Risk, security and the career/job cycle...
 

Simple enough, where do you stand and why?

Great question.

We have scaled back to where we can manage on unemployment wages if needed. I'm not sure how long until we are able to "get ahead" but if I lose my job tomorrow, we'll be just fine.

I voted you only live once. Have had great jobs and made a lot of money, but ultimately wasn't happy working for other people, with people I didn't like. Doing my own thing, creating my own success or failure, is significantly more worthwhile and personally satisfying than getting a paycheck.

For purposes of this poll, enoy is the same as enjoy. :D

I tend to agree, and were I a single guy this wouldn't even be a discussion. But when there are three other people that pay the consequences of your failures you adjust your tactics. I'm not saying I or anyone else should, just that you do.

Right, If I were single - I'd walk right now.

I've got responsibilities - I think everything will work out (one way or the other) but today was one of the worst for me.

I don't like any of the branches around me.

I understand this point of view. I don't think I personally could be a good person "at home" if I had to go to a job that wasn't for me. Balancing Provider and Family Member/Leader is still the most difficult challenge for adult men today.

Generally I like what I do.

I don't always like who I work for.

Right now, that is the case. I have a couple of very good options for future positions BUT they aren't my favorite job. They are usually a little more stable and better paying than the job I like though.

The job I like is Networking (computer networks, Internet, etc).

The job I could get which is supposed to be 'better' is in Information Security.

Information Security is probably a better career move.

If you let go of your branch,

You'll hit some on your way down, and probably be able to grab a new one.

But it still kinda hurts.

The age of the person makes a very big difference. At age 22 and single I was sure I could find a better job. I quit my job and moved 850 miles to look for a job. No major risk involved at that time. Now that my age has more than doubled and I have some real assets (and a wife) I can't even imagine changing jobs just because I might find something better. I have a great job so I ain't looking.

I have been very fortunate in the fact I have never had any difficulty in finding well paid work. So I have always looked to try things I might enjoy. That has always led to other things and so on.

My Mother always told me there is no finer work that that which you enjoy. I have lived my life according to that.

aged 57 and still owe 100K on the home. They'll need to pry my fingers off of the branch!

Too, at that age, most folks are entry level or at least down near the bottom of the totem pole, and not really doing that well. It is much, much easier to find those jobs than it is to find the jobs that most folks have worked up to by the time they are in their 40s or 50s or even 30s.

So it's not only different because family and financial responsibilities are usually lower, but also because your place in the job market is usually pretty different.

You can't get the job that I have now with no experience or without a very specific skillset that takes a while to learn/hone.

branch to branch - why = wife and kids to support

wish I could think like Shaun explains in post #3 (maybe someday)

Problem is sometimes you are flailing to grab a branch and sometimes you hit the ground. I have, it's painful. To be honest, there are big trade-offs in this approach to life. The real key is making smart decisions. Not all mine have been and I'm a slow learner. Sometimes I'm surprised I haven't Darwin'd myself by now. :D

How do I vote for two at once?
I do believe you should like/enjoy the job you do, after all you be there for 8 to 12 hours a day.
I also feel you should not quit one job until you are sure you have another ready; a crappy job is better than none at all.

It's easy to say "take this job and shove it" when you don't have any real responsibilities. Unfortunately I don't have that luxury. When others are relying on you, intentionally leaving your job without another lined up is pretty irresponsible.

Depends on your responsibilities but also on your chosen career and your preferences for location. Some jobs are scarcer so the search for a new one is longer. E.g. there are probably 30, max 40, people who do what I do in the city where I live, and there are probably 1-3 openings a year. So unless you've planned well, you're moving.

Lots of good points guys, thanks for the input.

Joel, have never heard of a recession-proof business?
Jim