Historically you can look back on times when a farmer, a merchant, or a welder could expect long-term career stability. But these days industrialization, technology, and the speed of change have all but annihilated career predictability. You never know when your career might crash.

This fact is disturbing. Your career pays for everything. It’s the engine of your life. But it’s easy to put off the care and feeding of your career. And then the crash comes!

Crash Number One: You Are Overly Loyal

If you pass on the opportunity to attend your annual professional association conference because you’ve got too much work to do, you are in trouble. You probably have a dated resume and a neglected LinkedIn profile. You identify strongly with your work and are loyal to your employer. So, when a merger, pandemic, or downturn happens, you are unprepared. The pink slip arrives, and you are devastated.

Crash Number Two: The Boss From an Alien Planet

Everything about your career is great. You are good at what you do, and you enjoy it. But most of all you love your boss. One morning you arrive at the virtual weekly meeting and your boss informs the team he is leaving. Several months later a new manager is hired. This evil micromanager is controlling, manipulative, and unethical. You never dreamed things could go south so quickly.

Crash Number Three: Your Personal Life Intervenes

It is natural to separate your work life from your personal life. You can be rolling along feeling pretty darn good about your career. And then, you find out your husband is cheating on you, or your mom falls down the stairs. You did not see it coming and you have no idea what the future will hold.

Let me apologize here. I’m usually a source of optimism (and occasionally inspiration) but I’ve gone a bit dark today. I decided to highlight the inevitability of career crashes because they are so disruptive and potentially disastrous.

If you are familiar with the Elevate Career Cycle model, you know that the Evolve strategy reminds you to nurture your career and have a plan b. And, expect unexpected endings. If you are prepared and understand careers will occasionally crash, you will bounce back much quicker.

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