For the last several months, every news program had a story on a wildfire somewhere, blazing out of control. Hundreds of thousands of acres in Idaho, Colorado and Arizona are now blackened tree stumps and ashes. Amid the natural tinder are the remains of burned out homes, again reduced to charred sticks and grey ash.
Some of the lost homes were built on the sides of mountains—man-made structures located in tinder-dry wooded areas prone to lightning strikes and summer fires. Others were housing developments with cul-de-sacs and swimming pools on the edge of forests or rolling hills. Regardless of location, the stories were pretty much the same: The fire. The heroic efforts of firefighters to contain the fire and put it out. The frantic homeowners waiting in shelters, wondering what was happening to their homes and possessions. And then the return to find what—if anything—was left.
One story followed a mother and daughter back to their burned-out home site. In the ashes they found a couple of survivors. One was a coconut grater that was handed down by their grandmother. Made of iron, it withstood the heat and flames. They found a pile of ashes where the piano once stood. The only other thing that made it through was a brass trumpet, charred from the flames but still intact.
The story was sad, but gave me a new perspective about what’s important and having things that last through life’s trials. Losing a job can be as devastating to some as a fire. Though you haven’t lost everything immediately, the fear of loss and future uncertainty can take its toll over time. With so many jobs lost and never coming back, it’s hard to tell what future jobs are made of “iron” and those made of “wood.” College students are finding that the careers they began preparing for four or six years ago have diminished or lost their earning potential. If you’re currently unemployed and planning for the future, how can you “fireproof” your new career so it can withstand the heat of another recession?
1. Consider the trades. Everyone needs a plumber, electrician or carpenter. Look on any street or subdivision during the day and you can see construction vehicles or a variety of service trucks or vans. My favorite TV channel is HGTV. Learning a trade can provide a source of income, become a small business and save you lots of money over the years doing your own repairs or installations.
2. Get an engineering degree. There are hundreds of engineering and technical degrees available with a four-year or two-year time investment. Engineering degrees start out at a median annual salary of $55,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and go up from there. There are many other professions, businesses and industries that use engineers and technicians of every kind.
3. Start a small business and sell what you know. This is the age of information with a global marketplace. No need to hop a plane to reach customers on the other side of the world. The Internet, social media and web marketing has opened up a whole new world of business and commerce. Start a blog, sell your expertise, publish and sell an eBook or offer webinars in your area of expertise. You’re the boss, so job security is pretty much guaranteed.
Continue your job search and find a job in your field. But consider these ideas of “iron.” So when the economy goes up in smoke, you’ll have some solid possessions to carry you through.
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