Tag Archives: career changes

FINDING DIRECTION IN A CHANGING WORLD

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#YoungPeople #graduations #flexibility #CareerChanges #jobs #economy #technology
Decades ago, when a young person heading into adulthood did not know what he or she was going to do for a living, perhaps that person took a trip to “find himself (or herself).”
Adults, perhaps his or her parents or parents of the person he or she was dating, may have scoffed that the kid “had no direction.” (They often secretly assumed the kid had no ambition).
But in today’s new world, “having no direction” will not only be common among young people, it may be an advantage.
The job market of the future is uncertain. AI and other technology will make once necessary jobs obsolete.
It likely will create other types of jobs, many of which we don’t know about yet.
The question then becomes: how does one prepare for such uncertainty?
The one thing any young person can do, if it does not come naturally, is to become flexible.
One becomes flexible by presuming he or she will change careers multiple times.
It’s been said that corporations are people, too. Corporations must be flexible to survive changes they may not yet know are coming. People must do the same thing.
When pursuing education, study something you love, without regard for how it will apply in the job market. This isn’t to say that a person should spend a small fortune – God forbid going into debt – on an education that will be “useless” for employment.
But, today, no matter what a person is educated to do, it may not be what the person will do for a living.
If one hears a graduation speech that advises one to “find his or her passion,” it may good advice in these times. Passion didn’t always pay bills, but with uncertainty, the student presumably gets some enjoyment by finding his or her passion.
Along with flexibility, a person will also have to be bold. He or she may have to try things he or she had never thought he or she would do. Boldness, combined with hard work, often leads to innovation. He or she may have to keep reinventing a working persona throughout life.
Finally, the old advice of “find something and stick with it” may no longer apply. Certainly, if something works you should stick with it, as “Cora” said in the old coffee commercial. But, if you can see that what you are doing is going to change, or go away, you need to look for something else before the change arrives. If you can anticipate change from where you sit, your employer will eventually see it, too.
Keep learning new skills. As a young person with an entire life ahead, constant learning will not only be desirable, but mandatory.
So, as one embarks on adulthood, the world you see today will likely not be the same as what you will see throughout your life.
Analyze the cost of any job. Will the cost of commuting etc. be worth the paycheck you get?
Prepare, but don’t have your heart set on one thing. Don’t be afraid, though uncertainly may try to overwhelm you. And, always be ready for change, because change will be a constant.
By whatever means necessary, be optimistic. Pessimism will feed on itself, but optimism always provides an appetite for new adventure.
Truly, if you are young, have a nice life.
Peter

PANDEMIC PROMPTS CAREER SHIFTS, BUT COMPETITION FIERCE

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#careerchanges #coronavirus #COVID19 #FlattenTheCurve #employment #jobs
Erica Hanley was a business development representative for a travel company.
She was laid off when the pandemic hit.
A year later, Hanley, 37, gainfully employed in a new career – mortgage data processor for a local bank.
She was trained for the job through Rhode Island’s Back to Work program, a public-private partnership that was launched during the pandemic to help out-of-work residents learn new skills to find jobs in other industries.
Hanley’s story, and the program in Rhode Island, was told in an article by Andrea Noble, who writes for Route Fifty, a digital news publication that connects people and ideas advancing state, county and municipal governments. It was published May 31, 2021, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Lots of folks, undoubtedly, can see themselves in Hanley’s shoes. Though many employers are gearing back up after the pandemic shutdowns, and are desperately looking for workers, many workers have had to change course in mid-career.
It’s not easy. It’s probably not fun. Plus, not every state offers what Rhode Island does to help workers through the process.
The coronavirus outbreak has prompted other companies to re-evaluate what they do, and how they do it.
The work-from-home experiment was difficult for some, but very convenient for others. As companies saw little to no change in productivity among some employees working from home, many are now rethinking how much office space they actually need.
Will we see a glut of empty office buildings, or, at least, a decline in the number of new ones being built? Time will tell. It may suggest that the commercial real estate business may not be a preferred career for those who have had to change careers.
So, how has the pandemic affected you? Has it put you in dire financial straits? Has it made you re-evaluate your life and lifestyle? Has it forced you to prioritize differently?
And, here’s a big question: If you were laid off temporarily, and your employer wants you back, will you go back? Is that job, or workplace, really worth going back to?
If the answer is yes, great. Go back. There’s a very good chance your old boss not only will welcome you, but also, perhaps, treat you a little better.
If the answer is no, and you don’t know where next to turn, there are many programs out there that allow you to earn money — potentially a lot more than you made at your old job. The work can be done regardless of any pandemic, albeit a bit differently. And, you can base yourself from home.
There is no specific education, experience or background required. You just need an open mind, and be willing to be coached.
To learn about one of the best such programs, message me.
The pandemic has created a new normal for employers and employees. Some could benefit greatly by the change. Others, not so much.
So, it’s important to have an attitude that YOU are going to succeed no matter what changes are made. If the changes don’t suit you, find the changes that do.
Remember, too, that as good as the Rhode Island program looks on paper, retraining has its pitfalls. You could work hard to learn a new job, only to have it go away as your old one may have. Then, you have to be retrained yet again and face the same peril.
Do what’s right for you. Plan on change. Then, plan to find where you fit in that change and prosper.
Peter