I’ve shared many career tips with clients in the Find A Dream Career package, and recently the topic of job uncertainty popped up. We don’t like to talk about job security, but it is a reality for many.
Living with a lack of job security can take some of the fun out of your weekends, but the reality is that it doesn’t have to be so stressful.
Learning how to handle the psychological pressure and stress over the quiet months is essential to being happy, and preparing yourself for the possibility of change.
Don’t waste time gossiping in the kitchen!
The best possible strategy for an uncertain future is to be prepared, and here are my top survival tips for managing job uncertainty:
- Prepare yourself for change. Change can be frightening, so find what ways can support you e.g. surrounding yourself with supportive and positive people.
- Be indispensable. Know your worth and find opportunities to prove that you are indeed a valuable member of the company. You can’t predict what’s happening next. Instead get busy on doing something about it such as finding a project and going for it. Throw yourself into your specific role and do it really well. You’ll feel good about doing something that you can control.
- Stay current and invest time in keeping your skills up to date.
- Budget better! Be conscious of what you spend. I’d go further and say have a small nest egg that you can use to pay your bills.
- Network with the view of building positive, healthy work relationships. Keep open minded. You will discover new opportunities, and this will reduce levels of stress and anxiety.
I’ve always felt that a job is something that you get paid for doing whereas a career is something you love doing and getting paid is a bonus.
Do you agree?
Fiona Craig is a life coach, psychotherapist and published author of “Stuck in a Rut – How to rescue yourself & live your truth” helping men and women get unstuck from their job rut and onto finding their dream career. Her transformational life coaching packages help her clients remove the fear, worry and guilt to confidently take the steps towards creating the life they want to live.
Fiona has been interviewed by The Australian Women’s Weekly, and The New Daily, and written articles for I Am Woman Magazine, Women’s Fitness magazine, Girlfriend Magazine, Career One, Sunday Life Magazine (Fairfax), Collective Magazine, Herald Sun Melbourne, plus several blogs and online publications. You can learn more about working with Fiona at www.lifebalancecoach.com.au or call 0405 433 217.
