Last week we saw the Dow drop by 800 points in a day and investors get spooked by an “inverted yield curve,” which occurs when the interest rates on short-term bonds are higher than the interest rates paid by long-term bonds (generally means that people are so worried about the near-term future that they are piling into safer long-term investments). Conversely, wages are up, housing prices are strong, unemployment is low, and interest rates are low. All of which contribute to high (although seemingly fickle) consumer confidence and a sense that things are OK and that opportunity exists. How these elements affect your career and your job search depends on your belief in yourself and what lays ahead with respect to the economy.
If you believe that the economy is strong and growth will continue…
…check up with the recruiters and colleagues that are well connected in the industry to learn what opportunities might be available. Many companies are struggling to find any talent, let alone top talent, and if you enter the market now, there is a good chance that you can enjoy a significant bump in pay versus your current engagement.
If you believe that the economy has shifted and that we are heading for a recession…
…check down on risk by focusing diligently on your current role, understanding what deliverables matter most, and executing to the best of your ability. By refocusing on your current role now, if the economy struggles, your current employer will notice that you’re producing and if layoffs occur, you will have done the best job you can to protect your employment.
Lastly, if stressing over which way the economy is going to go and what move to make feels like just another turn of the wheel in the rat race, maybe it’s time to check out.
Take some time to step away, invest in yourself and in your life. Do what is right for you. Maybe it’s going back to school or building out your #vanlife rig to see the world. If in your heart you know you need to go, go now and give it 100%.
Written by: Austin Meyermann, Founder and President of Hunter Crown, LLC
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