As someone who reads quite a few career advice websites, I’ve noticed a specific trend that is given to a whole lot of overly-enthusiastic, “revolutionary” rhetoric, and it’s closely tied up with massive unemployment we’ve seen in the past few years. Of course, as James Carrville had pointed out decades ago, it’s the economy, stupid. But another reason behind increasing unemployment, even in white-collar sectors, are the twin ravages of advancing technology and outsourcing. Of course, these factors certainly play a part in the current scarcity of jobs, but many career career advisors tell us that this is something to be happy about! The new economy means we have more career flexibility! Gone are the days of sticking with one company!
The positive spin on the work of this new economy sounds a bit suspect to me, making the best of pretty bad situation in which stability and security are no longer given. The rise of contract work does mean more flexibility, but it also means saying goodbye to benefits packages and certainty about our futures. Instead of embracing the advice of career gurus who claim that jumping from gig to gig is a sound career strategy for the 21st century, I’d consider taking a more conservative approach, especially if you are new to the working world.
The group that has taken one of the biggest hits during the recession in terms of employment has been those from “my” generation, recent college graduates. Finding full-time work has become so difficult in some areas that many newly minted college graduates are either taking a gap year, doing internships, or heading back to graduate school. In lieu of finding steady employment, these strategies are all fine. But once you do find a steady, full-time job, even if it doesn’t completely cohere with your interests and career goals, don’t quit or moving on to something else when you get bored, as some of this new career advice suggests.
As employees new to the work force, getting used to a 9-to-5 is difficult, and (as many of my friends have done) the tendency to throw your hands up in the air and move on to another job after a few months is tempting. But there are way more advantages to sticking with your entry-level for at least two years, more than you would suspect. For one, despite this flexible new economy, trust-building is still one of the most important factors in getting a job. If your resume shows that you worked at two or three different places in the past couple of years, how are employers to read this? It demonstrates that you can’t make up your mind, that you can’t invest enough time in one company such that an employer investing in you would be a gamble. So when you’ve been working at the entry level for a few years, and you are finally going for your dream job with enough experience under your belt, who do you think looks more favorable in the eyes of “dream boss”? The kid who never stayed long enough with one company to demonstrate growth and potential, or the kid who stuck out that entry-level job, built contacts, and expanded the parameters of his position?
Another reason to stick with your first full-time gig is that, since benefits are becoming scarcer and scarcer, taking as much advantage of them as you can is simply the smart thing to do. Having a job with a severance package or basic unemployment benefits is potentially life-saving if you happen to get laid off. In contract work, none of this applies, and if you don’t have mom and dad footing the bill any more, having something to fall back on is extremely important. Trust me, from my friends’ experiences, I’ve known enough heart-breaking stories about being laid off from sans-benefits jobs that you really don’t want to go there.
Of course, preparing yourself for the new economy is important, but it shouldn’t be done through thoughtless job-hopping. Finding something stable, and improve your skill set outside of work by doing freelance or contract stuff in your spare time. In an uncertain time, security is vital, and building trust and relationships so you can eventually find that job you love is absolutely instrumental.
This guest contribution was submitted by Katheryn Rivas, who regularly writes for online universities. She can be reached via email at: katherynrivas87@gmail.com.
Hi Katheryn,
Very important topic and even with the economy improving, it’s important for people to know that unless you get a knock-your-socks-offer for another job, staying with the one you have is a probably going to be your best choice (unless you have a legitimate fear of an impending layoff). Sometimes people think their jobs are worse then they really are and if you can take an objective step back and look at your picture, you might realize what you have is pretty good.