In today’s world, the idea of job security often feels like a quaint notion of the past. We’ve been taught that every job is temporary. But there are times when the temporary nature of work feels more immediate.
Perhaps your organization recently experienced layoffs. Maybe your industry is changing rapidly, and you’re not sure what that means for the future of your field. Or maybe you’re just the nervous type with a heightened sense of danger.
You’re feeling insecure about your job, but you’re not ready to launch a full-scale search for a new one. You’re tentative. For now, you’re still in a wait-and-see mode.
If this describes you, there’s no need to sit around stewing. You can still get active without plastering your resume all over town. Here are five things you can do now to cope with the uncertainty and put yourself in the best possible position — no matter what happens.
1. Update your resume and cover letter. Regardless of what you expect to happen in the future, you should always have an up-to-date resume and cover letter on hand. If they’ve been collecting dust, now is the time to shake it off. You don’t want to be scrambling to revise these critical documents when you’re feeling desperate or anxious. Just this simple activity will help put your mind at ease, knowing you have your essential “job seeker marketing kit” ready to go when the time comes.
2. Nurture your network. It’s no secret that your professional network is your most important asset during a job search. People within your network can open doors for you, make connections and create opportunities you otherwise wouldn’t have. But in order for that to happen, people within your network need to know, like and trust you. Professional favors, such as job referrals or introductions, are the byproduct of strong relationships built over time.
So, if you’ve been neglecting your network for a while, now is the time to reconnect. Don’t wait until you need to call in a favor. It’s also a good idea to expand your network by attending events or joining a professional association.
3. Save money. A well-funded emergency cash stash will help improve peace of mind immeasurably. Most financial experts recommend saving a minimum of six months’ living expenses. If that’s not feasible, don’t sweat it. Just make saving money your highest priority right now and do as much as you can. Avoid big extravagant purchases when you’re feeling uncertain about your job. While retail therapy may be momentarily comforting, such behavior will ultimately increase your anxiety and possibly put you in a more volatile position in the future.
4. Keep your good reputation. Don’t use the fact that you’re in limbo right now as an excuse to slack off or disengage. In fact, use it as motivation to demonstrate the best you’ve got. Remember that your reputation goes with you everywhere, whether you stay where you are or take a different path. It’s the one thing no one can take away from you. No matter what happens, you want people to think of you as a hard worker and someone they’d love to work with again in the future. That requires maintaining your professionalism, even when things are rough — especially when things are rough.
5. Create a plan. Nothing helps ease the feeling of insecurity like a plan does. What if the thing you fear the most about work happens tomorrow? What would you do first? What would you do next? Map out a Plan A and Plan B. Try to be realistic about it. Once you’ve gone through this exercise, you’ll probably experience a moment of complete peace where you’ll say to yourself, “Self, no matter what happens, I’m going to be OK.” That’s the point of the process. It’s unlikely that any plan will ever be executed perfectly. But no matter what, you’ll be okay.
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Take Action: 5 Ways to Tackle Job Insecurity originally appeared on usnews.com