The Insecurity of Security

Just got word that an old school classmate is losing his job.  John had been the Director of Sales and Marketing for a start-up company for nearly 3 years.

He and several of his co-workers were told that their services were not going to be needed anymore.  I met the owner of this company a few years ago and this is actually an offshoot start up from his other company.  I don’t know the status of the new start-up, but it doesn’t matter.

What matters is that several individuals and their families are now looking for work and starting over in their careers.  This happens all the time.

Perhaps it has happened to you.  It’s usually not a matter of if it will happen, it’s when it will happen.

Often we are not told in advance that we need to look for another income, but you know what?

You know.

There’s a gut feeling.

Something is not right.

We might try and bury those insecure feelings and push forward as if everything is okay.

Sometimes it is okay, but often it’s not.

We develop a false sense of security, or as I said, the Insecurity of security, because things change that are out of our control.

My friend is 53.  Too young to retire, but he is wondering if he’s too old to start over.

Nope, you are never to old to start again unless you are no longer breathing.

The best time to get hired is when you are already employed.

But how do you do that?

Develop connections now.  Create a LinkedIn account today. Here’s mine. http://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthowardscloho

As you set up your account, you’ll see options on connecting with others that you already know by importing email contacts and other connections. Do it.  Also fill out as much as possible and include a picture.  This is your online resume and then some.

You want to be found when someone Googles you and this is one way I have found that works well.

If you want to check yourself, I suggest that instead of using Google, use https://duckduckgo.com/ as it is a cleaner search. When you use Google, Yahoo!, or Bing, your results are personalized for you based on your search habits and history.

I know that connections work, not just from personal experience but from another email I received this week from a friend. Dianne has been approached multiple times by other companies asking her to consider working for them.  This week she is making that change after 8 different people from one company finally persuaded her to leave a job she has loved for more than 5 years.

John, and all the other “John and Jane’s” out there, reach out and let us know you are looking.

Dianne, and all the other “Dianne and Dave’s” out there, congratulations.