protect Yourself in a Volatile Job Market
There have occurred dramatic changes in employer and employee relationships, which have been impacted by the current financial crises in the economy, the effects of technology on the job searching, and the outsourcing of jobs to foreign counties. These changes all had a significant impact on employee stability and employment trends for the future job seeker.
In today's volatile employment market many of us will find ourselves unemployed at one and/or probably several times in our work life in the future. Recognizing this fact will help us prepare for job volatility in the future by planning to take steps to insure we are prepared for it.
In previous years there was far more stability in jobs. Our fathers and mothers were hired, trained, developed and promoted at the same company for the most part. A life time of service, loyalty meant a pension and a gold watch. With unemployment reaching 15 million, according to the Department of Labor, and a average turnover rate in normal times of 10 to 12 % few people will see gold watches in the future.
In the past, occasionally there was a company that found itself in trouble and had to reduce staff, but that was the exception. In times such as these our raises may have been reduced or eliminated, but we could still bring home a paycheck and be certain that we had a job to go to.
In today's job market however, that certainty has been replaced by uncertainty, the assurance of stability has been replaced by fear and instability. These are not the temporary challenges of an economic downturn; they are the permanent conditions of our current and future world of volatile employment. This reality leaves all of us with one choice. We can adjust to job volatility by acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to survive and prosper in this environment, or we can be its victims.
What It requires is the one thing most of us hate to do change our thinking. We must face up to the new realities of current employment conditions. We must now make our work and employment goals based on what are best for our careers, families and our profession.
We must take care of our own careers because employers won't do it for us anymore. We can no longer feel secure in thinking businesses are financially secure and healthy. We must be more protective and proactive in how we view our careers. More specifically individuals should employ the following types if actions that minimize their chances of being out of work.
Always have a updated resume, keep updating your resume with accomplishment and be in touch with your references for possible changes of employment or new phone numbers.
Review your career goals every 6 months to make sure your on track.
Begin a relationship with a good recruiter you trust, someone that is aware of your work background, skills and experience. Provide them with a profile of your needs and a position. This way whenever an opportunity does arise you will be made aware of it.
Always keep up with your personal and social network of work related friends to find opportunities for a new position.
Stay alert for opportunities on the internet from preferred employers and or your favorite job board. Many job boards today will alert you when a position fits your ideal job profile.
Be prepared and interview ready through practice so that you can respond when the right opportunity presents itself and give an effective interview.
In these ways you may not be insulated from a volatile job market, but you will be better prepared to deal with it if it happens to you.
David Claeys is the author of this article and author of A Job Seeker's Guide' that can be found at www.thejobsweekersguide.com . David has been providing advice, assistance, and encouragement to candidates in their job search efforts for more than two decades. He is CEO of a Southern California based staffing firm.
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