Job Nomad: a person with no permanent career goals who hops from one job to another for better pay, work life balance, or opportunities.
Society handed us a script. Go to school. Pick a valuable major. Intern. Graduate. Land a full time job at a company you stay loyal to. Climb the ladder. Make more money. Retire. And hey, as long as you are loyal and a good employee, your job is secure forever.
What fucking bullshit.
After a career journey full of low paying jobs, five certifications, two degrees, unsupportive leadership, and constant gaslighting from employers, I say fuck it. I’m done chasing careers.
This year I decided I’m not changing careers anymore. I’m changing my lifestyle. What does that mean?
Stop wasting money on another degree or certification. I refuse to sink more money into a degree just to drown deeper in student loan debt, especially when the profession will never pay it back.
Casually browse and apply for jobs that interest you. Better pay, work life balance, better opportunities, no matter the industry. Job security is dead. Loyalty is dead. Employers treat us as disposable, replaceable, and never valuable enough to keep employed or pay fairly. They let you go at any time, good employee or bad. Every company out here is restructuring and laying people off. So job hop just as often.
Don’t stay at a job longer than one to two years. Six months if you’re nasty. You get way more raises and promotions jumping externally than waiting around internally.
Avoid manager and leadership roles. Unless you want to be overworked, overwhelmed, and overcriticized. Oh, and kiss your weekends goodbye because the work calls will find you. Trust me, you do not need that stress. Your goal is to work to live, not live to work.
Never go above and beyond your job description. Your responsibilities and duties are what you get paid for. That is it. Go to work, do your job, and leave. Don’t volunteer for extra projects or assignments, especially when there’s no extra pay attached.
Open and build your IRA. An IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is a tax advantaged account built to help you save for retirement without depending on an employer. Nothing beats having your own retirement savings. Every time you leave or get laid off, roll that 401k into your IRA.
Build your skills. No, that does not mean going back to school. Learn new crafts, hobbies, and knowledge. Take fun classes. Pick up a new language, something artsy, or something technical. Hop on YouTube and learn on your own time. Then use all of it to make your resume shine.
Build your network. Every job is short lived, but the relationships don’t have to be. Build real professional connections with coworkers and a trustworthy boss who could open future doors for you. Exchange numbers, emails, LinkedIns, or all of the above.
Now that you know the rules of being a Job Nomad, it is time to finally work to live, not live to work. If you’re already a Job Nomad or thinking about starting this adventure, drop a comment below.
