Nationally recognized author Daniel Pink mentions in his book, A New Kind of Mind that “the jobs that our parents enjoyed in the past are not going to be the jobs that we will enjoy in the future. Many of the jobs are, or will become obsolete.” In the past two years companies eliminated 7 million jobs, larger corporations such as Circuit City and Blockbuster closed their doors, and many more cuts are looming. Per the US Department of Labor, unemployment rates hover around 10%, the highest rates since the Great Depression. My personal analysis of the situation has led me to believe two factors have impacted the workplace as we know it:
1. The Dynamics of Doing Business Has Changed
Outsourcing was a term seldom used in the American workplace a decade or so ago. Today, corporations nationwide are outsourcing their operational jobs (answering phones, product manufacturing, etc.) to foreign companies. I read in Thomas Friedman’s book, The World is Flat-A Brief History of the 21st Century that many accountants in the USA are now outsourcing tax paperwork to accountants in India. The cost of labor in countries such as India is much less than here in the states. Companies that are looking to cut cost, see this as an attractive possibility. The majority of the companies I call today to address technical assistance issues have people from foreign countries answering their phones. Years ago, call centers in America handled this function.
2. Certain Types of Jobs Are Being Replaced Through Automation
Let’s be real about this, machines are now doing the job of people. I often tell the youth I work with “you want to be the person who runs the machines that are doing the jobs. You will be invaluable if you do.” You can simply look in any factory in America and find a function where machines are now doing the job of people. This will continue to increase as companies are looking for better and faster ways to produce the products we use everyday.
Reinvention Time
What this means to the employee of the 21st century is that they must begin the process of reinventing themselves. In order to be valuable to corporations, governments and other employers, people must become creative thinkers and innovators as well as upgrade their current skills. As you read information from the national news outlets, there is a lot of despair and anxiety taking place regarding finding jobs. It is quite obvious to anyone who analyzes labor trends, the only way to remain workforce competitive is to possess a skill that is significant to the employer and regularly upgrade that skill set to make your position relevant. I am convinced that identification of personal passions and affinities go hand to hand in this process. Once a person chooses to reinvent themselves, they will be more valuable to the employer if the reinvention is centered on a personal passion that inspires them to get up in the morning. Listed below are a few ideas for reinventing yourself in today’s workplace:
1. Participate in trainings designed to identify and mobilize your unique gifts, talents and abilities.
2. Identify a career and life coach who will direct and inspire you through the career transition process.
3. Consider going back to school (or to school if never attended) and learning a new trade-career.
4. Use social networking tools such as Linked-In to make connection with new career opportunities and networks. Linked-In has thousands of innovative job and career networking opportunities and it is a free source.
5. Identify how your passion connects to hot job markets such as green jobs, technology and healthcare.
6. Develop a network of people who can help you advance in your career. Ask for their advice often.
Economic experts seem to all agree that this problem will be around for awhile, I am part of a team of political leaders in my state and we recently had a meeting with our Governor. He shared with us that their will be massive job cuts and a budget deficit of over $200,000,000. Reinvention is not only going to be the key to finding a job in the future, it may be the key to ones ability to keep a job as well. It is no longer business as usual. In order to make it these days you have to be creative, innovative and assertive. Reinventing your self in the 21st century is no longer an option, it is required. By doing so, you are securing a good future for yourself and your family.
About The Author
Darrell “Coach D” Andrews, CSP, is the author of the book, How To Find Your Passion And Make A Living At It. He is nationally acclaimed motivational speaker and career-life coach. Coach D conducts individual and group coaching sessions. He can be reached at his office toll free 1-866-426-2243 or via his website www.passionview.com.
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