The world is changing. Everyone claims to see it, but few act on the knowledge that we don’t live in a world where you can get by on what you have right now.
A few months ago, I wrote about a guy who was made redundant after close to 20 years in a company. He was very upset about it all. He had years of experience and knew how to do a job but didn’t have the professional qualification everyone was looking for. I suggested he get some of his redundancy payoff money and invest in those qualifications.
I saw some mutual friends of ours last night. They told me this guy had gotten a new job and it was actually closer to home than the old one. Great news. I mentioned to them that he should use some of his redundancy money to invest in those qualifications he needs. They looked at me and said, “well . . . he doesn’t need them anymore.”
He doesn’t need them anymore.
The man left a job of twenty years and automatically assumes the next job will carry him through the next twenty. The reality of the job market today is that he will be lucky to have that job in two years. That says nothing about his performance. That’s just the way it is.
Now, nearly every white collar industry will have to compete with the professionals (notice I didn’t say labourers or workers) from China, India, and Russia. That’s three billion people. Automation is taking another chunk out of that pie.
You somehow found this blog. Now, listen to me (I’ll write it slowly).
You MUST learn to interview effectively.
You MUST gain a new qualification or skill at least once every two years.
You MUST never leave ‘sales mode’.
It’s a necessity. You can tell me how lucky I am to have a job in a depressed market later.
