How To Manage Career Uncertainty

Be Honest With Yourself

From time to time, it's important to ask yourself, "Am I happy with my career?"

The answer to this question tells you whether you should be building a career plan strategy for your current profession, or if you need to shift gears and get yourself ready for a career change.

Every job is temporary! People change, businesses change, and obviously the economy is always changing. The key is to have a good idea of the direction that you want to go in if you find yourself dealing with a job loss.

Do you want to continue down a similar career path, or make a change?

Make Yourself An Indispensable Employee

One of the most consistent pieces of advice that we give at Work It Daily is the importance of showing value at your job. Employees who consistently find ways to save or make the company money have a way of making themselves indispensable.

But beyond that, showing a strong work ethic and commitment to your job are all traits that employers value, and they help you build a reputation as an exceptional employee.

Even if the worst-case scenario occurred and you still lost your job at some point, all of these accomplishments and traits can be used to market yourself when you're hunting for a new job.

Be sure to use numbers and statistics on your resume to quantify how you made your previous company more efficient and profitable, and keep in touch with former colleagues and supervisors who can vouch for you as a good employee.

Making yourself indispensable may not work 100% of the time, but it's never a wasted effort because your accomplishments will speak for your work ethic and character, and will help you land on your feet.

Embrace Career Growth

It's important to be a lifelong learner, both in your professional and personal life.

Professionally, while it's important to be in the present and focus on your core job responsibilities, it's also important to keep an eye towards the future and think about ways your role can expand.

You sometimes hear stories about managers asking job candidates where they want to be in 10 years and the candidate answering "I want your job!" While this isn't the ideal way to answer this interview question, it's good to have that type of ambition.

Career growth is a multi-step process that starts with excelling at your primary position and then taking on additional responsibilities. From there, it's about gaining the confidence to bring ideas to the table about expanding your role and then seeking opportunities for promotion.

Those who are willing to grow their careers position themselves well in times of uncertainty. But once again, if you do happen to lose your job, this willingness to learn will serve you well on the job search, and impress potential employers.

Always be on the lookout for ways to upskill.

Make A Career Change

If you're no longer happy with your career, chances are you aren't doing everything you need to do to grow it, and your job may be vulnerable in times of uncertainty. Making a change will not only be a good move for your own happiness, but it's also the better long-term career move.

Sometimes career uncertainty and job loss is the push many professionals need to make a change. Career change isn't an easy process, but if you take some time to learn and commit to the process, it can be very rewarding.

The good news is Work It Daily can help!

Join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!