07/01/2014
Previous | Next | Issues Home | Career Corner | Health | Personal Finance
Entering this 21st century, post-Recession, globalized, and digital workforce can be daunting. Whether you are young and just entering the job search fray, middle aged and trying to maintain or build upon your competitiveness and value, or mature and desperate to stay relevant, securing meaningful work that is well compensated is still a major challenge.
Just look at the principle obstacle facing us. Job creation is anemic. Sure it's better than a few years ago, but way too many workers are either underemployed or have given up looking. While Wall Street booms employment lags. Anxiety remains high for even the employed who still seem reluctant to leave jobs they have but don't like for fear of not finding anything better. Why is this? I see several reasons at play.
-- More and more wealth and power is continually concentrating to the very rich and they don't appear incentivized to be creating many jobs with it.
-- Perhaps as a consequence of #1 the incomes and purchasing power of the middle class is shrinking, which depresses both demand, supply, and jobs.
-- Globalization has increased competition and innovation, meaning if you're not an over-caffeinated go-getter you're finding yourself at the back of the line.
-- Technology expands productivity with fewer workers needed to produce than in the past.
-- The nature of many jobs is changing. New and ever changing skills and knowledge bases are in increasing demand.
-- Government is being constrained to help. There seems to be nothing government can do anymore that is welcomed. Imagine trying to start a Roosevelt-like CCC program today? There would be a revolution from the right.
What's a job seeker to do? To begin with realize it is tough, but not hopeless. There are particular characteristics I believe it is wise to possess that will increase your chances of being seen by employers as valuable and desired. These traits transcend most careers and specialty areas and have as much to do with attitude as with training and education. Here is my list of must-have work style attributes for the times in which we live:
1. Stay connected:
Build and cultivate your network however you can. Meet face to face, connect on social media, join and participate in groups, volunteer, email and text, and outreach, outreach, outreach. Isolation can be a career killer.
2. Stay optimistic:
Project hopefulness and positivity. Downers are a turn-off for people, especially co-workers and bosses. Sure there is a lot going on to depress us, but being angry and negative rarely builds dreams or improve challenging situations.Stay connected:
Build and cultivate your network however you can. Meet face to face, connect on social media, join and participate in groups, volunteer, email and text, and outreach, outreach, outreach. Isolation can be a career killer.
3. Stay confident:
Showing a can-do spirit prepares a person for difficulties and inspires others. Confidence, along with its cousins self-motivation and goal-orientation, generate an energy that leads to high quality outcomes.
4. Stay technologically current:
Be curious about the skills and products surrounding us and defining our times. Keep an eye on the latest innovations that will shape our future. Resist the urge to be a luddite who thinks the old ways were always the best ways. Truth is, the good old days were not in many cases.
5. Stay diverse:
Accept and thrive on a multiplicity of ideas and perspectives. Get energized by all the richness inherent in different viewpoints. Varying ideas come from the mixed gender, ethnic, racial, and multi-generational makeup of workforces. The more sources of input the higher likelihood of success.
6. Stay educated:
Embrace lifelong learning as a key to staying abreast of current trends, best practices, and what works in your field. Continuous training and education enriches you professionally and makes you more of an asset to employers both current and potential.
Reframing the dismal jobs picture as an opportunity to better your employability and improve your position as a valued employee is one way to cope and perhaps succeed in the modern workforce.
Source: Ezinearticles
© 2014 Bill RyanThe views and opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect those of College Central Network, Inc. or its affiliates. Reference to any company, organization, product, or service does not constitute endorsement by College Central Network, Inc., its affiliates or associated companies. The information provided is not intended to replace the advice or guidance of your legal, financial, or medical professional.