Money might make the world go round, but at some point, it’s not going to be as strong a factor as it is now and when that happens, you better have another reason for sticking out a long term employment gig. “Most people reach that place in their lives when all the material things have been acquired. Mortgages are paid in full, kids are out of the nest and their college educations have long since been paid for”, says Barnes. It’s then when many of us realize our jobs, while providing our financial security, did little else for our sense of career satisfaction. While the salary is important now as you consider which offer to accept, at the very least, keep it in the back of your mind that it’s not always going to be that way.

Weigh both companies and their commitment to those issues important to you. For instance, how involved in the community are they? Which one takes a more proactive approach to the environment? Mentoring programs? Education reimbursement? These are important and should be factored into your grand scheme.

Don’t forget to consider the office environment, the Hound.com founder suggests. Is it too formal? Maybe it’s not portraying a professional image in the community or it could be that it’s too much of a stickler for issues you consider mundane (a mandatory tie or open toe sandals on those days when there are no meetings). While this is seemingly a vain approach, remember that this is going to be a significant part of your life and after a few years, it could become far more resentful than it is now.

Finally, A. Harrison Barnes encourages job seekers to consider commute time, the connection made during the interview with your potential new manager and even the size of the department you’d be working in, especially if it appears both jobs are otherwise indistinguishable.

Bottom line is it’s always your choice and it could very well be that the one you selected was all wrong. At that point, you’ll be facing a decision yet again: should you stay or should you go? Before you decide, be sure to check out the current hiring environment for your career avenue. One way of doing this is visiting Hound.com. Here you’ll get an unbiased and realistic view into whether or not it’s a good time to consider changing employers.

Tweet This Post

For many, they began their careers with one company and progressed up that same company’s ladder the entirety of their career. They did so with a mutual sense of loyalty – the employer, fully aware of a good worker when they had it and an employee who took pride in a job well done. Those days are a thing of the past, though. Today, a college graduate is apt to change jobs four times, and possibly more, over the course of his working years. There are many factors that go into this new career mindset, including outsourcing, downsizing and of course, the rapidly advancing technology.

The best way to deal with a lack of job security is to be prepared. A proactive approach is always better than one of a reactive nature. Not only that, says the EmploymentCrossing.com founder, but when you feel prepared, you’re less likely to stress. Your goal is to cover the bases as much as you can and then knowing when you’ve reached the place where it’s out of your hands. This means staying current with the latest technology, focusing on your financial cushion – which is the three months of your current salary put aside for the unexpected, says A. Harrison Barnes, and keeping your resume polished and ready to kick into action should the need arise.

Believe it or not, staying healthy plays a big roll in keeping your stress levels in check. Exercise, as we know, is the cure-all for many of life’s ailments. A positive attitude helps, too, says Barnes. Crazy as it sounds, sometimes the best approach is the one that requires the least amount of hoopla. In the case of dealing with the lack of job security, you might be surprised at how well you cope if you make up your mind that you’re doing the best you can with what you’ve got. If you do fall victim to the dreaded layoff list, knowing it means something better is out there can sometimes be the right motivator that helps you move forward – even when you want to hold the sofa down and catch every episode the Law & Order marathon while playing the ‘woe is me’ role. Nothing’s forever – including recessions, unemployment and yes – even those Law & Order marathons (trust us – you’ll have plenty of opportunities to watch all those reruns after you’ve secured your new job).

Tweet This Post