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...
Jul 24, 2008
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"?
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