Where did job security go?
When it comes to reflecting on life, our rear view mirror tends to have a rose colored tint.
Recalling the good ol’ days of the American Dream, we reminisce about job security. We long for the days when it seemed like a job came with a lifetime guarantee.
The conversation rarely involves a key component:
That type of job security wasn’t free. It came with a price.
It reminds me of one of my favorite childhood games, “Mother May I”. The objective was to move from the starting line to the finish line as quickly as possible. The catch was, you had to get permission to move. As in, “Mother may I take 3 giant steps?” If Mother said yes, you were on your way. If Mother said no, you were stranded until your next turn. Your ability to make progress, and potentially win, rested solely in the hands of Mother.
Much like “Mother May I”, job security meant your career path could be placed on hold until someone with authority granted permission to move ahead.
Where did job security go? It came home to where it belongs. Squarely in your corner.
Your willingness (desire) and capability (skill) to provide value is the strongest job security there is.
What feels like job insecurity in today’s world really means you’re finally responsible for your own career trajectory (or lack thereof).
The downside? There’s no one to blame. You own this.
So, what’s your move?