Might this be the new way to say "job security?"
I was speaking at a library on Bainbridge Island (near Seattle) last night and tried out a new phrase to replace "job security."
... because everyone says there is no such thing as "job security" anymore. But I still want to talk about some kind of security for my future. "career security" doesn't seem to fit... what about:
income security?
Good Answers (56)
Susan I
Author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect Resume
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Jason, I think "income security" is an excellent term.
We need to be creative in fnding ways to generate income to pay the bills and save for our futures. In today's economy that may mean thinking beyond simply a job to meet our financial needs. Many people will turn to temporary work, consulting, entreprenurialism, and investing (with a small "i") to make ends meet.
So, yes, my thumbs are up for your new term: income security.
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Income sounds more like an investment strategy. I like to call it career confidence or employment confidence. Having been in IT with all of its volatility, I gauge 3 factors in employment measurement;
My feel and fit inside the organization
The organizations maturity and fiscal health
The factors enhancing a long term relationship (compensation, growth, responsibility and structure)
These have proven to be a good foundation to finding a good employment relationship for me. Too many external factors can affect your employment to consider anything "secure"
Good luck hunting for a good or better fit.
Keith H
Founder - Harrell-Steward & Associates
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It sounds good. But language is a tricky thing, Having income security is part of Job Security. But then it might not be if your focus was to maintain or improve income and your company was experiencing cut backs which resulted in no monetary iincrease.
Jobs bring in income, income does not always bring in jobs.
Paul J
Owner, Alden Keene & Associates, Inc., a Boutique Marketing and Communications Consultancy to Businesses and Nonprofits
Best Answers in: Economics (1)
Hey Jason:
Income Security is close, but I don't think it hits all the right bases. It sounds like something from one of Robert Allen 'Multiple Streams of Income' books. His point is that you need more than one pan in the fire.
It also reminds me a little of Daniel Pink's 'Free Agent nation' from a few years back.
But JibberJobber and Jason Alba aren't about either of thise ideas. JibbrJobber is about anticipating the inevitable changes in the job market and, when they come, being able to flow with them.
JibberJobber is about job insurance.
Suzanne T
Founder, GrapevineGroup.com - Dedicated to helping Exceptional Recruiters place Top Talent in Great Organizations
What about Career Enthusiasm?
The term I like to use is "career insurance."
Reason being is that "insurance" implies two things:
1 - insurance requires an investment,
2 - insurance provides dividends when necessary.
Also by using the word "career" instead of "job", you open the door to the larger scope of the issue then just a job. Successful professionals will have a career that involves more then a single source of income from "a job".
Alternate sources of income may be in the form or writing, teaching or other endeavors that are not in conflict with other sources of income.
Jason,
I don't think there is anything that is secure or guaranteed unless your the recipient of a mega annuity for life. I see two parts to how the word 'security' is used here - one is duration, the other is amount. Obviously you need both to be working for you. As you said 'job' doesn't fit because it sounds like you are focusing on income - which doesn't have to come from a 'job'. Maybe "Income Forecasting", "Planned Income", "Passive Income", or "Start an online business and never have to work again ;-)"
Bob S
● Founder-Florida CRE, ● President-Development Managers Inc.,
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Try "tenure".
It doesn't guaranty your job, but it at least requires some compelling or just cause for losing it.
Bob W
"Making your next hire your best hire!"
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Try "marketability". The only way to stay ahead of the curve and maintain gainful employment is to maintain a marketable skill set. The ability to anticipate where your skills need to change with upcoming market trends, and the ability to secure those skills is what people need to focus on if they seek "job security".
Bob
Interesting question given the current business and economic environment... I view this really as "employment viability", which directly relates to both job, career and income security - keeping your marketable job skills sharp so you continue to add value to your current employer, and in the event of layoffs/downsizing knowing those skills are readily transferable to a new organization.
Companies want loyalty from employees, but in the end you've got the look out for number one - and be prepared should your employer no longer be loyal to you.
Pete J
Marketing and Internet Platform Solutions IT, Portals and Applications Chief Architect at Hewlett-Packard
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In Naked Economics, former correspondent for The Economist Charles Wheelan describes something he calls "Human Capital" that is along these lines.
The example he gives is that if you took away Bill Gates' money, property, and securities, if you stripped him of everything except the clothes on his back, he'd get hired someplace in less than an hour. Why? Because he has knowledge in his head and relationships with people in industry that are in demand. His Human Capital keeps him employable.
I did a blog entry awhile ago on this book that goes into it a bit more:
http://blog.nerdguru.net/2007/01/book-report-naked-economics.html
---Pete
Pete Johnson
Hewlett-Packard Company
Marketing and Internet Platform Services IT
Portals and Applications Chief Architect
Work email: pete.johnson@hp.com
Personal email: pete.johnson@nerdguru.net
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Charles C
Founder - Community Commerce Centers Initiative
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In these times I am not at all sure that "security" can be paired with any other word to convey what might have been thought of as "job security" even a few years ago. The best one might hope for these days is "job stability" or "career stability", but even that may be overly optimistic. Perhaps something like "sustainable career" would be more fitting.
Heather G
Blogger - Web 2.0 Maven - Recruiter at www.heathergardner.com
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You can use the term "Career Security" to some extent. Keeping your network continually going is the way of gaining that control for YOUR next career step. Even when you are happily employed, you need to keep that next opportunity in the forefront of your mind – good or bad economy. By continually asking yourself the question “Who might my next hiring manager or target company?” you are creating future options – and this is the best form of security. Even in the successful companies, large or small, you want to actively network into your next possible role, before you vacate your current one. Creating your own destiny of possibilities by keeping your eye on the door at all times is the best form of security that YOU can make. The Jibber Jobber CRM tool is PERFECT for keeping track of this strategy.
