Do you have a Plan B or home based business that provides an income stream in addition to your "regular" job? I'm guessing 90+% of the workforce likes a weekly paycheck and it's rather nice. However, we need to know what will happen if your boss shows up at your workstation and says, "today is your last day with this company"?  Pack your bags, we're moving your department to New York next week.

Thirty years ago [30] I got fired [downsized, layed off, screwed] but it's all the same thing meaning my weekly paycheck suddenly stopped coming. For almost 5 years I gave my employer the best I had to give and still got kicked out the door with little thought or appreciation.

How could this happen? Our region was awesome, great profits delivered every month to the home office. Good employees everywhere doing a superb job. Committed, loyal, the best group of people we could muster for our employer.

I'm guessing that's how you feel about your job, your team of associates. Probably thinking your position is secure, no way your boss could do without you, right? I'm with you and thought the same way until change happened on my watch without severance pay, immediate loss of insurance benefits, no vacation either because the company was going in a new direction.

As you might guess, I went home with my confidence and spirits shot.  My thoughts went to having a bride, 3 young children under 10 years old, 2 car payents monthly and a mortgage on our home.  Looking out into the carport did not send excitement, only dispare looming in our future.  Did anybody care?  No need to mention that we buy groceries weekly and our usual consumption is a given.     

Truth is your position may be secure, I hope so. However, nothing will feel better than having another stream of income "just in case" the boot comes and you're not expecting it. Your Plan B is the key to financial security for your family. That's our goal for the American workforce so none of us end up in the unemployment lines looking for another job.

For many years our business was helping people find employment on a temporary basis as well as full-time employment. Searching for employment, taking tests, interviewing for a new position is one of the toughest challenges any of us face, all on our own dime, no pay.

One thought to keep in mind is that something better is coming your way. Believe it and you'll see it when it arrives. As told above, I got fired because the company wanted to eliminate my salary and keep the business we had built for them over a 5 year period. Another thought for you is to know that your security belongs to you, not your employer.

You're asking, who won and I delight in sharing the details. We started a new company to serve our clientele and the business stayed with us for the next 25 years when we sold to a national firm willing to pay for our assets of value to the marketplace as it should be.

Even if you own the company, have an excellent income, don't put "all your eggs" in one basket, i.e. tie up all your assets with one or just a few clients. Diversity is your key to long-term success and financial security is our long range goal.

If you do find yourself searching for an employer in your future, make an appointment with a staffing service and get an update on your skills and learn what employers are looking for in new employees.  Be sure you and the assigned recruiter "connect" with each other.  Listen and learn what's going on in the marketplace where you seek employment.  Lots more but this give you a start.

Let us hear from you.  It will help us reach out and touch more people in a positive way.  What are you experiencing as you seek a new career?  Are salaries high?  Low?  Fair?  Are interviewers giving you the facts about their firm?  Job security?  We invite you to share your experiences with us.