ClearRock

BOSTON - High school and college graduates entering the work force after graduation should expect to have from three to five different careers in about 10 to 12 different full-time jobs - and to be involuntarily separated from employment at least once, if not two or more times. So, their only job security will be their "career security," or the skills, abilities, and networking contacts they build during their careers, according to ClearRock, an executive coaching and outplacement firm headquartered in Boston.

"Since there is no longer any job security, the emphasis has shifted to developing 'career security' - being able to transfer the skills and abilities you've acquired, and contacts you've made, in one job to another, and even to another industry, if necessary," said Greg Gostanian, managing partner for ClearRock.

The typical employee today works at from 10 to 12 jobs during his or her career, with an average time of approximately 4 years in a job, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Also, it's more common for someone to be involuntarily separated from a job today. This is due to outside factors, such as downsizings, mergers and acquisitions, or for personal reasons such as lack of 'fit' for a job, failing to achieve desired results, or interpersonal problems. About two involuntary releases during one's career is becoming a more common rule of thumb," said Annie Stevens, managing partner for ClearRock.

Many laid-off employees take the opportunity to try to do something different with their work lives - especially those over 40 years old. "There's a natural desire for people to want to do something different after they've been doing it for awhile, and an involuntary release often triggers this inclination. So people tend to have several different careers during their work lives today," said Gostanian.

According to ClearRock, the main components of building career security are:

• Keep your skills and abilities up to date, and acquire new ones. "Learn new technologies and attend professional development seminars and workshops in your area of expertise," said Stevens.
  
• Achieve as much as you can academically. "Go back to school for that advanced degree, certification in a specialty, or for a completely different degree," said Gostanian.
  
• Continually update your resume and career network. "Always have your resume updated, reach out to and stay in touch with people you may need to network with if unemployed, and make new potential networking contacts at trade associations, community meetings, and other events," said Stevens.
  
• Learn as much as you can from all of your jobs. "Volunteer for projects, ask to be included on work teams, find a more experienced mentor to teach you, and reach out to colleagues in other departments and functions," said Gostanian.
  
• Realize that networking is a lifelong process. "Networking is much more than a means to finding your next job. It is a lifelong experience where you build relationships that will help you throughout your career, and where you will be a continual resource for your networking contacts as well," said Stevens.