Some financial realities of job security

Whatever kind of organization you work for, business, government or academia, or even more obviously if you go out on your own, adequate financial resources are an absolute necessity for a secure job environment. What defines "adequate" may depend on time and circumstances. If jobs are plentiful and the economy is healthy, then more might be expected in terms of salary, perks and opportunities. On the other hand, if the economy is on a downturn, expectations might be commensurately reduced. In any case, to get a regular paycheck, there has got to be money in some bank account to cover it. Whether you are a new BS graduate or a freshly minted PhD, or you have several years of experience, this financial reality is pretty much the same. It may seem that financial issues should be the concern only of others higher up in the organization. After all, they are being paid the big salaries to handle such things. Whatever the correctness of that perception (think Enron), you need to acknowledge your own role and responsibilities in contributing to the financial wellbeing of your employer. Some aspects of that role are considered in the article, with respect to the business, academic and government environments.