When you think about your career, your job, and job security, does the word victim come to mind? Is every day a bad day at the office?

Interesting. Because you're certainly not alone. A recent Experience poll suggested that more than 70 percent of young professionals (that would be you) have failed to hit the career goals they had when they graduated.


And yes, some of you blame your bosses, and some of you blame your companies, and some are just plain burnt out.

On this blog, we recently heard comments about the way some companies treat employees. One suggested that for all the appreciation he sees at work, he might as well be working as a contractor (preferably for a staffing firm that offers benefits).

This is a problem for you, the employee, and an even greater problem for them (the employers). According to one research report, turnover can cost a company nearly three times an employee's salary to replace them, including recruitment, training, severance, and lost productivity. And companies are finally starting to recognize this, and pay attention. In many cases, they're listening to the clear messages that employees are sending, and responding positively to them.

What's it like at your company? Is the economy so scary that you're trying to hold on, or are you right on the edge? Do you and your colleagues talk about this much? And is your company hearing what you're saying?