job security

Are You TOO Comfortable?

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This question was asked in my training class yesterday … followed by the statement that “being too comfortable drives out any desire to be uncomfortable.” In effect, being too comfortable is paralyzing. It keeps us frozen where we are no matter how miserable that place might be.

For example,

––Are you too comfortable in a job you hate?

At least half of the population is unhappy but despite the fact that they are unhappy, they stay because it’s easy and comfortable. Being a job hunter is hard work and can be very uncomfortable … which is why I recommend positioning oneself as a “hunted” candidate.

Life is too short to be miserable 40+ hours every week, and yet, people stay miserable because at least it is comfortable.

––Are you too comfortable with your job search strategy …

even though what you’re doing isn’t yielding any results, or not the results you should be getting? Sitting in front of the computer responding to posted positions sure seems like it should work, after all, the position fits you perfectly. Sadly, this is ineffective, frustrating, and for the most part a waste of precious time.

Moving away from the computer though is definitely uncomfortable, and scary, but necessary if you want to be successful in the shortest amount of time.

––Are you lulled into a place of comfort by a sense of job security?

It is easy to stick your head in the sand and live under the false illusion that your job is secure and there is corporate loyalty, so if you just don’t rock the boat you won’t have to worry. Wrong!

Just ask the people at Bear Sterns. Or the VP with a 20–year career at a privately–held bank who was walked to the door a few weeks ago. Or your next–door neighbor. In this time of economic uncertainty, it is more important then ever to adopt the mindset that you are merely between searches … in order to continually have new opportunities coming your way.

Are you too comfortable where you are, or are you willing to get a little uncomfortable in order to get what you really want?

Now is not the time to be an ostrich!

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In popular mythology, the ostrich is famous for hiding its head in the sand at the first sign of danger. With nothing but bad news for the past several weeks, it feels like dangerous times … particularly where job–security and finances are concerned.

In such scary times, paralysis can set in … and I’m hoping you won’t get caught with your head in the sand!

Last week I spoke with the Vice President of a privately–held bank in New York City, where she spent the last 20 years … up until a month ago when she was let go, told to pack up her things, and then escorted to the door. Kicked to the curb without so much as an explanation and without any advance warning. She is grieving a devastating loss on so many levels, one of which is her identity as an independent single woman. Imagine the identity crisis when you are a man supporting a family, and you find yourself in similar shoes.

Your marketability is never higher than when you are employed and open to hearing about new opportunities (a passive candidate); bring a solid record of accomplishments; backed by a visible and credible, online presence.

If you aren’t 100% positive you will have your job tomorrow, today is a great day to figure out why someone else would want to hire you and then diligently put that message out to your target market. 

CFOs and Job Security

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In a list of top concerns of CFO’s, CFO.com’scarticle “What Keeps CFOs Up at Night” listed personal job security as #10 out of 10 top internal concerns. Given the fact that job security made the Top 10 list, this comment in the article is interesting to me:


“CFOs appear confident that their services will be necessary to guide their businesses through these tough times: they place personal job security last on the list of concerns.”


While CFO services ARE necessary, the average tenure of a CFO is still three years and declining. Job security is only as good as his daily performance and as far as the company’s next merger, acquisition, cash flow crises, or flat profits.


My question is, are CFOs really not concerned or are they in denial? Is it perception, or reality? Any thoughts?