Career Advice

Developing and managing a career is not any easy task. Most people today change career path more than twice in their lifetime. The labour market today is characterized by increased casual work, longer hours, increased technology and instability. About 80 per cent of new jobs in Western nations are not permanent positions. Since the 1990’s, full-time jobs have risen by 14 per cent and part-time jobs by 70 per cent.

The vice president and director at Motorola, Jim Burge, wrote this, “At my company, Motorola, the only constant is change. Jobs that were once relatively simple now require high-performance work processes and enhanced skills.” (quoted in the Career key website by Lawrence K. Jones. Located at www.careerkey.org/asp/career_development/foundation_skills.html)

Marcus Letcher stated that today employees need “Modular work” – this involves drawing together your skills, interests, aptitudes and desires into a synergy that feeds back into the whole in a perceptual self-renewing process”. He also identified 5 essential future workplace skills:

  • Saleable skills: If your skills are to earn income, they must have a value in the market. Continue to upgrade and update your skills.
  • Enterprising outlook: Be enterprising & look for other options than the typical “job”, i.e. contract & consultancy work.
  • Networking: Networks are a way of connecting to people, information, opportunity, work, jobs, skill sharing and much more.
  • Self-management: Self-knowledge is a necessity for workers if they are to be their own best managers knowing our strengths and weaknesses.
  • Niche work: As the environment of business is harsh and competition is fierce, find a specialized niche and position yourself in a spot that is different.

(Source: www.seek.com.au)

It is essential to understand the labour market and the types of skills employers are looking for in the 21st century.