Temporary is the new permanent

How much security can you expect from your job? And how confident would you be of finding a new position if you were to lose your present role?

Susan Ireland summed up the insecurity in the job market well with her recent comment: “Your job security no longer lies in having a job, it lies in knowing how to work the job market.” But how can you gain security when so few openings are permanent?

1. Treat each job as temporary
Be ruthless in using each job to gain the maximum professional benefit. Use your time in a company to build your skills and increase your contacts. Ideally, each new role should also bring an increase in salary and benefits.

2. Take control of your career
Nobody but you can take responsibility for your career. Managers and recruiters all play a role, but it’s up to you to decide on your career goals and develop a strategy for reaching them.

3. Stay up-to-date
Keep an eye open for your next opportunity, and make sure you understand any changes in your industry and how it affects the job market. What are your competitors up to? What are the new trends and developments? Which skills and competencies will be in demand?

Continue to network and to exchange industry news. The more aware you are of events in your industry, and the closer you are to decision makers and hiring managers, the easier it may be to find your next position. Stay informed to be better prepared for your next move.

4. Present a coherent career history
Employers can be suspicious of “job-hoppers”, even if they tend to be more forgiving in tough economic times. But be prepared to show how your progression from one company or contract to another was part of a grand plan, and that each role was an important stepping-stone in your career.

Learn to frame your roles as learning and development opportunites; each one carefully chosen to give you the chance to develop your skills and expertise, and to prepare you for the role you are currently applying for.

When you write your CV, make sure you are presenting information in such a way that it shows a skills and experience progression. Group similar short-term roles together to deflect any suspicion that you might be a job-hopper.

Photo credit: sepblog