It was a visceral reaction, I admit, an emotional counterpoint to the logic that I use in my job as a career columnist. I know that, unfortunately, his situation was increasingly the norm. Indeed, the nature of the employment environment in the 21st century means that many of us will find ourselves without work at one and probably several points in our careers. Recognizing that fact doesn't diminish the hurt, but it does help us prepare for this new Darwinian world of job volatility.
In previous years, our economy produced a broad array of relatively stable jobs. Oh, sure, the occasional company found itself out of step with its market and had to reduce staff, but that was the exception, not the rule. Even during recessions, most of us continued to labor on. Our raises may have been reduced or eliminated and our opportunity for upward mobility may have diminished, but we could still bring home a paycheck. At least we could count on that.
In today's jungle of job volatility, however, that certainty has been replaced by uncertainty, that assurance of continuity has been overcome by daily discontinuity, and that expectation of stability has been quashed by the shock of instability. These are not the temporary challenges of an economic downturn -- they are the permanent conditions of a new and dangerous world of work. And that evolutionary shift leaves all of us with a stark choice: We can adapt or we can be overwhelmed. 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.
Naturally we instinctively choose the course of survival and prosperity. But, I must warn you: To do so isn't easy. It involves the one thing most of us hate to do -- change. We must accept a new imperative in employment. In essence, we must now work two jobs all the time. One job involves our profession, craft, or trade; the other entails managing our career.
I know that career columnists have preached personal career management for years. The mantra has had many different expressions -- from self actualization to You, Inc. -- but basically, the message was always the same: We must take care of our own careers because employers won't do it for us.
It was good, but flawed, advice. You see, there was this one little problem: It was impractical for almost everyone. Even if you wanted to take control of your work-life, you couldn't. Why? Because the information and tools required to do so simply weren't available.
Happily, that situation no longer exists. The Internet has made career self-management possible for everyone. Regardless of your profession, craft, or trade; industry or location; years of experience or seniority, you can now go online and get the resources necessary to guide your career successfully. To make best use of this capability, however, you must become expert at planning, implementing, evaluating, and adjusting your career. This competency involves developing a range of new skills, but I suggest that you begin with the following three:
Vigilance. Put job agents to work for you. A job agent is a free feature available at many job boards. In essence, it works like a personal shopper for your dream job. You specify the kind of job you're looking for, and the job agent checks all job postings at that site for a match. It does so every day, all day long.
Even better, when it finds a job matching your criteria, it sends you a private email notifying you of the opportunity. A job agent is an effective way to stay on top of the job market -- and the search for jobs that are right for you -- whether you're employed or suddenly laid off, whether you're just testing the waters or in the midst of a lengthy job search. You stay vigilant, and it does all the work. Job agents aren't perfect -- you may get a sushi chef opening when you're looking for a job in sales -- but they're the best tools available for making sure you never miss out on your dream job.
Create job searches on HotJobs
Connection. Network electronically every day. Many of the best jobs are never advertised. They are a part of the "hidden job market" and are often filled by candidates whom employers find by networking. While traditional face-to-face networking remains important, the Internet provides a way for you to expand your range of contacts exponentially from the comfort of your home computer. Simply stop by the discussion forums and bulletin boards on sites operated by your professional association, trade organization, and college or university alumni group. These online conversations are great for connecting with others who share your background and, therefore, have the potential to be helpful in your career advancement. Remember, however, that the key to effective networking in cyberspace is the same as it is in the real world: You have to give as good as you get. Participate regularly in the discussions and be generous with your knowledge and experience.
Networking advice on HotJobs
Preparation. Always be interview-ready. Employers generally look for candidates with state-of-the-art skills in their field and up-to-date knowledge in their industry and the business world. In addition, they expect you to demonstrate that professional knowledge and business awareness from their first contact with you and at every point thereafter. As the "information superhighway," the Internet offers myriad convenient ways to keep you prepared. You can take college courses and training online, read journal articles archived on your professional association's site, look over news feeds from business and other media sites, and check the press releases of major employers in your industry. You have only one chance to make a first impression, and the Internet can help ensure that it's a good one.
Interviewing advice on HotJobs
Charles Darwin once wrote, "It's not the strongest of the species, nor the most intelligent, that survive; it's the one most responsive to change." The skills described above position you to adapt to the new world of job volatility. They won't insulate you from its disruption, but they will enable you to manage your career successfully in the midst of it.