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When is a job "secure?"
I started my new job 4 months ago, and so far it's been going pretty well. Its in the industry I want to be in, but is a part of that industry that I had no prior experience in. So it has been a real learning experience for me. I was hired because they fired a guy after 11 months because he just wasn't catching on, so I try very hard to ensure I keeo this job.
DH and I want to start house hunting, especially since my job is an hour away from our apartment. But I don't want to buy a house and get canned a few months later, or find out it isn't working out.
At what point can you consider your job secure enough to base your life on it? We do not want to look into apartments at all because we have a good one now that fits our needs, and we haven't seen anything else that would be as good. Plus, we are so sick of renting in general.
Re: When is a job "secure?"
I can't comment on the security of your industry but you should be able to get feedback from your boss as to the security of your job. If you are concerned about repeating the last guys mistakes be up front with your boss. Tell him or her you love this job, want to do well and would like some honest, direct feedback... Then the hard part... You actually have to be open to the feedback without being defensive. If you get through that conversation in a positive way then you probably have a pretty good spot.
like others said, I wouldn't start house hunting until I was at a job for a year. Not to mention, it's hard to get financing without a year of employment.
The only secure job is the one where you own it and have full control over it. My current boss was told at his first job to never expect to stay at one company for more then 5 years.
The best question to ask, how employable am I if I lose my current job. With me being a mechanical engineer and there being a shortage of engineers I know it will not take me long to find another opportunity. What I try to do is base my lifestyle on the minimum that I will make if I lose my job and have to find another one to replace it.
Also, when you do buy a house, don't make the mistake that a lot of people do and stretch to get a house. There are a lot of hidden expenses including routine maintenance that is required on a house.
Probably never. I feel extremely secure in my position but you really never, ever, know.
I would wait at least a year before starting to look at homes. This way, should you ever lose your job, you'd get unemployment (my state bases it partly on how long at your job). And here's another thing, once you have a mortgage you'll do anything to make sure you can pay it. I lost my job and between freelancing, unemployment and DH's pay, we were tight but pulled through. Just don't buy something you can't afford if one of you loses your job.