You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one
Whilst it would be all too easy to allude to history repeating, the catchphrase of 2020 has doubtlessly been that we are living in ‘unprecedented times’. The same could be said about our working lives today. Whilst once lifelong careers were the norm, LinkedIn research shows that new degree-holders have twice as many jobs in their first five post-university years now as they did in the mid-1980s.1 Added to this, baby boomers have an average of 12 jobs per lifetime2, each job lasting an average of about four years.3 This trend is likely to continue for millennial graduates in this current period of economic uncertainty and disruptive technology.
To resist change is futile
The way to navigate such choppy career waters is surely not to waste time and energy reflecting on past roles (which are likely on their way to becoming redundant) but to prepare and upskill for the jobs of the future and remain flexible in embracing such inevitable changes. How? Harvard University research shows we need to develop both our technical and soft skills4, as well as engage in continuous learning to upskill for hybrid jobs (roles that combine technical expertise and social/negotiation skills to create new job disciplines, such as ‘IoT5 Engineer’).6 To summarise, don’t ruminate over the past, plan ahead. Ways of work will evolve regardless and if you take a proactive approach you have the opportunity to lead the pack, without looking back.
[1] Guy Berger, ‘Will this year’s college grads job-hop more than previous grads?’, LinkedIn, 12 April 2016, https://blog.linkedin.com/2016/04/12/will-this-year_s-college-grads-job-hop-more-than-previous-grads
[2] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ‘Number of Jobs, Labor Market Experience, and Earnings Growth: Results From a National Longitudinal Survey’, accessed 15 January 2020
[3] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ‘Employee Tenure Summary’, accessed 15 January 2020
[4] Simon Torkington, ‘The jobs of the future—and two skills you need to get them’, World Economic Forum, 2 September 2016, www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/09/jobs-of-future-and-skills-you-need
[5] ‘IoT’ means Internet of Things
[6] Burning Glass, ‘Blurring lines: How business and technology skills are merging to create high opportunity hybrid jobs’, accessed 11 October 2020, http://burning-glass.com/research/hybrid-jobs
About the contributor
Senior transactional lawyer for financial and commercial legal services, specialising in custody, funds, funds administration, trusts and derivatives. Substantial in-house and private practice experience in Hong Kong, UK, Australia and Seychelles. Drafts, negotiates and settles legal agreements for institutional commercial deals and projects, advises on compliance, and provides ad hoc legal advice to stakeholders and clients.
You can connect with Brigitte here.