Job Security vs. Career Progression
It can be a fine balance trying to measure the importance of keeping a job with the need to follow your dreams for your career. While there will be times you have to stay in a job simply because it is a job, as soon as you get the chance, make sure that you are doing everything to be in your dream job. The following is a quick look at some of the considerations when weighing job security versus career opportunities.
Be clear about what you want
Before you go making any big decisions regarding your work life, it is important that you are honest with yourself and clear about what you want out. If you feel driven to become the best ever in your field, your path may be a little different to if you are content to just have a steady, stable job. So work out what your career goals are, because you might be in your ideal job position already.
Don’t get too comfortable
While it is awesome to have a job you love and people you love working with, it is also important that you don’t get too comfortable, because you don’t want comfort to get in the way of your career goals. If you still feel inspired, motivated and challenged by your current position, then you are in the right job for now. However, if you are only there because it is easy, you might be stunting an otherwise promising career.
Take some smart risks
Even if you have grand plans for your career, make sure you always keep your job security in mind and don’t get ahead of yourself. If you’ve been offered a secure job at a stable company at a time when your company isn’t looking so healthy, it’s a good time to jump ship, but leaving a successful business for a job at a company with no track record of success may be too risky. You probably also want to judge any moves based on your family finances, because adding to uncertainty is never a good idea.
Protect yourself
Having all the right insurance is just part of doing good business, so make sure you have everything from your income protection insurance to your life insurance all lined up and covered.
Don’t sell yourself short
If you have dreams of going far with your career, don’t sell yourself short by settling for a position well below your capabilities. You don’t want to get to your retirement and regret any of the moves you made or didn’t make, so give yourself a chance to succeed, because there’s no reason why you can’t.
Timing is everything
When you are new to your career, you may have to take some of those less attractive jobs or put up with less-than-perfect conditions in exchange for getting some experience or even just your foot in the door. Once you’ve got your feet wet and are building up your own base of clients that adore you, it may be worth taking that next natural step and branching out on your own.
