HOW TO COPE IN A FAST CHANGING WORLD
Getting a job used to be relatively straight forward. Before the mid 20th century the world was much simpler, and pathways to careers were much simpler. Many people would follow in the footsteps of their parents, doing similar training to their parents, and following on to do similar work. Those who moved away from the “family business”, may have aspired to something different; perhaps to become a doctor, teacher or engineer. In almost all of these careers, there was a relatively well established path to follow. It might involve going to university, then gaining employment as an intern, learning on the job and over the decades advancing your career.
Things that were once common truths in the workplace, have today become myths.
• Most people would decide on a career path in their teens and stay on the same (or similar) path, for their entire working life
• There was usually only one well established entry point to a career. To become a tradesman you would need to do an apprenticeship, to be a teacher or educator you would need a University degree, to design houses you would need to be an architect, and to be in a management role you would need a University degree.
• Once you had established your career pathway, you had a high level of security. You knew where your working life was heading, you understood opportunities for advancement, and you knew when you were likely to retire, and the financial situation you were likely to find yourself in upon retirement.
These and other such “truths” are “myths” in the modern workplace.
Myths
Many people do not properly appreciate that there are a lot of myths about employment and careers.
When you stop and think though; the things that we commonly hear in the media and hear talked about in society are often contradictory.
Example:
Young people are often told that they need a college or university education to be assured of a successful career in a particular industry; but media reports are constantly being published that show graduates not following a career path in the discipline they studied.
Governments often identify needs in education at a particular point in time, and then set about working through a bureaucratic process of industry input, course development and funding allocations, which results in a course being launched several years later in response to that identified need. Often graduates begin to emerge from a diploma or degree, six years or more after a need was identified. At the same time, we often read that half of the jobs that will be available in 5 years time have not yet been conceived. Is it any wonder that more than half of the graduates from many tertiary courses find difficulty getting work.
There are reasons for these contradictions
Teens and young adults often take advice from parents and grandparents who are trying to pass on their experience, and words of wisdom given to them by their parents and grandparents.
• Wisdom from the past is not as relevant in today’s world. Things a grandparent heard from their grandparent may have been true at the time they were spoken, but that ancestor may have formulated their ideas about getting a job over a hundred years ago.
• Many people take advice from teachers who have never known anything but teaching. A person who goes from being a university science student at age 20, to being a teacher at age 21 and a careers advisor at age 30, may not be the best person to advise on how businesses make decisions about who they employ and why.
• A college or university that is dependent upon getting enrolments in order to remain viable is going to have a bias to encourage students into its courses, whether relevant or not.
• People think that if they find their niche, and get established, they will be set for life - this is untrue. Everything is changing. Most people change jobs every few years and may move to totally different careers several times throughout their working life
• There have been changes in the modern world that have opened up opportunities that would be unfathomable certainly for your grandparents, and possibly for your parents. There are ways to make money that never existed in the past, especially through the internet. Businesses can be conducted on a global, rather than a local scale. Many people have become self-made millionaires due to this possibility.
Many people think “If I do this course; I will get this job”
In the real world, this is a myth.
Qualifications are sometimes important, when and where governments have legislated to make it compulsory to have a certain qualification. Doctors and lawyers for instance, usually need to be registered to work in their jobs; and registration would commonly require certain university level qualifications.
Many industries are simply not like this though.
Here are some examples:
Lots of people study Journalism degrees, but many of the people who work as journalists do not have a journalism degree.
Lots of people obtain a PhD only to be told they are over qualified - while people with lesser qualifications are frequently seen beating them to a job.
Some of the wealthiest and most successful business owners are university or high school drop outs.
Graduates from I.T. degrees often struggle to find work in I.T., while "computer nerds" who taught themselves about IT at home are often more successful in that industry, without ever having done any formal study at all.
People who study business, accounting or other subjects because their parents encourage them into what they perceive as a secure and high earning profession often fail to succeed in the area they studied because, despite having the qualification, they do not have a passion or natural affinity for the industry which is needed for success.
What to do about these Myths
First of all, recognise the fact that the world is changing.
Recognise that it is unlikely you will find the perfect job, settle into it, and remain comfortable and secure doing the same thing for your entire working life. This may have happened to most people fifty years ago, but it is an increasingly rare situation today.
While you are young, focus on building a broader based knowledge and experience, rather than something too specialised. That way, you keep your options to move from job to job and industry to industry, more open.
Always be on the look out for opportunities to improve yourself. Be open to learning in whatever way necessary – even if it is learning what you don’t like, or what not to do. Don't move from job to job too fast; or you will develop a reputation as being unreliable. Don't stay in the same job for too long, unless it offers opportunities for growth; otherwise you may become stagnant and lose you capacity to keep improving your position.
Speak with mentors who have experience in the area you are interested in. Find out what their journey was to get to where they are. Ask lots of questions about the realities of the job. Do work experience in a field you are interested in to gain insights into whether it is for you or not, and valuable experience for when you are going for a job.
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