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Thursday, February 4, 2010
Shifting Paradigm - Employment and job industry today Shifting Paradigm - Employment and job industry today I went for a career talk named "Building your Career Roadmap" in NUS. The guest speaker is Mr Mark Sparrow, Senior director of Kelly Services (Singapore). I went in expecting to know more about the potential of different industries and how it might orientate me further towards what I want in my future career. However, it was not so. The focus instead was on the globalization of work today, and it was only towards the back bit that Mr Mark talked about the different potential industries in the different countries. Although what I received from the talk wasn't what I initially expected, it was not time wasted. In fact, I was glad I turned up because it has reaffirmed all the sayings flying around that it is important to have a global outlook. Employers are crossing countries AND industries...they are seeking to expand globally AND across different industries. I believe no companies want to stay small. Candidates that can add value to these 2 overarching goals are therefore in demand. They don't need more coffee and photocopy girl or boy in the company. They need people who has the breadth (knowledge/expertise crossing industries) AND the depth (specialized experience) in a particular field. Such people will be valued today by large companies. It is important to me to know what companies today value. I want a position in the company that nobody or only a few worthy ones can replace me. And that definitely isn't some job that an average person can be up to easily. I'm not being cocky here...I just believe very strongly that everyone of us have a unique combination of talent, abilities and knowledge that can make us a niche in our industry and company. That way, we actually become more and more indispensible. That is not difficult in today's context, and even more so in future. It is just like everyone of us have a unique mix of personality traits that makes you who you are. Yes, there may be categorizing of personalities into D.I.S.C and the likes of it when we do psychology tests...but that isn't going to give you a full picture of who you REALLY are exactly. I believe that when everyone of us functions at our optimum (being in a job that maximizes our capabilities), nobody will HATE their job & are just in it because they need to bring home money. I'm glad I learnt alot from the talk. I don't want to be an average worker in the old work paradigm - a job that is simply a job...like, you're in it because of the money, or you are not really enjoying what you're doing because it doesn't give you the chance to put your talent and abilities to good use. In other words, a mismatch. Or the mentality that "it's better to have a job than to have no job". Which is true in the current job market, I must say. But that's still within the "mediocare mentality", isn't it? This is mere survival mode, a mid-range level of expertise that anyone, given a meritocratic society in most nations today, can do. What's going to happen when the job market picks up? Are you going to remain in your job and being unhappy for the rest of your life? Or are you going to begin by planning towards getting "there"? The old paradigm emerged from a social background of people that wants to make alot of money because we want to upgrade from a 3rd world to a 1st world nation to being a TOP 1st world nation. And everything that we do, we align it to whatever can make the most money. In terms of jobs, it will be the classic ones - lawyers, doctors, bankers, IT, etc. These jobs that your mum or your dad have been trying to persuade you to do at some point in your life. Right? Mine did lar. Which I personally do not think is healthy if they are egging you to these classic jobs for the sake of mere prestige, reputation and money. So what do I mean by a shifting paradigm? It means finding a job that suits ME. Not the other way round. For too long, people are trying to fit themselves into a job. That's the conventional mindset. But that's going to change as job scopes now are more overlapped...there are more grey areas between what used to be 2 distinct jobs. For example, you could be a lawyer specializing in the area of Construction industry's contractual dispute. Very niche, but very valuable to the company. I believe the marketplace today is evolving. And I believe it to be VERY divine. You don't have to agree with me on this, but I believe this to be a prophetic change since the formation of the Bible, which mentions about the "New Jerusalem" during End Times. I'm not at all trying to be a doomsday Christian, but Christians do believe that Christ will return and reign for 1000 years in this same earth, but with everything and everyone in its original order and intention. It will be a new yet old world order. Old as in the original way...which isn't right now. What we have today is still a perversion of the original. Think 9-11, financial crisis due to greed, etc. But, new as in an even better version of the old. In that New Jerusalem, everyone is going to work just like how we are used to now....but we will be functioning at our optimum which leads to maximum productivity from every person on Earth. Not grudgingly, but passionately working. And I wonder how that can actually happen if you don't LOVE your job. Agree? The moral of the story is: Plan your career path. If you need training or education to get yourself "there", go for that training or education. If you need experience, go for internships and expose yourself to that kind of job scope first. Gain experience and build up your value for your future position. Do anything except to sit on your current situation. You may start small, but remember you're doing so for your greater future. Do what you love and it's going to be all play and no work. I believe in this and I am envisioning myself in a position like that. Labels: career, contemplative, revelation 4:14 PM
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