Career Security Profile: Rate Your Readiness

To assess your strengths and weaknesses as you begin to use this FireProof Your Career Guide, take this quiz.  As you score yourself at the end, you may find that you need to focus only on a couple of the five FireProof strategies.  Or you may want to read and think about all of the ideas in the book.  Six months from now, take it again to check your progress toward building a more secure career. 

Taking the Quiz:  Read each statement.  Then, circle "Y" for Yes or "N" for No.   Online, feel free to print it.

Y    N    1.    I know exactly how much my essential bills total and have enough money (easily accessible) to take care of them for eight months.

Y    N    2.    I usually introduce myself by telling my skills and accomplishments rather than by giving my title and company affiliation.

Y    N    3.    I know from observation and experience about how much severance pay I could count on if I were laid off.

Y    N    4.    I know at least four criteria for assessing the risk of my job situation.

Y    N    5.    I/We participate in a savings plan or 401(k).

Y    N    6.    I/We regularly make other investments (stocks, mutual funds, IRAs, retirement, annuities).

Y    N    7.    I/We have eliminated credit card debt.

Y    N    8.    I have initiated my attendance at two in-house training programs in the last year.

Y    N    9.    I have initiated my attendance at two outside training courses within the past year.

Y    N    10.    I have or am working on an advanced degree or professional job credential.

Y    N    11.    I'm highly visible in two professional organizations and attend more than half their meetings.

Y    N    12.    I'm a member of at least two other organizations --civic, religious, alumni, etc. -- and am active in them in a visible way.

Y    N    13.    I/We have some kind of additional income besides my salary (rental property, stock dividends, teaching, consulting, etc.).

Y    N    14.    I have a previous career I could go back to if I had to.

Y    N    15.    I have a significant interest or activity (volunteer, hobby, etc.) which could be developed into a career.

Y    N    16.    In the last two years, I've learned a new skill that I don't use in my current job.

Y    N    17.    I have taken advantage, during the past year, of some kind of non-traditional education (audio course, non-credit, open university course, private coaching, etc.).

Y    N    18.    I maintain relationships with people at work outside my department who regularly give me valuable information.

Y    N    19.    I maintain relationships with at least 50 people outside of work who know my capabilities well.

Y    N    20.    I've been in my current job for less than 5 years.

Y    N    21.    I can identify at least one other job in my organization, but outside my present department, for which I could qualify.

Y    N    22.    I've been in business for myself or have worked in a family business.

Y    N    23.    I have changed career fields at least once.

Y    N    24.    I've lost a job due to circumstances beyond my control at least once and found another job at the same or better salary.

Y    N    25.    I keep track of the economic and technological trends affecting the organization, industry, and profession in which I work.

Y    N    26.    I have objective reasons to believe that my performance on the job is above average.

Y    N    27.    I have a spouse who works, and we have both benefit plans in force.

Y    N    28.    I know what to do and say to enlist people in helping me with my career.

Y    N    29.    I've told friends or acquaintances about at least three job openings in the past year.

Y    N    30.    I've applied for another job within the past two years.

Worried? Get the Guide now.   Or sign up for 6 free career security tips and learn more about how the FireProof Your Career Guide can help you face the future without fear:



To score yourself:   Enter your score in the table below for each question. Give yourself 20 points for each Y answer and 10 points for each N answer.

1. Add your scores for each of the five strategies to get the TOTALs.
2. To find your AVERAGE in each category, divide by 6.
3. Find your GRAND TOTAL score by adding the five AVERAGES.

Sum of AVERAGES for all 5 Strategies, GRAND TOTAL = _____

Interpreting Your Score: Using your GRAND TOTAL score, find the comments that apply to you below.

60-70    You need to work on all categories to improve your career security. Use the ActionPack to make your plan. Begin to work on several categories simultaneously. You should be able to raise your score significantly by next year.

70-80    There are several categories you need to work on. If you scored low in the “Line Up Your Finances” category, work on raising your score there immediately. Using the tools in this Guide , you'll be able to improve your career security within one year.

80-100    There are a couple of areas you should strengthen. Employing the five strategies, you will be able to protect yourself adequately within six months.

100-110    You'll quickly be able to maximize your career security by taking a few strategic steps. To determine the steps, analyze the questions you answered with an "N." Then make a plan to strengthen yourself in those areas.

110-120    You are in excellent shape to flourish, even if your job disappears. Career security is no problem for you. To determine any actions, analyze the questions you answered with an "N."

If your score indicates that you need to work on your career security, don't be discouraged.  The ideas in the e-book will help you address your specific needs.  If your score indicates that you should not be worried about your career security, don't be too complacent.  As you learn more about the entire topic, you may find that you have more and more doubts about your readiness to be laid off.  You may decide that you have overestimated your ability to continue to make a living, even if your job disappears.  The ideas in the e-book (Get it now.) will help you determine what, if anything, you need to do to shore up your long-term security.  If you are, indeed, well-prepared, you will be even more confident that you have done the right things to cope with whatever the future brings.   For more information, sign up for 6 free career security tips and learn more about how the FireProof Your Career Guide can help you face the future without fear:

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