Job Security is something that everyone wants and few really have.  Most people link job security with income security. Some career field specialists recognize that having multiple streams of income is more secure in this economy.  Life becomes easier when you have more than one way to pay your bills. 

However, job security is not just financial. Some believe they have security by holding out pieces of information/processes/client contacts from others.  If others remain untrained, then they will have the key to success all to themselves and of course, the company will have to keep them employed to make these services work.  This line of thinking is counterproductive and irrational. I believe in training, cross training and helping fellow employees to be successful.  In this vain, I created job manuals.  These manuals covered contact information, client lists, job duties, and how to do my job. When it was necessary for me to leave a position, this manual was their go-to reference.  This manual is not only for permanently leaving the company.  In case of a temporary emergency, someone could grab that and take over or hold down the fort.  Training personnel will bring you security. Go out of your way to learn everything you can and cross train in other positions to add more value to your skill set. 

Not only will those who seek job security by holding all they “keys to the project” find that is not really job security but also they may find themselves in a “Job Prison.”  Job Prison is being “out of the loop “from new projects or positions. Yep, that’s right – you convinced them that no one else could do this project or understand this software, or work with this client.  Now they will not budge or move you to new areas and guess what? Yep, right again – that job will go away or not be as productive anymore. A woman I once worked with had knowledge of a computer software program that she ‘just would not release’.  She did make sure the work was done – but it was done by her and usually held the rest of us up for some part of the day.   Since I love learning and the computer (on most days), I was able to learn the program quickly. In fact, the programmers and I made some significant changes that helped the company.  I held classes for all personnel on these changes.   I was a problem solver and a valuable asset to the company. My co-workers saw me as someone interested in making their jobs easier and someone they could trust to help them be successful.  The mantra of business continues to be – Make me money – Save me money – Solve my problems!

These ‘Personal Job Insecurities’ lead to job and relationship failures. A person who is insecure or selfish will not share for the best of others and the company. The countermeasure for insecurity is to mentor with someone you admire.  There are multiple benefits to this mentoring relationship.  It can help insecure persons to see what they can add to their relationships and not just what they take out of them.

Try examining your job security from the viewpoint of your employer.  Ask yourself:

What do I bring to the table beyond my job scope and duties?

How do I answer the Mantra for business?

Do others at my job value my help?

If you feel your position is secure, you might need to ask yourself the following question.

Are you aware of the signs that your company is having problems that may lead to layoffs?

NYSSA - NEW YORK SOCIETY OF SECURITY ANALYSTS offers a Career Coffee on Fridays. The Featured Speaker for July 17, 2009 was Pat Drew. I will be speaking at the Society in October and wanted to meet with the staff and preview their target audience.  Pat's bio is outstanding and she works primarily with top level executives. It was a pleasure to view her friendly style of motivation on an inportant aspect of the job search.

Her primary focus was on Networking.  She indicated that Networking is to develop relationships for sharing resources.  We need feedback and networking is for mutual benefit.  Pat led us through a few exercises to help those who hesitate using the networking approach to job search.

The first exercise was to shake hands and meet as many people in the room that we could in 10 minutes time with a maximum of 2 minutes with one person.

Why did people hesitate?  Some of the excuses and barriers mentioned were:

• I have relationships that will help me. 
• It takes time to do this and I need something now.
• I am not the "sociable" type

She next asked us to find someone in the room with the same color of eyes.  Then we were to state what we were seeking and  find out about the other person's needs.   This exercise helped us to see that others have needs that we might be able to help with and so it REALLY is mutually beneficial that we seek to network.

Pat Drew & Company are experts in Overseas Assignments. www.patdrew.org Studies show that 20-50% of global assignments fail. The cost is huge. Pat Drew & Company trains, coaches and helps create excellent business process.  Their results include: Organizational, managerial, leadership, team, and dynamic paths to success - Increased success rate for overseas assignments -Truly global business culture. 

 Please comment on Networking.  How are you doing on networking issues?  Do you still believe that most jobs come from "warm" contacts?  What do you have to offer someone who may also be in transition? Why do YOU hesitate?