Start Up: Building a More Stable Career

For those who are actively job seeking or have dropped out…

I know you miss the routine of the days when you went to work, hung out with co-workers, collected a paycheck that could actually cover most of your expenses and had health insurance (that didn’t cost you an arm and a leg).

Don’t give up hope!

This is just one of many posts dedicated to Job Action Day 2011 sponsored and hosted by Quintessential Careers. (An amazingly robust source of tools and resources for job search)

Job Action Day 2011: Empowering Workers and Job Seekers

Over the past five years, things have changed drastically. But they were changing even before this. Perhaps you didn’t notice, but lifetime employment is gone. And it isn’t coming back. Stability is gone. It probably isn’t coming back again any time soon either.

Don’t Complain- Engage and Embrace

The one sure thing each of us can do is to think differently about the term “career”. It has to be defined differently, or maybe even tossed out.

You will have multiple jobs with multiple employers (maybe at the same time).

Embrace this thought. Know that this is the new normal. Then begin engaging in it. How?

Accept temporary assignments aligned with your skills.
Develop a portfolio of gigs you can perform for money.
Always be connecting with people and organizations in your industry or field of interest.
Develop a “survivor” mindset where you will do what it takes to earn a living.
Develop flexibility.
Develop multiple income streams.
Take ownership for your professional development.
Stop thinking like an employee and learn how to think like an entrepreneur.

Don’t Make Excuses

I have heard the reasons why this won’t work for you or that you’ve tried it or …

This isn’t about fairness or right or wrong. This is about adapting. This is about being more flexible. This is about developing resiliency. Those intangible things that will allow you to move from despair to tolerating this new world and eventually to surviving and thriving in it!

The Positives

More virtual work than ever before
More and more companies have made working virtually or remotely an option!
More awareness and acceptance of long-term unemployment
People are sensitive to your situation and many want to help
More technology available to all
It doesn’t take thousands of dollars to start a business today. Anyone with a computer and some smarts can build an eCommerce site or sell goods or services online.

Managing Your Work and Life

Begin today mapping out a plan that will guide you through these treacherous times. Piece together multiple jobs, gigs and ways you can begin to earn money and do the the things you truly LOVE to do. You may just find you like it! It is empowering.

If you would like to delve deeper and read more about the theories and solutions, please see these posts:

Job Action Day 2011 Participating Blogs: