With all the controversies in public school systems about the extent to which global studies initiatives should be funded, it's interesting to see many private schools plowing ahead on their own.
The International School of Tucson (AZ.) is one such example. For starters, IST emphasizes "how to learn" (through a methology that stresses inquiry based upon hypothesis, research, data collection, experimentation and observation.)
Recognizing these youngsters will grow up in an increasingly Global Neighborhood, the school also immerses youngsters in foreign languages early. How early? Get this - Pre-school classes are taught entirely in alternative languages - French, German, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese (coming soon).
To quote IST, "We believe that learning occurs when the student passes through the above stages to the point where s/he reflects on the experiences s/he has had and on the information s/he has gained through a process of discovery. Through the guidance of the teacher, the learner acquires and moves beyond the "core" body of knowledge required to become an "educated person".
Educated people - not trained automatons. Increasingly, academic and professional disciplines over the next few decades must by necessity train budding career seekers how to think instead in addition to "what to think." In a world of heightened competition, rapidly changing technologies and modes of conducting business or exchange, our future depends on a new kind of thinker. Kudos to IST and their ilk.
Sep 25, 2008
Sep 19, 2008
Careers: Karma Capitalism
Don't look now, but a new mindset is gradually starting to seep into corporate boardrooms and operational HQ's... Karma Capitalism.
If this sounds like a new age hybrid of the Dalai Lama and Donald Trump, you're not far off. Simply put the notion of karma - "reaping what you sow" - is starting to be seen in many quarters as - ta-da! - good business. (Think the Wall Street gurus getting whiplashed by our financial chaos right now might take note?)
Business Week ran a great expose' on karma capitalism a while back. Applied to Main Street, it's the idea that "corporations can simultaneously create value and social justice" .. oh, the guy who said that (C.K. Prahalad, a Univ. of Michigan professor) was ranked third by the London Times in a poll of the world's most influential business thinkers... (who sez gurus can't wear both robes and suits ?)
What this emerging practice looks like is:
* corporate philanthropy is viewed as a competitive advantage for attracting and retaining top talent
* management practices in the future will be driven less by shareholders (exclusively) and more by "stakeholders" - the greater family of business partners, affililates, customers/vendors,etc.
* subtly shifting marketing vernacular away from "conquest"-oriented language to "symbiotic" phrasing
* the viewing of company's structure as a complex social organism with interdependencies
If all this sounds like too much fluff, so says the Bizweek article, just consider that the world's leading business schools (Dartmouth, Kellogg at Northwestern, Columbia, Harvard, London School of Business ) are now teaching these principles (though perhaps not openly using the k-word so much). And, as companies from GE to Chevron (huh?), Deere, Cargill and Goldman Sachs are overtly (or covertly) adopting these principles, there must be something to it... (not to mention - OK, I'll mention it - that spiritual lightning rod Deepak Chopra has consulted at the World Bank, Deloitte Consulting, Harvard and sits on the board of Mens Wearhouse...)
Good karma is good business. Young career seekers should see - or should demand - that their potential employees are deeply invested in this practice of giving and service - for the sake of their own 'Return-on-Investment.'
purpose before self..
If this sounds like a new age hybrid of the Dalai Lama and Donald Trump, you're not far off. Simply put the notion of karma - "reaping what you sow" - is starting to be seen in many quarters as - ta-da! - good business. (Think the Wall Street gurus getting whiplashed by our financial chaos right now might take note?)
Business Week ran a great expose' on karma capitalism a while back. Applied to Main Street, it's the idea that "corporations can simultaneously create value and social justice" .. oh, the guy who said that (C.K. Prahalad, a Univ. of Michigan professor) was ranked third by the London Times in a poll of the world's most influential business thinkers... (who sez gurus can't wear both robes and suits ?)
What this emerging practice looks like is:
* corporate philanthropy is viewed as a competitive advantage for attracting and retaining top talent
* management practices in the future will be driven less by shareholders (exclusively) and more by "stakeholders" - the greater family of business partners, affililates, customers/vendors,etc.
* subtly shifting marketing vernacular away from "conquest"-oriented language to "symbiotic" phrasing
* the viewing of company's structure as a complex social organism with interdependencies
If all this sounds like too much fluff, so says the Bizweek article, just consider that the world's leading business schools (Dartmouth, Kellogg at Northwestern, Columbia, Harvard, London School of Business ) are now teaching these principles (though perhaps not openly using the k-word so much). And, as companies from GE to Chevron (huh?), Deere, Cargill and Goldman Sachs are overtly (or covertly) adopting these principles, there must be something to it... (not to mention - OK, I'll mention it - that spiritual lightning rod Deepak Chopra has consulted at the World Bank, Deloitte Consulting, Harvard and sits on the board of Mens Wearhouse...)
Good karma is good business. Young career seekers should see - or should demand - that their potential employees are deeply invested in this practice of giving and service - for the sake of their own 'Return-on-Investment.'
purpose before self..
Sep 15, 2008
Careers: Seamless Education for a Better Career
Remember when the transition between eighth grade and high school wasn't nearly so seamless? Well, neither do I (TG), but it wasn't for many years.
Unfortunately, that historical antecedent still exists in the form of a huge learning and preparation chasm that separates high school to college and beyond. Fortunately, the game is now afoot to change all that, according to an excellent article in the Arizona Republic. Organizations such as the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce, and the Phoenix-based Center for the Future of Arizona, are starting to confront this gap with pragmatic versions of a "reengineered" education system.
Features would include creating flexible education options for students as early as middle school, based upon talents and desires; linking high schools with colleges and universities; five year progams that result in both a high school diploma and a vo-tech certificate; and for advanced learners, programs that enable grads to enter college at sophomore or even junior levels - kind of like AP classes on steroids.
Pulling that off requires three systemic changes: 1) collaborations between high school and post-secondary schools; 2) getting the teachers "on board" (NEA, are you listening?); and 3) funding (you knew it was in there somewhere, didn't you?).
I suspect that over the next decade or so we'll see just this kind of realignment - not because special interests are screaming for it, but because it's a logical evolution of how education and career preparation have to proceed to keep our future workforces motivated and prepared for global competition. "Seamless Education" is a must.
Funding is starting to appear to add some muscle to this concept. One such organization is the the Helios Education Foundation are starting , as they and others are launching grant programs to help organizations such as the Center for the Future of Arizona create pragmatic and attractive pathways for realizing this necessary transition.
Unfortunately, that historical antecedent still exists in the form of a huge learning and preparation chasm that separates high school to college and beyond. Fortunately, the game is now afoot to change all that, according to an excellent article in the Arizona Republic. Organizations such as the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce, and the Phoenix-based Center for the Future of Arizona, are starting to confront this gap with pragmatic versions of a "reengineered" education system.
Features would include creating flexible education options for students as early as middle school, based upon talents and desires; linking high schools with colleges and universities; five year progams that result in both a high school diploma and a vo-tech certificate; and for advanced learners, programs that enable grads to enter college at sophomore or even junior levels - kind of like AP classes on steroids.
Pulling that off requires three systemic changes: 1) collaborations between high school and post-secondary schools; 2) getting the teachers "on board" (NEA, are you listening?); and 3) funding (you knew it was in there somewhere, didn't you?).
I suspect that over the next decade or so we'll see just this kind of realignment - not because special interests are screaming for it, but because it's a logical evolution of how education and career preparation have to proceed to keep our future workforces motivated and prepared for global competition. "Seamless Education" is a must.
Funding is starting to appear to add some muscle to this concept. One such organization is the the Helios Education Foundation are starting , as they and others are launching grant programs to help organizations such as the Center for the Future of Arizona create pragmatic and attractive pathways for realizing this necessary transition.
Sep 12, 2008
Careers: Digital Visual Literacy - worth 1,000 words?
Two major phenomena are challenging communications in the early 21 Century: the explosion of electronic documentation that’s inundating our PCs and PDA’s (as in 60 billion "transmissions" each day), and the myriad of colliding languages and cultural icons from the ever-more connected Global Neighborhood. The challenge? “Too Much Information” (of which I address frequently in this blog), and interpretational dilemmas.
The remedy? Digital Visual Literacy. DVL’s been around for a few decades, but now it’s ready to step into its own. DVL refers to the technologies and processes that enable people to communicate (creating, analyzing, etc.) digital images and sounds. Which only makes sense, considering the preponderance of highly visual and highly audible websites, videos, and TV shows; and imagery such as photos, graphs and drawings.
According to IT-Educators Educause, DVL will become as important as textual literacy for learning. Not surprisingly, DVL’s starting to find its way into the classroom – Brown University and Mesa (AZ) Community College just completed a three year grant for exploring that very purpose.
So perhaps pictures really are worth a thousand words – or a million, if abstract ideas can be conveyed “solidly” across cultures who see, think and feel differently than we do.
The remedy? Digital Visual Literacy. DVL’s been around for a few decades, but now it’s ready to step into its own. DVL refers to the technologies and processes that enable people to communicate (creating, analyzing, etc.) digital images and sounds. Which only makes sense, considering the preponderance of highly visual and highly audible websites, videos, and TV shows; and imagery such as photos, graphs and drawings.
According to IT-Educators Educause, DVL will become as important as textual literacy for learning. Not surprisingly, DVL’s starting to find its way into the classroom – Brown University and Mesa (AZ) Community College just completed a three year grant for exploring that very purpose.
So perhaps pictures really are worth a thousand words – or a million, if abstract ideas can be conveyed “solidly” across cultures who see, think and feel differently than we do.
Sep 9, 2008
Careers: Social Responsibility Management - PR with Profit
Quick – what do Apple, Best Buy, Caterpillar, Wendy’s, Hersheys, Nike, Exxon, Amnesty International and the UN World Bank have in common? Answer: They all have Social Responsibility Managers.
In years past (and alas, still in some dark corners), this title would raise eyebrows and elicit chortles of disdain - didn't Milton Friedman, the highly respected high priest of laissez-faire, free market puritanism always tell us that maximizing profits was the only objective of the corporate Mother Ship?
Well, turns out that aficionados of Mssr. Friedman can have their cake and eat it, too. For these days, more and more corporations are starting to see that maximizing profits - in the long run - necessitates a "triple bottom line": that is, "People, Planet and Profits." Put differently, doing what's right for the community, environment and shareholders can be totally compatible.
Social Responsibility Managers help their organizations become more responsive to environmental, human rights and health issues. Make no mistake: Social Responsibility is good business. It’s a good recruiting attractor, and it helps companies differentiate their “brand” and overcome (and hopefully avoid!) negative events such as scandals, etc. Some even say social contributions trigger a clever form of subconscious advertising (we think, “gee, they’re good guys!”).
According to CSRwire, a Corporate Social Responsibility "newswire," a survey of Fortune 1000 CEOs (conducted by PR firm Jericho Communications) found that 36 percent of respondents said their company is more conscious of corporate social responsibility since September 11, 2001; 52 percent think that corporations acting responsibly to communities around the world can ebb the support of terrorist group; 42 percent said a company’s responsibility for communities around the world should equal a company’s commitment to communities in the U.S.; and 82 percent believe in global warming (of which 72 percent believe business practices have either major impact or some impact on contributing).
The field of Social Responsibility Management is so new here in the U.S. (it’s very developed in Europe), there’s no clear cut career path yet, although some colleges are now offering Masters in Social Responsibility or Non-profit Leadership. A strong resume or degree includes subjects such as labor law, human resource management, environmental sciences or public affairs.
There’s no shortage of roles within corporations, governments and consultants. Maybe you’ll engage with philanthropic foundations; maybe you’ll negotiate with “sustainable partners” (suppliers, customers, etc.). Perhaps you’ll work in corporate communications or public relations – or even with/for financial companies (ever hear of socially responsible investing?). You might even design state, national or international government policies or compliance programs. Often, you’ll deal with inquisitive stockholders and demanding advocacy groups (i.e. labor unions and regulators.).
I suspect more and more colleges and universities will be offering degrees in this exploding field. The planet - and the company's profitability - depend on it. Welcome to the 21st Century.
In years past (and alas, still in some dark corners), this title would raise eyebrows and elicit chortles of disdain - didn't Milton Friedman, the highly respected high priest of laissez-faire, free market puritanism always tell us that maximizing profits was the only objective of the corporate Mother Ship?
Well, turns out that aficionados of Mssr. Friedman can have their cake and eat it, too. For these days, more and more corporations are starting to see that maximizing profits - in the long run - necessitates a "triple bottom line": that is, "People, Planet and Profits." Put differently, doing what's right for the community, environment and shareholders can be totally compatible.
Social Responsibility Managers help their organizations become more responsive to environmental, human rights and health issues. Make no mistake: Social Responsibility is good business. It’s a good recruiting attractor, and it helps companies differentiate their “brand” and overcome (and hopefully avoid!) negative events such as scandals, etc. Some even say social contributions trigger a clever form of subconscious advertising (we think, “gee, they’re good guys!”).
According to CSRwire, a Corporate Social Responsibility "newswire," a survey of Fortune 1000 CEOs (conducted by PR firm Jericho Communications) found that 36 percent of respondents said their company is more conscious of corporate social responsibility since September 11, 2001; 52 percent think that corporations acting responsibly to communities around the world can ebb the support of terrorist group; 42 percent said a company’s responsibility for communities around the world should equal a company’s commitment to communities in the U.S.; and 82 percent believe in global warming (of which 72 percent believe business practices have either major impact or some impact on contributing).
The field of Social Responsibility Management is so new here in the U.S. (it’s very developed in Europe), there’s no clear cut career path yet, although some colleges are now offering Masters in Social Responsibility or Non-profit Leadership. A strong resume or degree includes subjects such as labor law, human resource management, environmental sciences or public affairs.
There’s no shortage of roles within corporations, governments and consultants. Maybe you’ll engage with philanthropic foundations; maybe you’ll negotiate with “sustainable partners” (suppliers, customers, etc.). Perhaps you’ll work in corporate communications or public relations – or even with/for financial companies (ever hear of socially responsible investing?). You might even design state, national or international government policies or compliance programs. Often, you’ll deal with inquisitive stockholders and demanding advocacy groups (i.e. labor unions and regulators.).
I suspect more and more colleges and universities will be offering degrees in this exploding field. The planet - and the company's profitability - depend on it. Welcome to the 21st Century.
Aug 5, 2008
Careers: Creating A Coat-of-Arms
"CAREERS ARE LIKE TV - If You Don't Like What You See, Change the Channel"
Thus ran the cute little ad in the weekend career section of my local newspaper.
It seems a sacred tenant these days that new graduates will face the prospects of three or four careers and up to a dozen different jobs. The question that's left to be answered is whether these changes will be "reactive" - forced upon them by loss of job, dead-end stagnation or shifting personal attitude - or "pro-active"; e.g., positive changes created by market opportunities, upgraded personal skills portfolio and yes, heart-tugs. In other words, will the career professional be a "victim" or a foreward-thinking opportunist?
I've often considered (and spoken whimsically to educators about) the value of a Coat-of-Arms as a vocational guiding icon. Hold on a sec - we're not (necessarily) talking about shields, arrows and axes here; rather, I'm referring to self-creations of the student that display their core values and aspirations. Symbols and other metaphoric representations, like a company's mission statement and values statement, have power: they are overarching talismans that when adhered to (or simply remembered!) provide a guiding light that can help ensure the transitioning professional is always in touch with his or her "critical success factors" - be they money, creativity, adventure, public service, life balance, subject matter expertise, etc. The iconic symbols and phrases of a coat-of-arms can also provide, in times of turbulence, an anchor of inner peace: we don't lose track of who we are and what we stand for (or desire).
Sounds crazy, I know - just imagine yourself, as a career/guidance counselor, sitting down with your young charges and telling them to go get some canvas, wood, metal or fabric; and proceed to adorn it with figures, colors, scenes and quotes using whatever melange of ink, oil, or other application that calls to them... Ridiculous, indeed - but any more so than all those corporate mission statements which start off with "We strive to"... or "We are committed to..." blah-blah-blah - mantras which, incidentally, are so rarely followed in this chaotic age of globalization and TMI ?
Aug 1, 2008
Careers: Career Centers Reaching Out
I just got back from a regional conference of NACE, the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Not being a career center director, it was interesting for me to hear a common lament: that so many students don't avail themselves of the wonderful tools that colleges and universities provide.
I remember how naive - and lucky - I was back in my graduating days. The lucky part was that as an engineering student when times were good, I was able to procure a handful of admirable job offers. The naive part was that I hadn't a clue how to prepare resumes, research companies, interview, follow up, market....all things that good career centers can provide their students.
It seems that many students still avoid these wonderful resources. Why? On one hand, the Internet certainly allows for easier research. Of course, it also can swamp the novice researcher with TMI - too much information. Part also, is that when we "don't know what we don't know" and college (and our affluent society) has come easy, there is often a pre-conception that the job seeker will land in a really cool job with a really cool employer right off. Ah, the dreams of babes...
Many schools I believe could benefit from inculcating this career mentality early on - perhaps (as strange as it seems) even during the intial orientation process. So what if a student doesn't know what her or his major is going to be yet? The career center has resources to help with that! (see my posting of July 24). I would even go so far as to suggest a mandatory one credit-hour class all about the offerings and services of career centers. Hey, the kids can show up and get an A... not bad for discovering things early that can aid and abet the next say 40-50 years of life..
It seems to me that the more that schools can market their services as an integral part of the campus experience , the more prepared their grads will be for the real world. And the more that aggressive employers might be willing to help subsidize the school's career program even more. One such school, Michigan Technological Institute has used this approach to receive private sector funding for large chunks of their career center facilities and resources. A program worth replicating everywhere, don't you think?
I remember how naive - and lucky - I was back in my graduating days. The lucky part was that as an engineering student when times were good, I was able to procure a handful of admirable job offers. The naive part was that I hadn't a clue how to prepare resumes, research companies, interview, follow up, market....all things that good career centers can provide their students.
It seems that many students still avoid these wonderful resources. Why? On one hand, the Internet certainly allows for easier research. Of course, it also can swamp the novice researcher with TMI - too much information. Part also, is that when we "don't know what we don't know" and college (and our affluent society) has come easy, there is often a pre-conception that the job seeker will land in a really cool job with a really cool employer right off. Ah, the dreams of babes...
Many schools I believe could benefit from inculcating this career mentality early on - perhaps (as strange as it seems) even during the intial orientation process. So what if a student doesn't know what her or his major is going to be yet? The career center has resources to help with that! (see my posting of July 24). I would even go so far as to suggest a mandatory one credit-hour class all about the offerings and services of career centers. Hey, the kids can show up and get an A... not bad for discovering things early that can aid and abet the next say 40-50 years of life..
It seems to me that the more that schools can market their services as an integral part of the campus experience , the more prepared their grads will be for the real world. And the more that aggressive employers might be willing to help subsidize the school's career program even more. One such school, Michigan Technological Institute has used this approach to receive private sector funding for large chunks of their career center facilities and resources. A program worth replicating everywhere, don't you think?
Jul 24, 2008
Careers: Assessments, Guidance and Choices
While browsing through a career fair the other day, it really struck me what a wealth of tools that kids (and educators!) have for making informed choices. Certainly, compared to whatever may have existed when I was growing up.
I think I talked to my high school guidance counselor once. My interests? Let's see, first I was going to be an astronomer, because I was really into the constellations...until I found out what astronmers really did. Then, OK, I would be an aerospace engineer - cuz weren't those the guys that could help take us to the stars (heeding my 17 year old's inner Asimov)? Until I found out what they did, and I decidedly did not like thermodynamics, materials and all those, well, "aerospace" classes... so I changed majors immediately to Electrical Engineering... after all, that would come in handy for understanding how my stereo worked! ... I even interned ("co-oped") as an instrumentation engineer, but had as much interest in that as I did in materials and thermo - so finally, I switched to Industrial Engineering, that intricate optimization of "manpower, money, materials and machines". That got me a paycheck and some experience chops at Corporation U, but of course that got old and on I went...
Today's students have a cornucopia of tools to guide them... personalized career plans, complete with talking avatars or multimedia interviews, such as CareerCruising's Complete Guidance System ...sure job descriptions could have come right out of the Burea of Labor Statistics, but well they're spiced up and more personalized for the average 16-year old 'edutainment' junkie. And then there's assessment tools for personality types, aptitudes, learning styles... how about a lifelong personalized online portfolio, such as Bridges' Choice Planner ? Some, like Kudor's Career Portfolio, allows students to explore and compare occupations, identify majors, research colleges, build resumes, prepare for interviews, and offer a pipeline/bridge between employers and students (via Connect2Business, provided to employers). Still others, like Paxton/Patterson provide integrated instructional units for different fields - the Gulliver in me was particularly drawn to their "Global Travel" unit with its emphasis on family vacation planning, map reading skills, direction giving, geography, etc.
No doubt, kids' eventual careers will unfold in ways they can't see at present... still, why not get a headstart that appeals to head, heart, and pocketbook? It could save a lot of bouncing around between ill-advised disciplines...not to mention wailing and gnashing of teeth...
I think I talked to my high school guidance counselor once. My interests? Let's see, first I was going to be an astronomer, because I was really into the constellations...until I found out what astronmers really did. Then, OK, I would be an aerospace engineer - cuz weren't those the guys that could help take us to the stars (heeding my 17 year old's inner Asimov)? Until I found out what they did, and I decidedly did not like thermodynamics, materials and all those, well, "aerospace" classes... so I changed majors immediately to Electrical Engineering... after all, that would come in handy for understanding how my stereo worked! ... I even interned ("co-oped") as an instrumentation engineer, but had as much interest in that as I did in materials and thermo - so finally, I switched to Industrial Engineering, that intricate optimization of "manpower, money, materials and machines". That got me a paycheck and some experience chops at Corporation U, but of course that got old and on I went...
Today's students have a cornucopia of tools to guide them... personalized career plans, complete with talking avatars or multimedia interviews, such as CareerCruising's Complete Guidance System ...sure job descriptions could have come right out of the Burea of Labor Statistics, but well they're spiced up and more personalized for the average 16-year old 'edutainment' junkie. And then there's assessment tools for personality types, aptitudes, learning styles... how about a lifelong personalized online portfolio, such as Bridges' Choice Planner ? Some, like Kudor's Career Portfolio, allows students to explore and compare occupations, identify majors, research colleges, build resumes, prepare for interviews, and offer a pipeline/bridge between employers and students (via Connect2Business, provided to employers). Still others, like Paxton/Patterson provide integrated instructional units for different fields - the Gulliver in me was particularly drawn to their "Global Travel" unit with its emphasis on family vacation planning, map reading skills, direction giving, geography, etc.
No doubt, kids' eventual careers will unfold in ways they can't see at present... still, why not get a headstart that appeals to head, heart, and pocketbook? It could save a lot of bouncing around between ill-advised disciplines...not to mention wailing and gnashing of teeth...
Jul 16, 2008
Careers
Students/Teachers/Career Professionals - are you studying for (or preparing your charges for) a CAREER or a VOCATION?
There's much in a word -- "career" for example (sayeth Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary) originates from medieval jousting tournaments, with carriere referring to short gallops at high speed (sort of like someone you know's resume?). Following suit, "career" is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as an individual's "course or progress through life (or a distinct portion of life)".
To that etymology, from Wiki: "A career is traditionally seen as a course of successive situations that make up a person's worklife. One can have a sporting career or a musical career without being a professional athlete or musician, but most frequently "career" in the 20th century referenced the series of jobs or positions by which one earned one's money. It tended to look only at the past. As the idea of personal choice and self direction picks up in the 21st century, aided by the power of the Internet and the increased acceptance of people having multiple kinds of work, the idea of a career is shifting from a closed set of achievements, like a chronological résumé of past jobs, to a defined set of pursuits looking forward. In its broadest sense, career refers to an individual’s work and life roles over their lifespan...."
"Vocation" on the other hand is a little more abstract. It stems from vocare, Latin for "calling" - originally, to a soul's purpose; later, after Martin Luther turned the tables on Mother Church, towards the occupational emphasis we know it for today. Thus the convergence/confusion with "career."
The Career vs. Vocation question is primarily a product of our frenetic times. The issue is summed up beautifully by Henri Nouwen in his book Compassion, stating ". . .our vocation might require us to pursue a certain career...As soon as we think that our careers are our vocation, we are in danger of returning to the ordinary and proper places governed by human competition and of using our talents more to separate ourselves from others than to unite ourselves with them in common life. A career disconnected from a vocation divides; a career that expresses obedience to our vocation is the concrete way of making our unique talents available to the community. Therefore, it is not our careers, but our vocation, that should guide our lives."
Well said, mon ami! Very few high school and college students know what their various careers are going to be, not to mention having any idea how the path connecting these might unfold. Vocation, however, is like our "mission statement" - those principles, aspirations, services and functions that we will perform to the betterment of ourselves and others. With a little introspection -- aided by the tutelage of inquiry -- this process can be encouraged at any age.
In an academic system that trains people "how to do" rather than "how to think" -- and in an occupational grist mill that's ever more specialized -- taking time to ponder this essential question will reap dividends, not only in the personal fulfillment of millions of students-cum-employees, but in the productivity of a better functioning society.
Jul 12, 2008
Careers: Lessons from days gone by
It seems conventional wisdom these days that people entering the workforce are going to have two or three careers and 8-10 jobs. I got to thinking about that the other day while going through my own drumroll of assorted (and sordid) occupational twists and turns: engineer, sales and marketing director, recruiting manager, small company owner, author/speaker...and then the industries: (nuclear) energy, (computer) manufacturing, information technology consulting, healthcare, personal growth, education, natural foods...
Ironically, the job which had the greatest impact on my life was straight out of a Norman Rockwell print: the summer selling encyclopedias (actually, student reference books) door-to-door in the "Tobacco Road" boonies of eastern North Carolina.
Verily did I carry my display case (which resembled an oversized lunch pail) out into yonder hamlets; striking out each morning - by thumb - from the teeming metropolis of Enfield, pop. 3,000.... 80 hour weeks were the norm, walking in the heat and humidy, and I lost 20 pounds that I didn't have to lose.
What lessons, however:
* When a sign says "No solicitors", it's best not to walk the dusty 1/4 mile down the driveway to find out if the property owner really means it. In my case, I'll never forget the eerie silhoutte of a man with a shotgun, the "click-click" indicating he meant action, and the elocution of his speech - something about a "g-damned" peddlar needing to vacate his porch with great alacrity.
* When a would be "mark" (er, customer) repeatedly asks "what do they cost," it's folly to continue your canned shpiel...fortunately, the slammed door actually reopened as I was walking forlornly away, and the kind ex-librarian proceeded to mentor me about candor and directness before digging into her purse and putting down 50% for her order.
* The ol' "check's in the mail" line is about as reliable as a politician's word.
* Don't judge books by covers - more than once I witnessed sharecroppers in primitive settings pull out stacks of dead green presidents and pay cash on the spot when they liked the product. (these folks, who got paid once a year when they took their tobacco to market, pretty much spent from that kitty)
* Quality over quantity - my fellow student/colleagues seemed obsessed with how many doors they could knock on. I preferred to spend more quality time with real prospects.
* The kindness of strangers - particulary, the little old lady who took me (and two others!) in for the summer, without charging us rent... and the impressive clutch/foot work of two young sharecropper boys who orchestrated with me to pull my '66 Dodge Dart, Horace, out of a deep, muddy gully in a pouring rainstorm (hence the phrase, 'gully washer') I had purchased the car for $250 from my brother in order to make my deliveries.
* "When at first you don't succeed, try, try again - then quit - no sense being a damn fool about it.." The esteemed wisdom of W.C. Fields helped me realize when the law of diminishing returns was kicking in... why beat on more and more doors for less and less return?
* "A sucker's born every minute"... no, just kidding, my employer's products were quite good...Still, the old adage about "selling the sizzle, not the steak" is timeless and applies not only to commodities but services. That doesn't mean that the product shouldn't be first class - it's just that content isn't as important as the feeling, the identity, that the client develops. In the case of these hardworking, scrape-to-get-by sharecroppers, the books symbolized that their kids would have a handy, practical, cost-effective learning tool to help give them an advantage (or just keep up) with the more privileged kids.
Door-to-door selling may be gone with the wind, but its lessons are timeless. And while not my favorite summer - not by a long shot - it was definitely my most instructive into the fickle, bizarre, labyrinthine human psyche. Oh, and "caveat emptor" - let the buyer beware....
Ironically, the job which had the greatest impact on my life was straight out of a Norman Rockwell print: the summer selling encyclopedias (actually, student reference books) door-to-door in the "Tobacco Road" boonies of eastern North Carolina.
Verily did I carry my display case (which resembled an oversized lunch pail) out into yonder hamlets; striking out each morning - by thumb - from the teeming metropolis of Enfield, pop. 3,000.... 80 hour weeks were the norm, walking in the heat and humidy, and I lost 20 pounds that I didn't have to lose.
What lessons, however:
* When a sign says "No solicitors", it's best not to walk the dusty 1/4 mile down the driveway to find out if the property owner really means it. In my case, I'll never forget the eerie silhoutte of a man with a shotgun, the "click-click" indicating he meant action, and the elocution of his speech - something about a "g-damned" peddlar needing to vacate his porch with great alacrity.
* When a would be "mark" (er, customer) repeatedly asks "what do they cost," it's folly to continue your canned shpiel...fortunately, the slammed door actually reopened as I was walking forlornly away, and the kind ex-librarian proceeded to mentor me about candor and directness before digging into her purse and putting down 50% for her order.
* The ol' "check's in the mail" line is about as reliable as a politician's word.
* Don't judge books by covers - more than once I witnessed sharecroppers in primitive settings pull out stacks of dead green presidents and pay cash on the spot when they liked the product. (these folks, who got paid once a year when they took their tobacco to market, pretty much spent from that kitty)
* Quality over quantity - my fellow student/colleagues seemed obsessed with how many doors they could knock on. I preferred to spend more quality time with real prospects.
* The kindness of strangers - particulary, the little old lady who took me (and two others!) in for the summer, without charging us rent... and the impressive clutch/foot work of two young sharecropper boys who orchestrated with me to pull my '66 Dodge Dart, Horace, out of a deep, muddy gully in a pouring rainstorm (hence the phrase, 'gully washer') I had purchased the car for $250 from my brother in order to make my deliveries.
* "When at first you don't succeed, try, try again - then quit - no sense being a damn fool about it.." The esteemed wisdom of W.C. Fields helped me realize when the law of diminishing returns was kicking in... why beat on more and more doors for less and less return?
* "A sucker's born every minute"... no, just kidding, my employer's products were quite good...Still, the old adage about "selling the sizzle, not the steak" is timeless and applies not only to commodities but services. That doesn't mean that the product shouldn't be first class - it's just that content isn't as important as the feeling, the identity, that the client develops. In the case of these hardworking, scrape-to-get-by sharecroppers, the books symbolized that their kids would have a handy, practical, cost-effective learning tool to help give them an advantage (or just keep up) with the more privileged kids.
Door-to-door selling may be gone with the wind, but its lessons are timeless. And while not my favorite summer - not by a long shot - it was definitely my most instructive into the fickle, bizarre, labyrinthine human psyche. Oh, and "caveat emptor" - let the buyer beware....
Jul 7, 2008
Careers: Sabbaticals and Productivity
As the traditional employee-employer model continues to morph into more of a symbiotic relationship model, one of the most overlooked (and misunderstood) tools that both parties can profit from is the use of the "sabbatical."
Sabbaticals - the seventh year "break" (hence the derivative of Sabbath, or "resting on the seventh day.") - aren't just for educators anymore; in fact, companies large and small alike offer a variety of structured and unstructured sabbatical choices.
Twenty-two of the Fortune 100's "Best Place to Work" companies currently offer a sabbatical program, including brand-powerweights American Express, REI, Genentech and Adobe. Overall, it's believed that only about six percent of American employers offer paid "leave" sabbaticals, perhaps not a surprising number considering the preponderance of small, cash-strapped companies comrpising our overall employer base. However, according to the American Management Association, 17% of employers offer some form of unpaid leave (a tool liberally embraced by yours truly), and 13% offer some form of paid leave for volunteer work.
Structured sabbaticals, such as those sponsored by Accenture, Pfizer, Cisco, Nike, Newsweek and Wells Fargo pay employees up to 50% of their salary for 12-18 month volunteer/consultancy with (worldwide) non-profit organizations. At the opposite extreme, of course are shorter duration unstructured leaves, say an extra paid month of time off every 3-5 years to use as one wishes.
The appeal is obvious to the employee - a chance for some well deserved R&R; the ability to travel or pursue sideline interests, work on (another) degree, etc. Not surprisingly, 68% of women and 58 % of men said they would consider taking an extended leave from work. Sure, they might have to author a white paper or conduct some research, but that's apparently not so bad (especially if getting paid) to sit with your laptop on a Greek island or chase butterlfies through a Costa Rican rain forest.
However, as I mentioned above, the process is symbiotic: employers are waking up to the idea that sabbaticals - when done "right" - are extremely valuable productivity enhancers. First, employees return rested and therefore- in theory at least - more productive. Second, they (may) pickup invaluable skills on their leave which can add to the company's bottom line. Third, depending on the assignment, the worker ideally returns more mature, more capable of making sound decisions. Fourth, sabbaticals can enhance a precious loyalty bond with the employer which is all too rare in the revolving door marketplace. Fifth, sabbaticals gives employers an opportunity to test out other personnel in the (vacated) spot, a form of low-risk skills assessment.
Sabbaticals aren't for everyone - especially with the possibility of having to take another role upon return that may not be one you're enamored with. Still, a little 21st Century thinking would seem to indicate that the more employers embrace some sort of sabbatical program, the better off their bottom-lines will be.
For graduates just getting ready to enter the workforce , it's never too early to start asking just what your options are. Why - surprise! - there's even those around who can help you plan (such as Clive Poust, "The Sabbatical Coach") - a sure sign that what was once considered wild and whacky is becoming more and more accepted.
Sabbaticals - the seventh year "break" (hence the derivative of Sabbath, or "resting on the seventh day.") - aren't just for educators anymore; in fact, companies large and small alike offer a variety of structured and unstructured sabbatical choices.
Twenty-two of the Fortune 100's "Best Place to Work" companies currently offer a sabbatical program, including brand-powerweights American Express, REI, Genentech and Adobe. Overall, it's believed that only about six percent of American employers offer paid "leave" sabbaticals, perhaps not a surprising number considering the preponderance of small, cash-strapped companies comrpising our overall employer base. However, according to the American Management Association, 17% of employers offer some form of unpaid leave (a tool liberally embraced by yours truly), and 13% offer some form of paid leave for volunteer work.
Structured sabbaticals, such as those sponsored by Accenture, Pfizer, Cisco, Nike, Newsweek and Wells Fargo pay employees up to 50% of their salary for 12-18 month volunteer/consultancy with (worldwide) non-profit organizations. At the opposite extreme, of course are shorter duration unstructured leaves, say an extra paid month of time off every 3-5 years to use as one wishes.
The appeal is obvious to the employee - a chance for some well deserved R&R; the ability to travel or pursue sideline interests, work on (another) degree, etc. Not surprisingly, 68% of women and 58 % of men said they would consider taking an extended leave from work. Sure, they might have to author a white paper or conduct some research, but that's apparently not so bad (especially if getting paid) to sit with your laptop on a Greek island or chase butterlfies through a Costa Rican rain forest.
However, as I mentioned above, the process is symbiotic: employers are waking up to the idea that sabbaticals - when done "right" - are extremely valuable productivity enhancers. First, employees return rested and therefore- in theory at least - more productive. Second, they (may) pickup invaluable skills on their leave which can add to the company's bottom line. Third, depending on the assignment, the worker ideally returns more mature, more capable of making sound decisions. Fourth, sabbaticals can enhance a precious loyalty bond with the employer which is all too rare in the revolving door marketplace. Fifth, sabbaticals gives employers an opportunity to test out other personnel in the (vacated) spot, a form of low-risk skills assessment.
Sabbaticals aren't for everyone - especially with the possibility of having to take another role upon return that may not be one you're enamored with. Still, a little 21st Century thinking would seem to indicate that the more employers embrace some sort of sabbatical program, the better off their bottom-lines will be.
For graduates just getting ready to enter the workforce , it's never too early to start asking just what your options are. Why - surprise! - there's even those around who can help you plan (such as Clive Poust, "The Sabbatical Coach") - a sure sign that what was once considered wild and whacky is becoming more and more accepted.
Jul 1, 2008
Careers: A New Form of Illiteracy
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
I ran across this quote from Alvin Toffler the other day; he of the mega-sellers Future Shock and The Third Wave (and now, Revolutionary Wealth). I think it speaks volumes to career seekers and all those young leaders-in-the-wings that will soon be running our corporations, churches, civic organizations and other associations - and to the educators that will be preparing them.
Consider the globalizing impact of the "death of distance"- all those communication technologies; the easier travel access to far-flung places; the lowering trade barriers which promulgate greater exchange of goodies across our borders. It follows to reason that not only industries, but practices, philosophies and "truths" which were taken for granted are constantly getting rearranged and even discarded.
Thus we find, for example, marketers having to understand global finance and "cross-cultural consumer psychology"; we find teachers having to learn the technical nuances of eLearning ("Distance Learning") and virtual classrooms; we find history majors (such as digital historians) needing to master cyberspace; and graphic design; we find architects forced to bone up on "permaculture" disciplines such as botany and environmental science (so that their overall grounds design meets Green /sustainability standards); and, we find retail chains delving into meteorology - by hiring retail climatologists - so that inventory is in the right place when seasonality-sensitive shoppers show up (or not).
Or...factory workers who spent a decade learning hands on Just-in-Time ("JIT") manufacturing techniques now cramming to understand "invisible" CRM (Customer Relationship Management) processes; or French language majors playing catchup with Mandarin Chinese, Russian or Arabic. Oh, and how many former realtors or mortgage professionals are learning to hang new shingles now that the myth of the "buy a McMansion for nothing down" bubble has dissipated?
World literacy tripled in the last century, from about 25% in 1900 to 75% in 2000. In industrial democracies such as the U.S., Western Europe and Japan, literacy exceeds 98%. Yet I wonder, as emerging countries like China, India, Brazil, Russia and others aggressively compete in "our" (formerly) playing field, will we have the fortitude - institutionally and personally - to commit to "change as the only constant"?
I ran across this quote from Alvin Toffler the other day; he of the mega-sellers Future Shock and The Third Wave (and now, Revolutionary Wealth). I think it speaks volumes to career seekers and all those young leaders-in-the-wings that will soon be running our corporations, churches, civic organizations and other associations - and to the educators that will be preparing them.
Consider the globalizing impact of the "death of distance"- all those communication technologies; the easier travel access to far-flung places; the lowering trade barriers which promulgate greater exchange of goodies across our borders. It follows to reason that not only industries, but practices, philosophies and "truths" which were taken for granted are constantly getting rearranged and even discarded.
Thus we find, for example, marketers having to understand global finance and "cross-cultural consumer psychology"; we find teachers having to learn the technical nuances of eLearning ("Distance Learning") and virtual classrooms; we find history majors (such as digital historians) needing to master cyberspace; and graphic design; we find architects forced to bone up on "permaculture" disciplines such as botany and environmental science (so that their overall grounds design meets Green /sustainability standards); and, we find retail chains delving into meteorology - by hiring retail climatologists - so that inventory is in the right place when seasonality-sensitive shoppers show up (or not).
Or...factory workers who spent a decade learning hands on Just-in-Time ("JIT") manufacturing techniques now cramming to understand "invisible" CRM (Customer Relationship Management) processes; or French language majors playing catchup with Mandarin Chinese, Russian or Arabic. Oh, and how many former realtors or mortgage professionals are learning to hang new shingles now that the myth of the "buy a McMansion for nothing down" bubble has dissipated?
World literacy tripled in the last century, from about 25% in 1900 to 75% in 2000. In industrial democracies such as the U.S., Western Europe and Japan, literacy exceeds 98%. Yet I wonder, as emerging countries like China, India, Brazil, Russia and others aggressively compete in "our" (formerly) playing field, will we have the fortitude - institutionally and personally - to commit to "change as the only constant"?
Jun 25, 2008
Careers: Heed Those "Callings"
Recently I re-read Gregg Levoy's magnificent book, Callings.
There must be hundred of books and courses out there about how to interview, write the perfect resume, and research potential employers or job opportunities (God bless'm all; they're all good stuff). Often lost in all the structural/process roadmaps, however, is guidance about connecting with what really calls to us - those mysterious, intuitive telltales that drive us inexplicably towards something beyond just structure, position, or pay.
That's where Callings excels. It's not just another "get in touch with your inner feelings" book; it provides a framework for how to identify the tangible and intangible factors that drive our sense of purpose, and how to respond to those influences in a way that can bring us not only peace of mind/being but also economic reward. It's the bookend counterpart to Marsha Sinetar's Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow; yet written in a way that transcends the one-dimensional apsect of "what's my ideal job." For Callings' true magic is ultimately about self-empowerment, and as aptly described on the back cover, enable us to recognize our callings, distinguish them from "siren songs", overcome our resistance, and prepare for what happens when we say "Yes" - or "No." By definition, "career" - or vocation - is one of the book's chief components.
I can honestly say Callings is in my top ten list of all-time books - maybe because of the many crossroads that my impatience, ambition and wanderlusting curiosity have placed me in. I don't believe that I would be doing what I love, and pursuing a true sense of career/vocational mission, if not for the impact of this book.
It's too much to think that in this time of budget crunches, that "non-structural" content like Callings will find its way into public school systems. However, it is of note that the University of Phoenix management doctorate program, along with numerous health & wellness and organizational development programs around the country (and outside) have embraced it.
Highly, highly recommended - it might not only "make your career" - it might save your life. Besides, its a helluva read - colorful, outrageous and oh-so-poignant...
There must be hundred of books and courses out there about how to interview, write the perfect resume, and research potential employers or job opportunities (God bless'm all; they're all good stuff). Often lost in all the structural/process roadmaps, however, is guidance about connecting with what really calls to us - those mysterious, intuitive telltales that drive us inexplicably towards something beyond just structure, position, or pay.
That's where Callings excels. It's not just another "get in touch with your inner feelings" book; it provides a framework for how to identify the tangible and intangible factors that drive our sense of purpose, and how to respond to those influences in a way that can bring us not only peace of mind/being but also economic reward. It's the bookend counterpart to Marsha Sinetar's Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow; yet written in a way that transcends the one-dimensional apsect of "what's my ideal job." For Callings' true magic is ultimately about self-empowerment, and as aptly described on the back cover, enable us to recognize our callings, distinguish them from "siren songs", overcome our resistance, and prepare for what happens when we say "Yes" - or "No." By definition, "career" - or vocation - is one of the book's chief components.
I can honestly say Callings is in my top ten list of all-time books - maybe because of the many crossroads that my impatience, ambition and wanderlusting curiosity have placed me in. I don't believe that I would be doing what I love, and pursuing a true sense of career/vocational mission, if not for the impact of this book.
It's too much to think that in this time of budget crunches, that "non-structural" content like Callings will find its way into public school systems. However, it is of note that the University of Phoenix management doctorate program, along with numerous health & wellness and organizational development programs around the country (and outside) have embraced it.
Highly, highly recommended - it might not only "make your career" - it might save your life. Besides, its a helluva read - colorful, outrageous and oh-so-poignant...
Jun 20, 2008
Careers: Neural Marketing - the Next (Now) Frontier
Marketing (and other Business) majors are going to be walking into a world of market research that makes all preceding tried-and-true techniques seem primitive - the realm of Neural Marketing.
Neural marketing, for us lay-folks, allows market researchers a glimpse inside the brains of their potential customers to understand their (often unconscious!) preferences and tendencies. MRI data from research subjects, for example, may explain why you like Mozart and I prefer Beethoven - or, from a consumer point of view, why a taste test tilts towards Pepsi over Coke, yet a taste-test augmented by brand-recognition results in Coke besting Pepsi.
The reason? There are two separate brain systems--one involving taste and one recalling cultural influence--in the prefrontal cortex interact to determine preferences. This partially explains the old market-researchers' lament that "Focus groups lie"... point being, the test subjects are not dishonest, it's just that what they say they want versus what they really want (due to unconscious emotional attachements, reward stimulations, etc.) are often two different things. For example, they may say that low price is most important, but what's really important is better customer service...
So fascinating is the field that a 2007 study at NYU and UCLA, using electroencephalographs, could record clear differences in liberal vs. conservative brain patterns (note: this isn't just political, it's "how people think").
The implications of neural marketing are enormous, of course: Product designs and advertising campaigns will become more and more successful as vendors/marketers learn how to get their message - and appeal - through to customers already swimming in a deluge of confusing "TMI."
[ There are social implications, too - as neural marketing enables vendors to reinforce their product/service stimulus (known as 'priming' to advertisers) by amplifying the "pleasure" or "reward" part of consumers' brains, some fear we face an Orwellian future where consumers are nothing more than Pavlov's dogs (more than now, you wonder?) for the high priests of Madison Avenue. ]
I suspect that the marketing/business professional of the (near!) future will not only have to understand the traditional five P's (product, price, packaging, promotion and place) but also a modicum of statistics, IT, and even neuro-biology.
Hopefully, high school and college curricula, career centers and employer internships will soon be addressing neural marketing. Like globalization, it's here now, whether we like it or not, or even recognize it.
Neural marketing, for us lay-folks, allows market researchers a glimpse inside the brains of their potential customers to understand their (often unconscious!) preferences and tendencies. MRI data from research subjects, for example, may explain why you like Mozart and I prefer Beethoven - or, from a consumer point of view, why a taste test tilts towards Pepsi over Coke, yet a taste-test augmented by brand-recognition results in Coke besting Pepsi.
The reason? There are two separate brain systems--one involving taste and one recalling cultural influence--in the prefrontal cortex interact to determine preferences. This partially explains the old market-researchers' lament that "Focus groups lie"... point being, the test subjects are not dishonest, it's just that what they say they want versus what they really want (due to unconscious emotional attachements, reward stimulations, etc.) are often two different things. For example, they may say that low price is most important, but what's really important is better customer service...
So fascinating is the field that a 2007 study at NYU and UCLA, using electroencephalographs, could record clear differences in liberal vs. conservative brain patterns (note: this isn't just political, it's "how people think").
The implications of neural marketing are enormous, of course: Product designs and advertising campaigns will become more and more successful as vendors/marketers learn how to get their message - and appeal - through to customers already swimming in a deluge of confusing "TMI."
[ There are social implications, too - as neural marketing enables vendors to reinforce their product/service stimulus (known as 'priming' to advertisers) by amplifying the "pleasure" or "reward" part of consumers' brains, some fear we face an Orwellian future where consumers are nothing more than Pavlov's dogs (more than now, you wonder?) for the high priests of Madison Avenue. ]
I suspect that the marketing/business professional of the (near!) future will not only have to understand the traditional five P's (product, price, packaging, promotion and place) but also a modicum of statistics, IT, and even neuro-biology.
Hopefully, high school and college curricula, career centers and employer internships will soon be addressing neural marketing. Like globalization, it's here now, whether we like it or not, or even recognize it.
Jun 14, 2008
Careers: Telecommuting - Risks, Rewards and Remedies
Graduates entering the workforce are going to be increasingly presented with the opportunities - and challenges - of telecommuting. How employers and employees alike prepare for the risks and rewards of telecommuting will likely determine whether or not the initiative succeeds for a particular company.
While telecommuting numbers haven't lived up to their lofty pre-Millennium predictions (up to 55 million people), estimates vary wildly, from as few as 9 million Americans to nearly 45 million. No doubt, the discrepancy lies in the qualification of whether the tele-commuter is "full time" or "flex-time" (part time).I expect that with continued improvements in “Death of Distance” technologies – Wifi, Skype, Bluetooth, VOIP, and gigs of rapid-send imagery – (and TiVo for those who are goofing off!) this trend will only continue and possibly even accelerate.
Employers, career guidance professionals and educators alike will need to help these future leaders accomplish that. Their tool chest? Good ol’ fashioned composition, technical writing, phone etiquette, persuasive selling techniques, etc. – not to mention a whole new emphasis on organizational skills, now that the (ostensibly) ordered cubicle has no other watchdog than the employee him(her)self.
Perhaps even more focus on debate, diplomacy and other interpersonal etiquette - after all, there's something to be said for the rough-and-tumble of face-to-face communication and the organic synthesis that can yield from a closed-off conference room full of gesturing, interrupting, stammering, animated and otherwise conscientiously-committed employees. No online gadgetry can substitute for that priceless (and OK, occasionally ulcer-inspiring!) experience.
Jun 10, 2008
Careers: TEFL/TESL - Destination or Detour?
Let's face it, not all college graduates know what they want to do when they "grow up." (I didn't for the next two decades!).
Those with a little spunk and curiosity, however, may wish to check into teaching English abroad (TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language). TEFL's a great way to finance one's world travels and meet friends, as well as being an invaluble communication asset to have in one's own skills portfolio.
It's true that the teach-English-abroad buzz has been going strong for several decades now; it's also true that TEFL/TESL programs have popped out of the academic woodpile like inlaws at a probate court. Good reason, though - English is the lingua franca (now there's an oxymoron!) of the business, legal and technical world, long having replaced French and German in the latter two. It's estimated by the International TEFL Corporation that as many as 300 million world citizens are actively studying English at present - in other words, the equivalent population of the U.S.
It used to be good enough if one was a native speaker - you could stand in front of a class and jabber all day (well, sort of.). Those days are largely gone with the wind. Contemporary programs require anywhere from 120-150 hours of classroom prep along with student teaching in order to become certified, and certification is more or less expected now at established programs around the world.
I dipped my toe into these pedantic waters a few years back when living in Santiago, Chile. My classmates were a collection of Americans and Canadians, ranging from 21 years old up to.. well, me.. Upon certification, opportunities abounded - on staff at the institute, at other language schools, even through free-lancing by just hanging one's own shingle at coffee shops and other social venues. The patrons ranged from individual citizens to corporations or government offices.
Here's my informed take, both as an insider and one who's talked with many veterans of the TEFL experience:
-- If you're willing to work unorthodox hours for modest pay (though often high by local standards); if you're willing to walk/train/bus commute to a variety of venues; and if you're flexible enough to drum up clients on your own to supplement your base hours; and if you're willing to continue the "communal" college life (shared apartments, cheap beer, meal deals, etc.) - you can more than break even and genuinely subsidize your stay in that country.
My wife and I, to be honest, weren't... we were on extended leave from the North American rat-race, were chilling after three months bouncing around Africa, and frankly were too interested in the scenery and thrills of Chile and Argentina to get too locked down into a routine. But that was just us...
I've met people of all ages who've worked their way around the world teaching English: three months in Budapest; six months in Bogota', three months in Bangkok, etc. It's not for everyone, but it can surely add some eyebrow-raising punch lines to one's resume during the free and unsettled years - or as an extended leave for the disaffected (yours truly.) It also can lead, for the dedicated, to a career path as directors of language institutes.
Good bets for getting work quickly? Latin America and Asia. Eastern Europe somewhat; Western Europe very difficult due to popularity and EU favoritism, which gives priority to teachers from member countries. (most TEFL in Africa seems to be done through missionary or other NGO services).
For those who want to want to really see the world without going broke or being "irresponsible," I can't think of a better way to spend a year or two... or perhaps, a decade?
Those with a little spunk and curiosity, however, may wish to check into teaching English abroad (TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language). TEFL's a great way to finance one's world travels and meet friends, as well as being an invaluble communication asset to have in one's own skills portfolio.
It's true that the teach-English-abroad buzz has been going strong for several decades now; it's also true that TEFL/TESL programs have popped out of the academic woodpile like inlaws at a probate court. Good reason, though - English is the lingua franca (now there's an oxymoron!) of the business, legal and technical world, long having replaced French and German in the latter two. It's estimated by the International TEFL Corporation that as many as 300 million world citizens are actively studying English at present - in other words, the equivalent population of the U.S.
It used to be good enough if one was a native speaker - you could stand in front of a class and jabber all day (well, sort of.). Those days are largely gone with the wind. Contemporary programs require anywhere from 120-150 hours of classroom prep along with student teaching in order to become certified, and certification is more or less expected now at established programs around the world.
I dipped my toe into these pedantic waters a few years back when living in Santiago, Chile. My classmates were a collection of Americans and Canadians, ranging from 21 years old up to.. well, me.. Upon certification, opportunities abounded - on staff at the institute, at other language schools, even through free-lancing by just hanging one's own shingle at coffee shops and other social venues. The patrons ranged from individual citizens to corporations or government offices.
Here's my informed take, both as an insider and one who's talked with many veterans of the TEFL experience:
-- If you're willing to work unorthodox hours for modest pay (though often high by local standards); if you're willing to walk/train/bus commute to a variety of venues; and if you're flexible enough to drum up clients on your own to supplement your base hours; and if you're willing to continue the "communal" college life (shared apartments, cheap beer, meal deals, etc.) - you can more than break even and genuinely subsidize your stay in that country.
My wife and I, to be honest, weren't... we were on extended leave from the North American rat-race, were chilling after three months bouncing around Africa, and frankly were too interested in the scenery and thrills of Chile and Argentina to get too locked down into a routine. But that was just us...
I've met people of all ages who've worked their way around the world teaching English: three months in Budapest; six months in Bogota', three months in Bangkok, etc. It's not for everyone, but it can surely add some eyebrow-raising punch lines to one's resume during the free and unsettled years - or as an extended leave for the disaffected (yours truly.) It also can lead, for the dedicated, to a career path as directors of language institutes.
Good bets for getting work quickly? Latin America and Asia. Eastern Europe somewhat; Western Europe very difficult due to popularity and EU favoritism, which gives priority to teachers from member countries. (most TEFL in Africa seems to be done through missionary or other NGO services).
For those who want to want to really see the world without going broke or being "irresponsible," I can't think of a better way to spend a year or two... or perhaps, a decade?
Jun 7, 2008
Careers: Becoming an Expatriate ("expat")
Educators committed to preparing their charges for the impacts of globalization would be remiss not to address the career possibilities of expatriation, or becoming an "expat."
Expats, of course refer to that ambitious and intrepid subset of North Americans (note - all countries have expats) who take overseas assignments - whether for a North American company, or in some cases directly with an international employer.
It certainly isn't a lifestlye for the cautious or inflexible. According to my friend Jean McFarland, whose company Fifth Dimensions Strategies tracks expatriate statistics, 40% of expatriates return before completing their assignments, with the #1 reason for failure being the inability to adapt to the host culture. Of expatriates who complete their assignments, 34% do not perform up to expectations of their superiors, and 50% say they underperformed (note - expatriate packages cost a corporation approximately $1 million per year - a big "ouch" when things go wrong.)
So why the buzz? Well the pay and perks can be great... not to mention (depending what country) little extra's like maids, gardeners, chauffers and prodigious leave packages (6-8 weeks of holiday?)... not to mention fascinating "acculturation" for those who enjoy mixing it up in the strange and unfamiliar...and not to mention experience that can pay off handsomely in one's career back home in later years...
Trends in expatriation employment are tiltling more and more towards younger workers, according to research by GMAC Global Relocation Services. Also, the proportion of women undertaking expatriate assignments has risen markedly and more expatriates are going on assignments without their partners.
So, it's a great time for those who are eager, willing and competent to get subsidized for exploring broader latitudes, attidudes and longitudes. bTW, a great resource for global expatriate websites is found at the ezine of Transitions Abroad.
Bon voyage' !
Expats, of course refer to that ambitious and intrepid subset of North Americans (note - all countries have expats) who take overseas assignments - whether for a North American company, or in some cases directly with an international employer.
It certainly isn't a lifestlye for the cautious or inflexible. According to my friend Jean McFarland, whose company Fifth Dimensions Strategies tracks expatriate statistics, 40% of expatriates return before completing their assignments, with the #1 reason for failure being the inability to adapt to the host culture. Of expatriates who complete their assignments, 34% do not perform up to expectations of their superiors, and 50% say they underperformed (note - expatriate packages cost a corporation approximately $1 million per year - a big "ouch" when things go wrong.)
So why the buzz? Well the pay and perks can be great... not to mention (depending what country) little extra's like maids, gardeners, chauffers and prodigious leave packages (6-8 weeks of holiday?)... not to mention fascinating "acculturation" for those who enjoy mixing it up in the strange and unfamiliar...and not to mention experience that can pay off handsomely in one's career back home in later years...
Trends in expatriation employment are tiltling more and more towards younger workers, according to research by GMAC Global Relocation Services. Also, the proportion of women undertaking expatriate assignments has risen markedly and more expatriates are going on assignments without their partners.
So, it's a great time for those who are eager, willing and competent to get subsidized for exploring broader latitudes, attidudes and longitudes. bTW, a great resource for global expatriate websites is found at the ezine of Transitions Abroad.
Bon voyage' !
Jun 5, 2008
Careers: A High School That Gets It...
One of the perks of commencement speaking is getting a peek at how different schools (high school or college) are preparing kids for the "real world."
One such innovator is Boise, Idaho's Meridian Technical Charter High School where I recently delivered a graduation speech. In addition to a full cadre of technically-oriented paths (such as IT programming, networking, engineering/electronics and media arts), MTC's program also "balances" students out with business, communications and other curricula/projects that prepare them for an interactive workplace. For example, "consumer economics" - something most techies don't learn (many even in college) - and speech. Who'dve thunk - geeks as public speakers? (btw, you're reading one... lol...). And Global Perspectives - preparing students for the inevitability of all those cross-cultural collisions that your humble scribe here is always harping about.
Furthermore all seniors are required to work internships with local businesses, as well as perform projects requiring vetted presentation - in suits and ties. (who said "Old School" is always bad?!).
It seems to pay off, as grads are departing for such far-flung schools as M.I.T. and Washington State to prestigious music and film-making institutes in San Francisco.
MTC's program isn't for everyone, but a school needn't be nerd-heaven to enforce the idea that career preparation is more than just ace-ing tests. Communications skills, business acumen and a little "big picture" perspective never hurt anyone - and it will no doubt help these young scholars-cum-professionals in an increasingly competitive job market.
One such innovator is Boise, Idaho's Meridian Technical Charter High School where I recently delivered a graduation speech. In addition to a full cadre of technically-oriented paths (such as IT programming, networking, engineering/electronics and media arts), MTC's program also "balances" students out with business, communications and other curricula/projects that prepare them for an interactive workplace. For example, "consumer economics" - something most techies don't learn (many even in college) - and speech. Who'dve thunk - geeks as public speakers? (btw, you're reading one... lol...). And Global Perspectives - preparing students for the inevitability of all those cross-cultural collisions that your humble scribe here is always harping about.
Furthermore all seniors are required to work internships with local businesses, as well as perform projects requiring vetted presentation - in suits and ties. (who said "Old School" is always bad?!).
It seems to pay off, as grads are departing for such far-flung schools as M.I.T. and Washington State to prestigious music and film-making institutes in San Francisco.
MTC's program isn't for everyone, but a school needn't be nerd-heaven to enforce the idea that career preparation is more than just ace-ing tests. Communications skills, business acumen and a little "big picture" perspective never hurt anyone - and it will no doubt help these young scholars-cum-professionals in an increasingly competitive job market.
May 29, 2008
Careers: Social Networking --not just for kids anymore...
MySpace...Facebook... Orkut.. LinkedIn..Simply Hired ... Friendster.. Bebo ... Twitter...Ning...
Arrghhh... Like a hall-of-mirrors for narcissists or a gossip-fence for those with too much time on their hands, it seems like not a day goes by when a new Social Network site doesn't hit the cyberwaves. So frenetic is this trend - too many players? - that it's widely acknowledged the providers have a hard time making a buck. Simply put, they need lots of eyeballs to hit their (members') pages, or advertisers will continue balking at paying higher fees. (while advertisers are predicted to increase spending 700% by 2012, according to eMarketer, most of this is stemming from more users and providers - not increased revs per Ad...)
Still, deft career seekers would be remiss not to jump on this bandwagon - as have politicians, corporate CEO's and other mover/shakers. Why? Because Social Networking works - or can work - to enhance your image, message and connections. With 400 million members already (and 70 million blogs) in the world, it's impossible to ignore the impact of social networking - even if the industry is heading into a nasty shakeout. Consider LinkedIn's relationship with Simply Hired, a clever marriage of the world's largest business networking and biggest job search-engine. There's real synergy there, and job seekers (or networkers)can communicate effectively with their affiliated community, leveraging surveys, research, articles and all kinds of timely/relevant advice.
Don't let the kiddie-candy distract you - there's real gold in Social Networking; or shall we say, Online Business Networking.
May 27, 2008
Careers: Global Considerations in Choosing Your Employer
So much emphasis is placed upon helping interviewees "sell" themselves to prospective employers, we sometimes forget that interviewing is a two-way street - that the candidates have every right to vet their interviewing partners. Which only makes sense, considering we spend 1/3 - 1/2 of our waking lives working for The Man (or increasingly these days, The Woman).
No where does this vetting take on such urgency as in the need to assess a company's status (or preparation) for going global. In previous posts (May 8 - "They're Here - Are We Ready?), I've mentioned that with the growing interconnectivity of global employers, vendors, customers, employees, business partners, media, affiliates and even governments, the so-called Global Workplace (or "Multicultural Office") is already here now - even if you're going to be sitting home in your jammies with a PC, modem and iPhone.
Not that small businesses aren't taking notice: I saw a stat recently (source unknown)that said 65% of small businesses are only doing business within the U.S., yet 92% of them would like to be doing global business. Which is sound advice - since according to the Small Business Association 96% of all exporters are small businesss.
What should a prospective employee be looking for when screening candidate employers? Well, for starters, if you stroll by Co. XYZ's booth at the job fair and they can't describe two or three things they're doing to "go global", then keep walking - they're dying on the vine and don't even know it.
You could also ask:
1. How many of XYZ's "people on the ground" (employees or channels/middlemen) know that culture; preferably, are of that culture...
2. Do XYZ's financial planners know how to calculate Cost/Benefits (or Return On Investment) of foreign ventures - which requires understanding currencies, laws and regulations, different worker productivity standards (working environment, how many holidays, etc.), risks of strikes and work stoppage, political climates, transport logistics, etc., etc. ?
3. Is that firm active with local chambers of commerce, trade associations, and governmental agencies that help to facilitate trade relations?
4. Does the firm dedicate resources - language/cultural training,libraries (Do's and Taboo's books), staff/partner presentations, etc. - to prepare employees for cross-cultural / international dealings?
This just scratches the surface. But hopefully if a career seeker is already clear on what he/she wants to do with their life, then a logical next step is to join a company that's connected to a bigger playing field - because they're going to be the survivors in coming decades.
No where does this vetting take on such urgency as in the need to assess a company's status (or preparation) for going global. In previous posts (May 8 - "They're Here - Are We Ready?), I've mentioned that with the growing interconnectivity of global employers, vendors, customers, employees, business partners, media, affiliates and even governments, the so-called Global Workplace (or "Multicultural Office") is already here now - even if you're going to be sitting home in your jammies with a PC, modem and iPhone.
Not that small businesses aren't taking notice: I saw a stat recently (source unknown)that said 65% of small businesses are only doing business within the U.S., yet 92% of them would like to be doing global business. Which is sound advice - since according to the Small Business Association 96% of all exporters are small businesss.
What should a prospective employee be looking for when screening candidate employers? Well, for starters, if you stroll by Co. XYZ's booth at the job fair and they can't describe two or three things they're doing to "go global", then keep walking - they're dying on the vine and don't even know it.
You could also ask:
1. How many of XYZ's "people on the ground" (employees or channels/middlemen) know that culture; preferably, are of that culture...
2. Do XYZ's financial planners know how to calculate Cost/Benefits (or Return On Investment) of foreign ventures - which requires understanding currencies, laws and regulations, different worker productivity standards (working environment, how many holidays, etc.), risks of strikes and work stoppage, political climates, transport logistics, etc., etc. ?
3. Is that firm active with local chambers of commerce, trade associations, and governmental agencies that help to facilitate trade relations?
4. Does the firm dedicate resources - language/cultural training,libraries (Do's and Taboo's books), staff/partner presentations, etc. - to prepare employees for cross-cultural / international dealings?
This just scratches the surface. But hopefully if a career seeker is already clear on what he/she wants to do with their life, then a logical next step is to join a company that's connected to a bigger playing field - because they're going to be the survivors in coming decades.
May 19, 2008
Careers: The Global Classroom
Here in Arizona, like many states, an intense ideological - and budgetary - battle has been going on about whether or not to fund global studies initiatives in our schools. Much of the resistance is based on sound fiscally conservative principles - where the funding will come from, what other curriculum might have to give way; and, the concern that these new classes dont' take precedence over U.S. history and government classes.
Unfortunately, much resistance also comes from those who have stated the pursuit of global studies schools and programs in Arizona were “dangerous,” “un-American” and “a step toward a U.N. takeover.”
Really? In a world where little Johnny or Susie may end up with a German boss; a Japanese employer; Brazilian partners; Indonesian customers; South African vendors; or investors from Dubai? All who think and act differently than we do? In a world that's already "connected" commercially and vocationally, the xenophobia of these elected officials is lamentable.
Last week's New York Times (May 16th, "In All the Classes, the World in All Its Variety") ran a revealing article about how school systems in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina and Indiana (some operating under grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, some self-funded from their legistlatures) are seriously preparing students for the future that's already here now.
For example, students might have to produce research papers on North Korea's nuclear program, or the Taliban's role in the opium trade. Other projects include creating bilingual books with counterparts in Mexico; or grade-schoolers learning comparative economics by charting the multinational production of a pencil and representing G8 countries in a mock summit.
Here in Arizona, we move ahead, slowly and grudgingly... at present, the legislature has allowed some wiggle room for global studies programs - as long as they're funded by philanthropy, corporation sponsorship, etc. Perhaps that's best - but it speaks volumes about the old adage "when the people lead, the leaders will follow."
Unfortunately, much resistance also comes from those who have stated the pursuit of global studies schools and programs in Arizona were “dangerous,” “un-American” and “a step toward a U.N. takeover.”
Really? In a world where little Johnny or Susie may end up with a German boss; a Japanese employer; Brazilian partners; Indonesian customers; South African vendors; or investors from Dubai? All who think and act differently than we do? In a world that's already "connected" commercially and vocationally, the xenophobia of these elected officials is lamentable.
Last week's New York Times (May 16th, "In All the Classes, the World in All Its Variety") ran a revealing article about how school systems in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina and Indiana (some operating under grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, some self-funded from their legistlatures) are seriously preparing students for the future that's already here now.
For example, students might have to produce research papers on North Korea's nuclear program, or the Taliban's role in the opium trade. Other projects include creating bilingual books with counterparts in Mexico; or grade-schoolers learning comparative economics by charting the multinational production of a pencil and representing G8 countries in a mock summit.
Here in Arizona, we move ahead, slowly and grudgingly... at present, the legislature has allowed some wiggle room for global studies programs - as long as they're funded by philanthropy, corporation sponsorship, etc. Perhaps that's best - but it speaks volumes about the old adage "when the people lead, the leaders will follow."
May 16, 2008
Careers: International Relations opportunities
It used to be that majoring in International Relations meant you were bound for a career with the State Service, or perhaps slogging it out with an NGO (Non-governmental organization). The latter, in particular, could often be disillusioning - under the patina of "saving the world" often came less-than-invigorating administrative/secretarial/maintenance chores.
Thankfully IR majors have a lot more to look forward to these days, courtesy of the shrinking world. Any organization, public/private, for-profit or non-profit that conducts business, cultural exchanges or diplomacy across borders needs people with a global studies/initiatives background.
In the public world, it's no longer just the State Dept. (or CIA) looking for such skills. Think Agriculture, Commerce, Peace Corps, USAID, US Information Agency and Defense, just to name a few departments. In the private world, large multinationals (or smaller companies wanting to "go global") need people with language skills (translators and interpretors) and cultural know-how in order to foster successful relationships with potential customers, vendors, employees, investors, political allies and business affiliates. Think-tanks, universities, private foundations and other research centers likewise are increasingly needing IR talent - because these days, leaving the global component off of one's business/marketing plan, teachings or research will prove to be a self-limiting and ultimately fatal decision.
Internships, or at a minimum student exchange and/or foreign travel, can certainly help in the preparations. My nephew, a student at George Washington University, finagled an internship last summer working for a British MP (Member of Parliament). This page-like assigment allowed him to pick up exciting international experience, make incredible networking connections, gather a few school credits, get paid, and of course, party-it-up in London for a summer... not a bad gig, all in all!
Thankfully IR majors have a lot more to look forward to these days, courtesy of the shrinking world. Any organization, public/private, for-profit or non-profit that conducts business, cultural exchanges or diplomacy across borders needs people with a global studies/initiatives background.
In the public world, it's no longer just the State Dept. (or CIA) looking for such skills. Think Agriculture, Commerce, Peace Corps, USAID, US Information Agency and Defense, just to name a few departments. In the private world, large multinationals (or smaller companies wanting to "go global") need people with language skills (translators and interpretors) and cultural know-how in order to foster successful relationships with potential customers, vendors, employees, investors, political allies and business affiliates. Think-tanks, universities, private foundations and other research centers likewise are increasingly needing IR talent - because these days, leaving the global component off of one's business/marketing plan, teachings or research will prove to be a self-limiting and ultimately fatal decision.
Internships, or at a minimum student exchange and/or foreign travel, can certainly help in the preparations. My nephew, a student at George Washington University, finagled an internship last summer working for a British MP (Member of Parliament). This page-like assigment allowed him to pick up exciting international experience, make incredible networking connections, gather a few school credits, get paid, and of course, party-it-up in London for a summer... not a bad gig, all in all!
May 15, 2008
Careers - Brand You in a world of TMI
When Tom Peters first coined the idea of Brand You - the mindset and practice of differentiating ourselves in our vocational (and personal !) lives - it seemed like just one more common sense cool-tool to help us stand out in the herd.
In the world of TMI - Too Much Information - Brand You is practically a field survival manual. After all, how do we get noticed in a world of 120 million websites, 30 billion active server pages, 70 million blogs, 200,000 new books each year (U.S. only), etc., etc. ???
Anyone who's ever submitted a resume into those blackholes called Careerbuilders or Monster knows that even the slickest CVs with optimized search words simply earn you the right to throw your hat in the ring with 200 - or 2,000 - other stellar (or not) applicants.
After recently rereading The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing and Selling the Invisible, two cornerstones of modern branding, it struck me that more than ever companies and individuals need that extra edge to make others (customers, employers, etc.) stand up and take notice - and recognize their value (e.g. the benefits they provide).
Ironically, many of your young people are already grasping the subtleties of self-branding; albeit unconsciously, through social networking - what are all those likes/dislikes and "favorites" on MySpace and Facebook if not a way of differentiating (and associating)- branding - oneself? Meetup groups take it a step further with the physical community, building bonds that in addition to "good company" can provide (directly or indirectly) pathways to self-expression, resource connection - even employment?
My whimsical suggestion to educators, particularly those teaching business/marketing or "The Arts": have your charges create a Coat-of-Arms. They'll have a blast with the creativity aspect of it; and you get to vicariously prod them into examining their values, aspirations, strengths and the mirror-to-the-world they want to project. It's amazing how much of this won't change over time - even if their career choices, friends and physical locales do. More importantly, they get one step closer to tapping into to their Most Wonderful Uniqueness - a quality that's bound to reap dividends as they search for the holy grail of their "right" career.
In the world of TMI - Too Much Information - Brand You is practically a field survival manual. After all, how do we get noticed in a world of 120 million websites, 30 billion active server pages, 70 million blogs, 200,000 new books each year (U.S. only), etc., etc. ???
Anyone who's ever submitted a resume into those blackholes called Careerbuilders or Monster knows that even the slickest CVs with optimized search words simply earn you the right to throw your hat in the ring with 200 - or 2,000 - other stellar (or not) applicants.
After recently rereading The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing and Selling the Invisible, two cornerstones of modern branding, it struck me that more than ever companies and individuals need that extra edge to make others (customers, employers, etc.) stand up and take notice - and recognize their value (e.g. the benefits they provide).
Ironically, many of your young people are already grasping the subtleties of self-branding; albeit unconsciously, through social networking - what are all those likes/dislikes and "favorites" on MySpace and Facebook if not a way of differentiating (and associating)- branding - oneself? Meetup groups take it a step further with the physical community, building bonds that in addition to "good company" can provide (directly or indirectly) pathways to self-expression, resource connection - even employment?
My whimsical suggestion to educators, particularly those teaching business/marketing or "The Arts": have your charges create a Coat-of-Arms. They'll have a blast with the creativity aspect of it; and you get to vicariously prod them into examining their values, aspirations, strengths and the mirror-to-the-world they want to project. It's amazing how much of this won't change over time - even if their career choices, friends and physical locales do. More importantly, they get one step closer to tapping into to their Most Wonderful Uniqueness - a quality that's bound to reap dividends as they search for the holy grail of their "right" career.
May 11, 2008
Careers & Gen Y / "Millennial" Global Illiteracy
Globalization strikes me as being kind of like the weather: It can be good; it can be bad; and it can be downright ugly. But like the weather, it's here now - whether we like it or not. To quote some long-dead anonymous historian, however, "ignorance is not bliss." Neither is apathy.
A few posts ago I referred to a survey by the National Geographic Society in 2006 about the geographic literacy of American people - in particular, the 18-24 year old age group. What this statisticaly valid survey found was that:
* 88% couldn't find Afghanistan on a map... 63% couldn't locate Saudi Arabia and Iraq... England? 65% No...Israel? 75% No... New York City? 50% No... the United States!? 10% No...
Furthermore, over 60% thought the population of the U.S. exceeded 750 million - and 30% said 2 billion (in fact, it's 300 million - only four and a half percent of the world's population!). 75% thought English was the world's most spoken language - although nearly twice as many speak Mandarin Chinese, and nearly as many speak Spanish and Hindi. Oh, and nearly half (48%)thought that Muslims comprised the majority of Indians - although Hindus outnumber them 9 to 1.
I guess some folks might claim that in a world where cyberspace is the final frontier, that being able to read a map is Old School. My reticence in buying this might stem from the closet-cartographer in me; or maybe from all the latitude and longitude lines I've crossed in my world romps.
Still, it seems like a potential nasty outcome for the home team when the visitors - increasingly sophisticated (and motivated) vendors, customers, lenders, affiliates, employees, employers and competitors - know a hell of a lot more about us than we do about them.. especially when we can't find our own ballfield...
It might not be our young folks' fault, but their careers are in for a nasty shock if our school curriculum, social organziations and parents don't start thinking a whole lot more about how to push our curiosity out further than the smothering arms of Uncle Sam's borders.
Being "nice" has nothing to do with it - being aware, informed and connected has everything to do with it.
A few posts ago I referred to a survey by the National Geographic Society in 2006 about the geographic literacy of American people - in particular, the 18-24 year old age group. What this statisticaly valid survey found was that:
* 88% couldn't find Afghanistan on a map... 63% couldn't locate Saudi Arabia and Iraq... England? 65% No...Israel? 75% No... New York City? 50% No... the United States!? 10% No...
Furthermore, over 60% thought the population of the U.S. exceeded 750 million - and 30% said 2 billion (in fact, it's 300 million - only four and a half percent of the world's population!). 75% thought English was the world's most spoken language - although nearly twice as many speak Mandarin Chinese, and nearly as many speak Spanish and Hindi. Oh, and nearly half (48%)thought that Muslims comprised the majority of Indians - although Hindus outnumber them 9 to 1.
I guess some folks might claim that in a world where cyberspace is the final frontier, that being able to read a map is Old School. My reticence in buying this might stem from the closet-cartographer in me; or maybe from all the latitude and longitude lines I've crossed in my world romps.
Still, it seems like a potential nasty outcome for the home team when the visitors - increasingly sophisticated (and motivated) vendors, customers, lenders, affiliates, employees, employers and competitors - know a hell of a lot more about us than we do about them.. especially when we can't find our own ballfield...
It might not be our young folks' fault, but their careers are in for a nasty shock if our school curriculum, social organziations and parents don't start thinking a whole lot more about how to push our curiosity out further than the smothering arms of Uncle Sam's borders.
Being "nice" has nothing to do with it - being aware, informed and connected has everything to do with it.
May 9, 2008
Careers: Vocation Vacations - Sign of the Times
Brian Kurth of Vocation Vacations has certainly found a way to tap into early 21st Century career angst.
His brilliantly simple mission (and business strategy) is to cater to people's vocational restlessness by letting them "kick the tires" of their dream jobs. What's your fancy - race car driving? pastry chef? landscape architect? a voice-over artist? a sommelier? He's got you covered.
Kurth has assembled an ever-growing network of professionals in careers mainstream, bohemian and in some cases, well, eccentric perhaps... at present count about 150 different vocations are covered, but growing rapidly. Over a 1-3 day period, these learned maestros will hold your hand, answer questions, calibrate your aptitude, give you insider secrets about how to prepare (including your resume and how to network), and in many cases put you in the cockpit.. or kitchen...or laboratory... OK, so maybe you can't do brain surgery or air traffic controlling on Day 1, but you'll sure get a feel for it.
About 75% of Kurth's clients are seriously considering changing careers, apparently. In fact, USA Today quotes a survey by RoperReports that found almost as many people want "learning" as "relaxation" in their leisure planning. Whether Boomer mobility or Gen X/Y entitlement, he's onto something. Hey, the dude's even been on Oprah.
What's interesting is that Vocation Vacations to date has had nearly zilch competition, something which will surely change. In any case, expect to see Kurth's selected career offerings, professional mentors - and customers - grow appreciably. It looks like "passion, profit and fun" never go out of style.
His brilliantly simple mission (and business strategy) is to cater to people's vocational restlessness by letting them "kick the tires" of their dream jobs. What's your fancy - race car driving? pastry chef? landscape architect? a voice-over artist? a sommelier? He's got you covered.
Kurth has assembled an ever-growing network of professionals in careers mainstream, bohemian and in some cases, well, eccentric perhaps... at present count about 150 different vocations are covered, but growing rapidly. Over a 1-3 day period, these learned maestros will hold your hand, answer questions, calibrate your aptitude, give you insider secrets about how to prepare (including your resume and how to network), and in many cases put you in the cockpit.. or kitchen...or laboratory... OK, so maybe you can't do brain surgery or air traffic controlling on Day 1, but you'll sure get a feel for it.
About 75% of Kurth's clients are seriously considering changing careers, apparently. In fact, USA Today quotes a survey by RoperReports that found almost as many people want "learning" as "relaxation" in their leisure planning. Whether Boomer mobility or Gen X/Y entitlement, he's onto something. Hey, the dude's even been on Oprah.
What's interesting is that Vocation Vacations to date has had nearly zilch competition, something which will surely change. In any case, expect to see Kurth's selected career offerings, professional mentors - and customers - grow appreciably. It looks like "passion, profit and fun" never go out of style.
May 8, 2008
Careers: "They're Here" - Are We Ready?
Greetings Educators, Career Professionals, Employers and Students,
My blog's mission is to help prepare career seekers for passionate, profitable and fun careers in what can only be called The Global Workplace - or perhaps, the "Multicultural Office."
It seems to me that we're sort of living in a precarious Best of Times / Worst of Times scenario for America's industrial, educational and civic leadership. The so-called "Death of Distance" brought on by converging technologies, lowering trade barriers and easier (and in some cases cheaper!) travel is creating a world full of opportunities and challenges. Since our future corporate, civic, clerical and community leaders are going to be dealing with this in ways we can barely imagine, it only makes sense to help prepare them for those opportunities and challenges.
The good news: There's never been a better time for career seekers to empower, enrich, and enjoy themselves "on the job." For example, while forecasts vary wildly, there's strong arguments that nanotechnology and the Green "movement" will be trillion$ industries in coming years; with product/service ramifications for millions of new jobs. (That will be the theme of one of my next blogs). And it's not just new technologies, but brand new roles created by changing political, economic and social factors. Can you say "retail climatologist?" - "neural marketer" - "cyber criminilogist" - "virtual concierge" ?? It's a long list... :>)
The bad news: Not only is the precipitous decline in our youths' test scores well documented (29th and 34th place out of 35, respectively in science and math, according to the international Organization for Economic and Cooperative Development), but turns out we're equally naive in our "geographic" awareness, as exemplified by National Geographic's 2006 survey of American 18-24 year olds... you know, the same ones getting ready to enter the workforce, having children and going off to fight wars in places that they literally can't find on a map.
So what's the big deal? Well, "They" - our global neighbors - are already "Here", now. They're moving aggressively into new industries and alliances, graduating well-educated, motivated students. They represent potential customers, vendors, partners, investors - and competitors. And guess what? Like the story of the Blind Men and the Elephant - they all "see" through different perspectives. Unfortunately, we know a lot less about them than they do about us - which is a trend we must reverse...
So back to the mission. I guess I come from the school that says if you want people to change, one must appeal to their higher interests and emotional hot-buttons. Which is why my public persona is as an "Edutainer", using stories, lessons learned and intriguing trivia to light a fire. Maybe it's from six continents of rambling around, or maybe from my obsession with goings-on in the world, but I'm convinced that we can definitely turn this challenge around by helping kids - and adults - to become more aware, informed and connected to ways that will excite, and embolden and enrich, them. The trick is to get the iPod out of their ear and CSI turned off, and the only way to do that is to replace those opiates with even stronger "attractors."
For example, in coming posts, I'll talk about Hot New Careers that even most guidance counselors and job fairs aren't talking about yet. These already exist, in both traditional and new fields - and many pay very, very well.
We'll also talk about how to prosper in the "Multicultural Office" - how to create productive relationships and avoid cross-cultural collisions with all those folks who see, think and act differently than us.
And we'll talk about emerging new practices (business and social), such as Conscientious Capitalism , Microcredit Lending, and Voluntourism that are truly "Lifting the World' and providing Win-Win-Win scenarios for all involved.
My blog's mission is to help prepare career seekers for passionate, profitable and fun careers in what can only be called The Global Workplace - or perhaps, the "Multicultural Office."
It seems to me that we're sort of living in a precarious Best of Times / Worst of Times scenario for America's industrial, educational and civic leadership. The so-called "Death of Distance" brought on by converging technologies, lowering trade barriers and easier (and in some cases cheaper!) travel is creating a world full of opportunities and challenges. Since our future corporate, civic, clerical and community leaders are going to be dealing with this in ways we can barely imagine, it only makes sense to help prepare them for those opportunities and challenges.
The good news: There's never been a better time for career seekers to empower, enrich, and enjoy themselves "on the job." For example, while forecasts vary wildly, there's strong arguments that nanotechnology and the Green "movement" will be trillion$ industries in coming years; with product/service ramifications for millions of new jobs. (That will be the theme of one of my next blogs). And it's not just new technologies, but brand new roles created by changing political, economic and social factors. Can you say "retail climatologist?" - "neural marketer" - "cyber criminilogist" - "virtual concierge" ?? It's a long list... :>)
The bad news: Not only is the precipitous decline in our youths' test scores well documented (29th and 34th place out of 35, respectively in science and math, according to the international Organization for Economic and Cooperative Development), but turns out we're equally naive in our "geographic" awareness, as exemplified by National Geographic's 2006 survey of American 18-24 year olds... you know, the same ones getting ready to enter the workforce, having children and going off to fight wars in places that they literally can't find on a map.
So what's the big deal? Well, "They" - our global neighbors - are already "Here", now. They're moving aggressively into new industries and alliances, graduating well-educated, motivated students. They represent potential customers, vendors, partners, investors - and competitors. And guess what? Like the story of the Blind Men and the Elephant - they all "see" through different perspectives. Unfortunately, we know a lot less about them than they do about us - which is a trend we must reverse...
So back to the mission. I guess I come from the school that says if you want people to change, one must appeal to their higher interests and emotional hot-buttons. Which is why my public persona is as an "Edutainer", using stories, lessons learned and intriguing trivia to light a fire. Maybe it's from six continents of rambling around, or maybe from my obsession with goings-on in the world, but I'm convinced that we can definitely turn this challenge around by helping kids - and adults - to become more aware, informed and connected to ways that will excite, and embolden and enrich, them. The trick is to get the iPod out of their ear and CSI turned off, and the only way to do that is to replace those opiates with even stronger "attractors."
For example, in coming posts, I'll talk about Hot New Careers that even most guidance counselors and job fairs aren't talking about yet. These already exist, in both traditional and new fields - and many pay very, very well.
We'll also talk about how to prosper in the "Multicultural Office" - how to create productive relationships and avoid cross-cultural collisions with all those folks who see, think and act differently than us.
And we'll talk about emerging new practices (business and social), such as Conscientious Capitalism , Microcredit Lending, and Voluntourism that are truly "Lifting the World' and providing Win-Win-Win scenarios for all involved.
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