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Ken S
Sales and Marketing Executive
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I'd go with lifestyle security
that's what it is about.
could even be familial security although I don't like the way it rolls off the tongue.
Thomas C
New Media Corporate Video Producer | Helping organizations capture believable messages in unbelievable times.
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Hi Jason,
"Career confidence."
Feeling secure is really about feeling confident, right?
Jason,
You've gotten some great suggestions.
I agree with the folks that said "income security" implies much more than a job/career. When I think of income security I think of diversifying myself so I can ensure that if any part of my income is lost (say from a downturn in clients) I have enough other sources of income that I don't panic and lose sight of my long-term goals.
That being said, I like the suggestions of "employment viability" and "career confidence." Both suggest, as I believe is the case, it is my responsibility to ensure that my skills, abilities and networks are up-to-date and viable for my current position and future positions.
As an employee, it is important to give my employer 100% of my efforts, but should that position end, I want to make sure I am employable and that I have a network in place to help me land elsewhere.
Hi Jason
"Knowledge Security", coming from the Cobol back ground this may help in the future for securing a position with larger corporations. I'm sure there are many other IT positions that require individuals having a unique skill to land that job. I guess it comes down to supply and demand.
Cobol for ever
Curtis Koch
Hi Jason
Try "Self-Employed"; you can be sure that the boss you then work for at least listens to you!
Jason - I think we're stuck with 'job security,' Income security starts sounding like stock, bonds, etc. This is like trying to change the word 'outplacement.' - The terms are too entrenched in existing lexicon.
Greg H
Founder of Linking Raleigh, NC; Manager of Customer Retention at iContact; local Raleigh - Durham networking advocate.
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Maybe we should consider using the existing phrase "Quality of Life" rather than job security? After all, we choose a job to maintain or improve our quality of life.
Hey Jason, good question. Remember when "Disaster Recovery" was re-framed as "Busijness Continuity?" Maybe we should call it "Career Continuity!" What do you think?
Income Security - My vote is cast in favor of Income security, while it may sound like an investment, it should. We invest a great deal of time/effort in developing income security , i.e. our jobs (investment in an employer), Bonds, stocks ect.
Seems like a perfect way to articulate your message!
Jason,
I think you might be on to something with income security or even career security depending on which direction you might want to take. Just a thought!
I use the term "Career Assurance" and recommend that everyone keep a detailed file with employee performance evaluations, award certificates, training certificates, nice emails, letters of recommendation, official job descriptions, and of course, old resumes. That way job seekers can be prepared for whatever happens because all the pertinent information will be in one place. Of course, your site, jibberjobber.com also takes care of this task and adds extra protection from a flood or fire.
I think it's two different things to two different class of people. Consultants (Yeah I know an employee is a consultant with no choice where they go tomrrow!) and Employees. To consultants, it's the ability to diversify revenue stream and enhance it. To employees, it's the ability to keep the paycheck flowing in and develop the next stream of paychecks. (One of my Turkey-isms is that you are, or should be, looking for your next job while you keep the current one happy.)
So I think there will be some confusion between what "it" means to those different communities when looked through the two different lenses. (Yeah, I love Gartner's simplistic four box view of the world!)
It corresponds with what I tell younger folks who might be open to a "pearl". Success for your generation is: (1) ruthless financial discipline -- no bad debt; (2) a life long interest in learning -- education -- a degree -- they can't take it away from you; (3) a white collar job in order to save big bux; (4) a blue collar skill for hard times -- never saw a poor plumber; (5) one or more internet based businesses -- your store is always open; (6) a free time hobby that generates income; and (7) a large will-maintained network of people who can "help" you.
So, imho, with apologies to Covey, it's "The Seven Dimensions of Success".
Yeah, everything I ever learned was from a self-help book! Isn't that the definition of a book? "Help Yoursefl!"
I think the term you are looking for is "Success Security"?
Clarification added 9 months ago:
"Help Yourself!"
Gerald L
Gerry Lo 羅振業 Project Engineering 4300 contacts
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I favor "employability" as it seems slightly more dignified than "mercenariness."
To me, "job security" has always been an illusory ideal.
Our modern paradigm seems to be of employment at will, which suggests to me the prospective inadvertent leisure or unemployment at will.
Security does not sound right, there are no guaranties.
I prefer the word "employable", a translation from a Swedish term (anställningsbar). You can do your best to be employable, build a network and keep knowledge up to date.
Browsing to the bottom of the answers I noticed someone else had already suggested "employability" but I stick to employable anyway :-)
I like the notions of employability and career assurance ... in my view it all comes to down to "Relevance." So long as you remain relevant -- with your skills and insights "up-to-date" and ideally "leading" -- you should be in the game and able to move your career forward (I like to avoid stagnant words like secure or continuity).
Regards,
Polly Pearson
VP Employment Brand and Strategy Engagement, EMC Corp.
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Lois K. G
Direct Marketing Expert, Agency Owner, Author and Speaker
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Jason,
How about Job Ownership. I find that my employees that have been with me forever, really "own their jobs". They act like owners too...and it might be fun to just twist the phrase a bit.
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I definitely think income security is a better word. Because truthfully, not many of us would be devastated if our job ended, as long as we could maintain or improve our income/financial standing. I think this is why people don't care much about their old job when they get a promotion to a new/better job. Even if there isn't a raise immediately, they see that their marketability has just improved.
