When you’re in your 20s do you have to worry about job security and finding a stable job?
I recently had a debate with a buddy about finding a stable job. He was questioning me on why I would focus my energy on starting an online business and other projects, when I could just find stable work with my degree. He didn’t understand the point of taking risks and not traveling down the safe path.
When you read about finding a job you often find two distinct view points:
- Find a well-paying job after college. Save your money. Move up the ranks. Continue saving money. Don’t question anything or anyone. Retire well.
- Quit your job. Risk living on the streets. Follow your passions. Be passionate. Brag on Twitter when your inbox is down to zero.
Whenever I write about finding a real job after college I get interesting comments from you.
One reader chimed in with:
“There’s also an advantage to getting a job first if you can find one that will allow you to gain valuable experience. Getting funding for your business is easier if you are credible and experience in your industry goes a long way towards that.”
Crystal then joined the discussion with her thoughts on finding a secure job right out of college:
“I personally settled for a stable but dead-end position right out of college that I am still in. If my story ended there, it would be depressing. But the happy part was that while in this dead-end job, I discovered the wide world of blogging. “
While finding a job in college isn’t too serious of a process because chances are that you’ll take the first gig that comes your way, things change when you ‘re in your mid-to-late-20s.
Time to answer the question…
Do you have to worry about job security in your 20s?
NOPE.
I’ll keep my explanation short and sweet.
You’re young. You’re on top of the world. You have unlimited energy. You can get by on 4 hours of sleep. You can be full of energy when others are low on it and tired. You don’t have to feel sorry for yourself.
Everything will change when (when, not if) you get married and have kids. You won’t be able to take a week off to chill out or to creep on Facebook for three hours a day. Now is the time to take some risks. What do you have to lose?
“You want to be afraid, really afraid, take a look at what your life will look like not if you try and fail, but if you keep on keeping on for decades. That’s the real nightmare scenario for most people.” — Jonathan Fields
I am very glad my husband and I took a chance now. Not just because we’re in our 20’s, but because having a chance and skipping it would suck even more than never having the chance at all.
I’m in my fourth decade of working/owning various businesses and I can tell you that there is no roadmap to career success. Each career choice you make adds to your toolkit. Focus more on what you will get out of an opportunity and capture the learning. Over a lifetime you’ll have plenty of chances to redirect, course correct or jump ship. Enjoy the journey.