The No. 1 fear of middle-class Americans is unemployment, surveys have shown. In one poll, it even outranked crime. But it's no surprise, really. Our sense of security in the job market has slowly seeped away since the mid-1980s, fed by thousands of newspaper headlines about layoffs at America's premier companies and the increased outsourcing of white-collar jobs. The things that protected us in the past -- a college education, seniority, being a good employee -- don't seem to protect people anymore. In order to protect yourself, your focus must shift from job security (your dependence on your employer) to career security (your ability to earn a living).
The fact is, you may not be able to avoid being let go. Many competent, capable, loyal, enthusiastic, hardworking, well-educated employees have been and will be dismissed, but you have a choice. You can sit back, wait and worry -- if your job disappears, you can react after the fact, when everything you need to do to cope and regain your ability to earn a living is much harder. Or you can be prepared. You can be proactive and set in motion today the plans that will protect you tomorrow.
We call this new approach "fireproofing" your career. We interviewed more than 200 people who had been laid off from a variety of industries, settings, job types and geographical areas. We asked them, "What do you wish you had done before you got laid off to ensure your career security?" Their answers became the five strategies presented here. We've tested these strategies with thousands of people in our keynote speeches, workshops, books and coaching -- and they work.
- Fireproof your mind-set. Look at your beliefs about work, the myths our culture encourages, and the place of work in your life. Become psychologically self-employed (no matter who's sending you a paycheck) and decrease dependence on your employer while still being a valuable contributor.
- Fireproof your finances. Make decisions that support you rather than trap you -- especially if you anticipate periods without a paycheck. Get out of the financial fog. Plan ahead so you can devote energy and creativity to advancing your career, not coping with your creditors.
- Fireproof your skills. Career security is all in your head. Assess how current your skills are in several areas. Find ways to keep your skills current so your next job interview doesn't throw you for a loop. The more you learn, the more you earn.
- Fireproof your options. Explore multiple career directions. Look for adjacent careers in case yours dries up. Develop sidelines that you can rev up if need be. Don't get caught with nowhere to go.
- Fireproof your network. Do you know how to build a safety net and become the natural choice when opportunity arises? Learn the rules and tools for networking inside the organization and for successful job hunting-before you are let go. Even people who say they hate networking have become more competent and comfortable with this career skill. Make networking an art, not an accident.
Career Security Profile: Rate Your Readiness
Answer these 30 questions, and find out which of the five strategies you've mastered and which you need to give attention to before that pink slip hits your desk. Be eager to stay -- and prepared to go.
To assess your strengths and weaknesses, take this quiz. Analyze your score. You may find that you need to focus only on a couple of the five fireproof strategies. Six months from now, take it again to check your progress toward building a more secure career.
Read each statement, then answer Yes or No:
1. I know exactly how much my essential bills total and have enough money (easily accessible) to take care of them for eight months.
2. I usually introduce myself by telling my skills and accomplishments rather than by giving my title and company affiliation.
3. I know from observation and experience about how much severance pay I could count on if I were laid off.
4. I know at least four criteria for assessing the risk of my job situation.
5. I/we participate in a savings plan or 401(k).
6. I/we regularly make other investments (stocks, mutual fonds, IRAs, retirement, annuities).
7. I/we have eliminated credit card debt.
8. I have initiated my attendance at two in-house training programs in the last year.
9. I have initiated my attendance at two outside training courses within the past year.
10. I have or am working on an advanced degree or professional job credential.
11. I'm highly visible in two professional organizations and attend more than half their meetings.
12. I'm a member of at least two other organizations -- civic, religious, alumni, etc. -- and am active in them in a visible way.
13. I/we have some kind of additional income besides my salary (rental property, stock dividends, teaching, consulting, etc.).
14. I have a previous career I could go back to if I had to.
15. I have a significant interest or activity (volunteer, hobby, etc.) that could be developed into a career.
16. In the past two years, I've learned a new skill that I don't use in my current job.
17. During the past year, I've taken advantage of some kind of nontraditional education (audio-tape course, noncredit, open university course, private coaching, etc.).
18. I maintain relationships with people at work outside my department who regularly give me valuable information.
19. I maintain relationships with at least 50 people outside work who know my capabilities well.
20. I've been in my current job for less than five years.
21. I can identify at least one other job in my organization, outside my present department, for which I could qualify.
22. I've been in business for myself or have worked in a family business.
23. I have changed career fields at least once.
24. I've lost a job due to circumstances beyond my control at least once and found another job at the same or better salary.
25. I keep track of the economic and technological trends affecting the organization, industry and profession in which I work.
26. I have objective reasons to believe that my performance on the job is above-average.
27. I have a spouse who works, and we have both benefit plans in force.
28. I am in excellent health, exercise regularly, do not smoke, and am not overweight.
29. I've told friends or acquaintances about at least three job openings in the past year.
30. I've applied for another job within the past two years.
To Score
1. Enter your score in the table below for each question. Give yourself 20 points for each "Yes" answer and 10 points for each "No" answer.
2. Add your scores for each of the five strategies to get the totals.
3. To find your average in each category, divide by six.
4. Find your grand total score by adding the five averages.
Interpreting Your Score
Using your grand total score, find the comments that apply to you below.
50-60: Begin working on all categories to improve your career security. Make your plan. Work on several categories simultaneously. You should be able to raise your score significantly within one year.
60-70: There are several categories you need to work on. If you scored below 15 in the finance category, fireproofing that area will increase your career security immensely.
70-80: There are a couple of areas you should strengthen. If you scored below 15 in the finance category, work on raising your score there immediately. Employing the five strategies of security, you will be able to protect yourself adequately within about six months.
80-90: You'll quickly be able to maximize your career security by taking a few strategic steps. To determine the steps, analyze the questions you answered with a "No." Then make a plan to strengthen your security in those areas.
90-100: You are in excellent shape to flourish, even if your job disappears. Career security is no problem for you. To determine any actions, analyze the questions you answered with a "No."
Lynne Waymon, coauthor of How to Fireproof Your Career (Penguin, 1995) and Make Your Contacts Count (AMACOM, 2001), is a speaker and trainer: www.ContactsCount.com and www.FireProofYourCareer.com.
Source: Public Relations Tactics. Powered by Yellowbrix.
Another way to be prepared for the unexpected: Create a work style for life.
Consult the new career guide if you're ready for that change.
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