Mothers have it; athletes have it; pilots have it. Do you have it?
It’s called Situational Awareness – the ability to scan the situation quickly, interpret the meaning and make a judgment – a split second assessment. You know – that’s why mothers have incredible awareness of potential danger to children and pilots land safely in the Hudson.
Situational awareness in the job search may not be as dramatic as those examples but it’s an important attribute. It is what allows us to alter our course when we become aware of the radical changes that have occurred in hiring and the changing employer/employee relationship. We get it! The clues are everywhere. Lifetime employment is gone. Large companies are not creating jobs. Rewards are fewer.
Disappointing? Yes! Responses range from “I pick myself up, dust myself off and start all over again” to “I got a right to sing the blues.”
But whatever the initial reaction, the situation is what it is and as grownups, we have to do what it takes to land safely. That means acknowledging our feelings of betrayal, disappointment, anxiety and fear. At the same time, we need to validate our assessment, identify our options, and take action.
What does the new way of working require of us? Well, for one thing, we need to realize that no job is permanent. Then, we need to commit to managing our careers from now on. We need to survey the situation: what are the trends in business and industry in our locale and elsewhere? Additionally, we need to re-assess the boundaries we've placed on where we will work and what we will earn. This is not easy, but failing to do so, will result in long term unemployment, reduced opportunity and, in some cases, a radical lifestyle change.
Consider joining me when we consider options at the upcoming free webinar: Taking your talents to work: Is Freelancing for you? February 29th. Register at www.rcmassociates.com/webinars.php
Comments welcome and encouraged.
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