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I have to tell you this because I think we all need to hear it: There’s no such thing as job security. 

That was true before the Covid-19 pandemic, but it’s even more evident now.

On one hand, I think we were all starting to see the cracks in this ideal, that there are some jobs out there that aren’t actually immune to layoffs. But we’re realizing with each day that nothing is forever. 

Now More Than Ever

Now more than ever, we’re starting to become aware of how quickly tides can change. How many of us have thought or been told the following for these jobs?

• Bus drivers—“We’ll always need bus drivers!”
  • And yet ridership is down 45%.
• Government—“Get a job in government. They’ll take care of you.”
  • And yet a little more than a year ago, 800,000 federal employees were impacted by the government shutdown. (Remember that? Doesn’t it seem like a lifetime ago?) 
• Hair stylists and other personal services—“People will always need their hair cut, nails done, etc.”
  • And yet these services have been shut down for the last two months. And their future going forward is uncertain.
• Restaurants—“Everyone needs to eat!”
  • Ditto for restaurants. In the future, we’re going to have to have limited seating, limited number of guests, etc. 
• Doctors and nurses—“You’ll never get laid off!”
  • Hospitals are getting hit hard by Covid-19 and having to make serious cuts.

And so many more. And the tides are going to keep changing going forward, for better and worse.

The Reality of It

Even if you put in the extra hours, go out of your way to make a good impression on your boss, coworkers, and the industry, sometimes a company is hit hard economically—whether through industry, national, or global shifts—and they have to make cuts in their budget to stay afloat.

Or maybe, unfortunately, your manager doesn’t quite like working with you. And when cuts or changes are suggested, they single you out. You can’t control what people think of you.

Or board members and shareholders from on high are discussing ways of changing the company and its mission to keep up with the times, and decisions that were made months ago now make your position redundant. 

And the days of staying with one company for the long run are gone anyway. That’s not a reality, and it’s not coming back any time soon. The new reality is that we’ll be hopping from job to job, or becoming self-employed, from here on out.

You are always at risk of losing your job.

Where’s the Harm?

Why is it bad to cling to the idea of job security? This illusion keeps us from leaving jobs we hate, taking a risk, or trying something new. 

Many career experts and coaches, myself included, see this as a great potential time to reassess your job, and if it’s dead end or making you feel deadened, maybe now is the time to look for a new job (though, of course, that depends on individual situations). 

We can use the uncertainty this pandemic creates to propel us forward. If everything else is changing, why can’t we? Nothing is stable, so let’s work on getting ourselves where we want to be. 

What to Do Instead

The first step—and sorry for the cliche—is acceptance. We need to fully and wholeheartedly accept that jobs are not secure, right now or ten years from now. And we need to accept that this is okay. It’s okay because there’s really no other alternative! We don’t have a choice in the matter. So let’s work with this reality instead of against it.

With that, we need to stop making our decisions around this illusion. 

Instead of focusing on how to excel at the job you have so that you’ll be too good to fire (which, from the first step, we now know not to be true), focus on your career business plan. Make your journey your priority. How do you do that?

Focus on the following:

• Developing your own skills
• Growing your connections with people
• Being adaptable
• Managing your own career 

Do an assessment of what skills, connections, and experience you’ve already gained. Brainstorm where you might want to go. Then see what you’re currently lacking that you’ll need to get there. And that’s your new You business plan.

Let’s just say I’ve never met anyone who’s said, “I’m so glad I didn’t leave my job five years ago when I got bored and thought about trying something new. I’m in such a better place now, five years later, that my skills have stopped developing, I’m working with obsolete technology/programs, and my field is disappearing.” 

People are excited about their careers when they actually take the reins themselves. The fact that there is no such thing as job security isn’t as bleak as it sounds. It means that instead of someone else being in charge of your fate and your happiness, you are in command. So take back control! 

I’m Stacey Lane: Career Coach | Transition & Career Strategist | Personal Brand Specialist

I help individuals with unique backgrounds find their perfect fit and effectively market themselves so they find work that is as interesting as they are.

Contact me to get started!