Career trends in 2012

Two opposite trends will dominate the career landscape in 2012:  there will be a steady flow of jobs in traditionally recession-proof sectors such as education and health care, while jobs will also be found in self-made opportunities, also known as the gig economy.

It is no secret that the economy is on the mend.  Latest economic indicators are pointing towards a slow but steady recovery.  Key word here is slow.  What does this mean to those who are looking for work?  It means that there are no guarantees of landing a job in a shorter period of time than last year.  Your best bet is to anticipate what career trends are emerging or carrying over from last year and position yourself to seize opportunities presented by these trends.

One trend that has taken hold over the past few years is the gig model of work.  We all have had gigs in one form or another:  babysitting, waiting tables, or tutoring. This approach of hiring temporary help has migrated to the workplace.  According to The Atlantic, there are approximately 42 million Americans working as freelancers, consultants, independent contractors. This number does not only capture seasoned, experienced professionals.  Recent grads are also engaged in pursuing their own opportunities which includes starting their own business.

What to do as a job seeker under these circumstances?  Take a very good look at your current career goals, pick a side and give it a shot.  The career landscape is uncertain, but it also presents unexpected opportunities for those who are willing to proactively manage their careers.

If you liked this post, you might also like:
Proactive career management 101
How to land a job in this difficult economy

Life after 9/11

My 9/11 story starts with a lay off.  I was laid off on September 11, 2001.  The rumor mill had confirmed the date weeks ahead, so I was aware of my possible fate.  At the time, I was a Boston-based technology analyst following Internet and e-commerce trends.  The technology bubble had burst months before, so I was convinced that I would be one of the employees to lose my job that day, so I packed ahead.

The morning of 9/11 I felt a sense of anticipation as I waited for the Human Resources representative to show up in my office.  Instead, I started to receive phone calls from colleagues as far away as Denmark and Chile. "There has been a plane crash in New York City," one of them said.  "And the plane came from Boston."  

By the time the Human Resources manager stopped by to talk about my termination package, I was numb in disbelief about the attacks taking place in New York and Washington D.C.  I had worked at 2 World Trade Center years prior.  Downtown Manhattan was where I started my professional life.  First in Wall Street and later at the World Trade Center.  As I heard her list the different package options, my brain could not register the sounds she was making.  Who cared about a job?  My lay off became so insignificant.  I wanted the HR person to leave my office that second so I could call my former colleagues, friends, family.  All lived and worked in Manhattan.

The day after 9/11 was one of the hardest days I have ever lived.  At first, I thought I had a horrific nightmare.  But then reality set in and I felt paralyzing physical pain.  I wanted to stay under the blanket, but I was not sick.  My former city, New York, had been ripped open.  My old work neighborhood looked like a nuclear war zone.  The towers that greeted me every time I came back from a trip into JFK airport had been obliterated.

Then, all of the sudden, I remembered the images I saw on TV the night before of countless firefighters and first response personnel who kept on going despite feeling broken inside.  How in the world could I complain about my pain when others were suffering a million times more?  Their strength lifted me up and helped me understand the fragility of the world we live in.  It was the kick in the rear that I needed to gradually get back on my feet--physically and emotionally.

Over the years, remembering all of what transpired during and after 9/11--the unthinkable evil acts and the extraordinary acts of kindness and courage--has shaped how I make decisions in my personal and professional life.  When I am torn about an engagement that might comprise my values, I ask myself, "Would I be OK having this project mentioned in my obituary? How would I like to be remembered?  And if you think you are too young or too cool to have such sobering thoughts, remember 9/11 and the weeks, months and years after it.  It has been 10 years and it feels as it were yesterday...

If you liked this blog, you might also like:
Making lemonade form lemons:  a job seeker mantra
Giving up is not an option if you want to succeed