In a time of credit crisis, banks relying on the tax-payers to bail them out, and major auto makers begging the government to be saved, job security for the worker in America is obviously a thing of the past.
Forget job “security,” we’re now dealing with job INsecurity.
If you’re like me, you already know one or several friends or family members that have been laid off either due to poor profits or a company going out of business all together. Psychologically, this can cause severe trauma not just to the person it’s happening to, but everyone surrounding them as well. It’s the wondering that becomes fatal. At least the person affected directly has something tangible to deal with – you’re left to worry about how you might be affected next month, next week, or even tomorrow!
The Stress and Anxiety of Unknown Job Security
Everyone deals with job stress and anxiety differently. When the security of our job comes into question, those coping methods become extremely important. Do you let your mind start creating horrible possible outcomes that make your stomach cringe? If the unknown about your job starts you down a miserable spiral, there are a few things you can do right now to get your security – and sanity – back.
Keep in mind, any of the things we’re about to talk about are going to take a quality you must have first. If you don’t have it, you have no choice but to learn it before you are able to fully correct your path to job security.
** You MUST be able and/or willing to completely believe in yourself to accomplish anything, without doubt. This may sound too simple, but the sad truth is that most people just don’t fully believe in themselves. Here’s a job security belief test you can try: Say to yourself, “I truly believe that my financial future is secure.” Now, if there is any doubt, you will have felt a small, uncomfortable ‘twinge’ in your stomach or chest. This is your internal mechanism for determining the safety of something. It’s the same feeling you might get if someone were to ask you to lie, or if you saw someone doing something illegal — it’s your ‘gut’ – and it’s telling you that you don’t believe the words coming out of your own mouth.
Ok, so you felt the ‘twinge’ – now what? For some people, having doubt like this is simply a matter of needing a plan. For some, there are underlying beliefs that, until confronted and delt with, will forever have a negative affect on our ability to earn money and have any type of job security. You need to truly believe that you are deserving of a secure future — without this, in the end you will receive what you believe you should receive.
Addressing Job Insecurity
There are a few core things I can recommend trying if you’re not secure in your job today:
- Communicate! Try talking to your boss or someone else higher-up in your company depending on how it’s structured. Ask a few tough questions like, “How are we doing financially?” Depending on who you are, this will either seem too simple or completely out of the question. The fact is, a line of communication needs to be opened up so you can get to the TRUTH of your situation. Maybe the outlook for your company is bleak… at least you’ll know for sure and can take the proper steps to counter-act the grim possibilities. But what if you learn that things are good and there’s no need to worry about layoffs? Wouldn’t you feel better actually knowing?
- Become invaluable. Too many people spend their days doing just enough to get by. Those are the people who will let go when jobs are called for. But what if the company couldn’t survive without you? Of course, in the end anyone is replaceable, but what if you were too important for them to let go easily? Communication comes into play here again – ask your boss what else needs to be done outside of your area, come up with a plan to streamline something you can see is broken, offer to lend your expertise on something that you really don’t get paid to do, and maybe most importantly… arrive first and leave last. Someone who is obviously spending more time dedicated to the effort of making a company better gets rewarded in the long-run.
- Fire your boss. That’s right, walk into his or her office and put in your 2-weeks notice. Tell them, “This economy has forced me to let you go, I can no longer afford to work for someone else besides myself.” Of course, you shouldn’t do this without a plan, especially if you have a family to think about, but now is one of the greatest times in America’s history to start your own company. It could be as simple as blogging part-time about a topic you love or something more extravagant – one of my friends just started a holistic dog treat company! There’s nothing better than waking up in the morning, putting on shorts and a t-shirt, and heading down the hallway to your home office to start your day.
We spend a lot of time diving further into what home business possibilities are there for you when you’re ready, so subscribe to our RSS feed and keep tabs on what’s cooking at Good Plum.
Do you have any suggestions on dealing with job securtity? Say so in the comments below.
