I recently read J.T. O’Donnell’s article, “4 Career Truths to Live By” where she outlines the following truths:
- Every job is temporary.
- You are not an employee; you are a business-of-one.
- School teaches you everything, except how to get the job.
- Nobody can job search alone.
She is absolutely right on all four truths, but I want to focus on #1.
Every job is temporary, and the more often we remember this, the better.
Here’s what I mean:
You cannot assume that your current role will always be there for you. Companies change their strategies and goals in order to ensure they are always growing. There are times when a company outgrows you; other times you might find that you outgrew the company or position. If you always treat your current role as a stepping stone, you will be much more resilient if unexpected change happens. These changes can take many forms: a layoff, reassignment to new duties or a new opportunity, getting fired or promoted.
So how can you treat each job as if it were temporary? Here are a few ideas to consider:
- Ask for new projects
- Speak up in meetings to make sure your voice is heard
- Create a new program, process or system at work
- Volunteer outside of work to meet others with similar interests
- Go to networking or meetup.com events
- Join a service organization
By trying some of these ideas, you will be noticed in and outside of work which may bring you closer to opportunities. They can help you to get more comfortable with new ideas and skills, grow professionally, and get outside of your comfort zone. Once outside you will see that it is much easier to adapt to change no matter when or where it happens.