You’re fired! The most dreaded sentence any employee could ever hear in their career, but a hard reality in today’s economy. We understand that there will ALWAYS be new career options awaiting us—hiring accompanied by feelings of excitement, and the looming possibly of firing with the anxiety, stress, and shock that come along with it. We cannot wish these changing tides away.

Any, yes ANY position we have is temporary, even if it’s for 10+ years. There are no guaranteed jobs for life anymore due to organizations restructuring, downsizing, market conditions, recession, performance, etc.

No employee going to work can ever be sure what awaits them that day. By evening their job may be gone. Remember that our position was only secure through last night. Anything can happen today, tomorrow, next week, or even next month.

If we wish to choose the best course for our careers and have continuous employment throughout our working life, we need to be continually looking for new career opportunities. It does not mean that we will exercise or take action on any of those opportunities. However we should always be looking, since the best time to look for a job is while you are in a job.

Constantly looking means that we are constantly uncovering opportunities to future proof our careers. Should the day ever come when we hear the words “You’re fired!” we can simply exercise one of the opportunities we have uncovered while employed.

No worries! As Japanese Buddhist philosopher Daisaku Ikeda puts it, “If everything is smooth sailing right from the beginning, we cannot become people of substance and character. By surmounting paining setbacks and obstacles, we can create a brilliant history of triumph that will shine forever. That is what makes life so exciting and enjoyable. In any field of endeavor, those who overcome hardships and grow as human beings are advancing towards success and victory in life.”

In other words, it’s all good!

Beth Kelzer
Follow Beth at LinkedIn.com/in/marybkelzer
CareerToolboxUSA

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