Security is a Myth

21 Sep Security is a Myth

Security. Se-currity.

Every time I say that word it reminds me of the Bon Qui Qui at King Burger skit from MadTV back in the day, where she calls the security guard over every time someone places a complicated order.

But that’s not the type of security I’m talking about. I’m referring to job security, the idea that a person is able to keep their job as long as they wish, without risk of becoming unemployed.

And from the conversations that I’ve had along my journey as a career coach, I’ve gathered this is something that’s very important to a majority of people.

But in this day and age, job security is something of a pipe dream. While even just 20 to 30 years ago, it was generally expected that once you got a good job with a good company, you would simply stay there until retirement. And the company thrived on your dedication and happily rewarded you for it.

That’s not how it is anymore, though, whether we’re ready to accept it or not. More and more lately, I’ve been hearing stories of those who had been loyal employees of an organization for 10, 20, or even 30 years—only to be coldly walked out of the building one day because their position was no longer needed.

One particular story I recall was shared by a woman I met at a workshop, who said that after 20+ years with a company, her husband was called while they were on a family vacation and notified that he did not have a job to come back to. Just like that.

And these dedicated individuals are often being replaced (if they’re being replaced at all) with temporary workers, several cheaper employees who share the job duties, or labourers in foreign job markets.

This is making the pool of so-called ‘secure’ jobs that so many people vye for smaller, and smaller, and smaller. To the point now where it’s almost as likely that you’ll find one of them as you will a unicorn.

So perhaps it’s time that we readjust our expectations of the job market? Maybe we need to come to terms with the idea that there are no guarantees or sure things when it comes to work. But, really, when you think about it, was there ever? Or has job security always just been a really strong illusion that we all clung to?

Whatever you believe, the fact is that times are changing. And fast. So how can we combat this growing lack of job security? By creating our own!

One of the best ways to do this is to increase your number of income streams—i.e. more ways to get paid. That way, if one of them happens to disappear (like if you get kindly shown the door), you have others sources of money to fall back on. Simply put: don’t put all of your eggs in one (job) basket.

But how do you go about increasing your number of income streams without working five jobs and never having time to sleep? It’s called a side hustle (or hustles).

Part of what I do as a career coach is to help people uncover and explore their unique passions and curiosities. And what better way to do just that than by turning those passions into part-time moneymakers?

Perhaps you’re no stranger to the side hustle game, though, and still feel a sense of uneasiness. Because if your 9 to 5 suddenly weren’t there anymore, your side hustle income isn’t enough to live off of.

Consider this, then: go all in. Become entirely self-employed. Perhaps you’re staring wide-eyed at screen right now shaking your head back and forth in a definite “no.” That’s certainly a natural reaction to have, given that being your own boss is generally seen as the riskiest thing to do.

But what if it isn’t? After all, instead of someone else holding your career in their hands, which is subject to change at any time without notice, you would be entirely in control of your job security—and your income.

How much you make—which, let’s be real, is probably the part of job security people value the most—is directly tied to you; your efforts, your work ethic, your ingenuity.

If your current side gig doesn’t earn enough to live off of, think about ways you could tweak it or grow it so that it could. Or expand your offerings to generate other income streams. The sky’s the limit, really.

Now, these certainly aren’t the only ways you can increase your sense of job security. But what I want to bring to light today is that nowadays I think it’s really up to you to create it, rather than expect it to be provided by someone else.

Your life, every aspect of it, is in your control. Exercise your power to create the life you desire and deserve.