Why Job Security Has Become the New Career Dream (And What to Do While You Wait for It)

Over the last year, something subtle but significant has changed in how professionals talk about work. The conversations are less about "what's next" and more about “what’s safe.” Below the surface of layoffs, hiring freezes, and economic jitters, people are rethinking what a good career move looks like and for many, it now looks like staying put.

Let’s break it down.

1. The Big Stay: Choosing Certainty Over Career Clout

Not long ago, moving jobs every 18 months signalled ambition. Now, it’s raising eyebrows again, not from employers but from job seekers themselves.

Take Helen, a marketing exec from Dublin, who posted recently on LinkedIn:

“I've said no to three interview invites this month. Not because I’m not curious, but because I finally feel safe where I am. And safety, right now, is everything.”

She’s not alone. According to a report from HR Daily Advisor, workers across sectors are choosing to “stay” rather than risk disruption even in roles they’d once outgrown. It's being dubbed “The Big Stay”. People aren’t standing still because they’re unmotivated. They're staying because they’re exhausted from instability.

When headlines keep screaming about mass layoffs, job market cool-downs, and AI replacing white-collar work, playing it safe starts to feel smart.

2. Stuck Between Growth and Security

Then there are people like Ajay, a mid-career software engineer in London. After two redundancies in 2023, he found a new role in a more traditional, slower-moving firm.

“It’s not exciting, but it’s stable,” he shared in a comment thread. “I miss building fast, but I don’t miss wondering if I’ll still have a job next quarter.”

Across fields like finance, engineering, medtech, and even creative roles, professionals are quietly wrestling with the same dilemma: do I chase growth and risk getting burned or settle for predictability and peace of mind?

Job markets in the UK and the US are sluggish. Hiring cycles are dragging. Pay growth is cooling. Even high performers are feeling stuck in limbo, overqualified, underpaid, and too tired to roll the dice again.

3. Reddit Reality Checks: Hope, Rage, and Everything in Between

On Reddit’s r/jobs and r/recruitinghell, the stories are raw.

One user vented:

“I’ve applied to over 4,000 roles in 10 months. Fifteen interviews. No offers. I have a master’s degree. I’ve done everything right. What else am I supposed to do?”

That post had thousands of upvotes. Not because it was unusual but because it was familiar. These stories aren’t exaggerated. They’re a side of the market that doesn’t always show up in reports.

But here’s the thing: it’s not the whole story either.

One recruiter responded in the same thread:

“People get hired every single day. I’ve filled roles this week. The folks who are getting jobs just aren’t posting about it here.”

And that’s the contradiction we’re sitting in: it’s hard out there, but not impossible. The louder voices tend to come from those stuck in the process, not those who’ve moved on.

4. The Hopping Debate: Strategy or Stability?

For years, job hopping was a smart strategy to grow faster, earn more, and avoid stagnation. Pew Research found that job changers still tend to earn more than those who stay. But now? Context matters.

Sophia, a UX designer, wrote this in her Substack newsletter:

“I moved roles three times in four years. Each jump brought better pay, more scope and a higher chance of burnout. The last one ended in a layoff. I’m done chasing. I want somewhere to land and stay.”

She’s not quitting on growth. She’s just re-evaluating the cost of it.

On the other side, staying in one place offers deeper institutional knowledge, stronger internal relationships, and, in calmer organisations, better long-term development. It’s not about hopping vs. staying. It’s about what the move costs you in the current climate.

5. The Emotional Weight of the Search

Job searching is an emotional labour. In one report, 72% of job seekers said the process negatively affects their mental health.

And it makes sense. You’re not just applying for jobs anymore. You’re tailoring CVs through six platforms and writing cover letters that never get read, ghosted after five rounds of interviews, only to see the job reposted three weeks later. It feels personal. It wears you down.

Courtney, the designer who went viral for adding “#Desperate” to her LinkedIn banner, explained it like this:

“It wasn’t a cry for help. It was just honesty. I was tired of pretending.”

And what did that honesty do? It helped her find freelance clients but also sparked a wave of solidarity from others who were silently struggling too.

So what can you actually do?

Let’s skip the generic advice. You’ve already updated your CV, sent out cold emails, and maybe even followed up five times after a “We’ll get back to you.”

Here’s what people actually find helpful right now, especially if you're job hunting, on edge in your current role, or simply trying to future-proof your career:

1. Make Yourself Visible Even If You’re Not “Killing It”

You don’t need a shiny win to post online. Share something small: a lesson you learnt, a course you’re taking, or a personal story about navigating your field. Visibility isn’t about shouting. It’s about being seen.

People are more likely to help or hire someone they’ve recently seen. Even a short comment or post can keep you in the loop.

2. Build a Safety Net Before You Need It

This is where career cushioning quietly becomes powerful. You don’t need to panic or prep for a layoff, but you do want options.

• Pick up a new skill or certification, even if it’s just one hour a week.
• Revive an old freelance skill or passion project.
• Start exploring second income streams, consulting, teaching, writing, mentoring, and tutoring.
• Reconnect with people you’ve worked with before. Not with an ask, just to say ‘hi’.

You're not just creating backups. You’re building momentum.

3. Redefine What a “Good” Job Looks Like (For Now)

It might be a contract role. A temporary step down. A part-time project. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

If it helps pay the bills, keeps your skills sharp, or gives you breathing room, it’s worth considering.

Sometimes a “good enough” job is just a bridge to a better one and you don’t need to apologise for taking it.

4. Celebrate Micro-Wins

The big wins might take longer right now. So stack the small ones.

• Finished a course? Great.
• Helped a friend prep for an interview? Amazing.
• Got a recruiter to actually respond? That counts.

These little wins remind you that you’re still building even if the world isn’t clapping just yet.

5. Know What Stability Means to You

For some, it’s a permanent contract. For others, it’s work-life balance, or a team they trust, or simply a job that doesn’t cause Sunday dread.

Figure out your baseline. What would make you feel safe? What would make you feel less anxious on a Monday morning?

That clarity will help you make better decisions than any salary calculator ever could.

And Finally, Sometimes, It’s Just About Timing

You can do everything right. And still… nothing clicks.

That doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It means this market is messy, slow, and overloaded. Sometimes, it really is about being in the right place at the right time.

Sometimes, the most strategic thing you can do is wait.

Stay visible. Keep moving. Cushion what you can. Take the job that gets you through. Rest when you need to.

Then, when the right opportunity finally shows up, you’ll be ready to grab it without hesitation.

Stability Isn’t Settling. It’s survival. And sometimes, it’s a strategy.

You’re not weak for choosing predictability. You’re not lazy for pausing your job search. You’re not failing because you haven’t landed anything in three months.

You're adapting to a market that’s changing faster than ever and doing it with clarity, patience, and resilience.

And if that’s not a sign of growth?
Honestly, what is?