A mid-stage postdoc asks -
I came to UCSF focused on finding a faculty job (and that is still my main plan), but I am realistic enough to know that finding a tenure-track position isn’t a sure thing. Job security is very important to me, so I had been considering working at a federal agency as a natural plan B. It has become pretty clear that that’s not a very secure career path anymore! Where else should I be looking for a more secure career path?

There are a lot of different ways to think about job security, and it can be helpful to reflect on your specific values to determine the types of job security most important to you; after all, nearly all employment in the United States is at-will, so security in the form of it being impossible or illegal for you to lose your job doesn’t really exist. 

One way to look at the security of a position is to look at the structure and size of the organization you work for. In general, larger organizations and organizations that are propped up by lots of connections to other organizations are less likely to suddenly close and leave you without a job. In a simple case, a large pharmaceutical company is likely more secure than a brand-new startup. 

Another form of career security you might consider is the overall demand for your skill set and experience. Building a career heavily focused on a single technology that may become obsolete is much riskier than having a well-rounded and diverse range of skills. Having strong communication and management skills are always in demand! 

Finally, you may want to consider structural factors designed for job security. Severance packages, union protections, WARN Act-style notice periods, and other benefits all function to provide additional security by providing compensation (in the form of money or time) if you end up losing your job. 

Any position in any sector may have different features of “job security” that may be more or less important to you, so it will always be beneficial to learn as much as you can about the specific organization and position you are interested in. It is great to be thinking carefully about the kind of security that matters to you, but, ultimately, changing jobs throughout your career is extremely common (and is generally to your benefit).

-David Blancha, Assistant Director, Career Development Team for Researchers