Business
Job Security? No Such Thing
“Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.” So goes one of the “Rules of Work” – a list being passed on via email in the nineties and written about in forums and blogs in this era.
The rest of the rules are funny but not very useful. This one stands out because it is true. Never aim to be irreplaceable if you want to move up in the corporate ladder. Instead, do your work such that it can easily be passed on to a peer or turned over. Turn in completed projects so that you can walk away from it and leave it running like clockwork. This leaves you free to move on to new things as opposed to being stuck doing the same thing. And doing new things is always good. It adds to your experience and widens your knowledge. It allows you to work with new people as well. Besides, if you're the only one who knows how to do your job, how do you expect to take a vacation?
In the end, no one is really truly irreplaceable. We’ve seen CEOs come and go in the past decade. So no job is truly secure anyway.
Always seek continuous learning. It can be anything from training to participating in an entirely new project. Never become complacent. Sometimes it’s good to stick with what you know, but most of the time you must add to what you know. A broad skill set makes you more marketable as a job-seeker, and more valuable as an employee. It's not a fool proof way to avoid getting laid off, but if you do, it would be easier to get a new job.
Learn soft skills. There usually are dozens of candidates who qualify based on technical ability. But knowing how to give training, for example, might give you an edge. One of the most basic skills is the ability to communicate effectively, both written and oral. Move up a little higher and you will need people skills – management and interaction. Even a bit higher, negotiation skills become important. Knowing technology is one thing, and there could be hundreds of candidates who know the same technology, but knowing about the business and how it relates to the technology is a skill that will set you apart.
Finally, it's just a job. It's not personal. You can be passionate without being personal. And if you lose it, don't take it personally.