The Future of Work is Essentially here, Advice for Embracing the Change

Did you know exactly what you wanted to be when you were a child? A time capsule from your past may serve as a friendly reminder of your childhood dreams and aspirations, however, the story of your life has most likely been rewritten dozens of times as you’ve grown into adulthood. Consider this, Gartner forecasted that “8.4 billion connected things will be in use worldwide in 2017, up 31% from 2016, and will reach 20.4 billion by 2020.”

Not surprisingly, circumstances can shift your thoughts, attitudes and beliefs dramatically. Add in the reality of how digital transformation has touched every aspect of our lives, and we quickly realize how significantly and quickly the paradigm of work is changing for all of us.

Deloitte’s most recent “Global Mobile Consumer Survey” showed that 89 percent of consumers look at their phones within an hour of waking up, they check their phones about 47 times per day and although most are unaware – 68% of consumers are using a form of artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning on their phones. A time capsule for today’s youth could very well be out-of-date in a matter of months!

According to statistics, 65% of children entering primary school today will end up doing a type of job that does not yet exist. That number provides staggering insight as to the direction for the future of work, but we must embrace the change.

Fear often ignites a sense of protectionism and resistance. It’s not easy to face change head-on when there are so many frightening uncertainties. But, as history has shown us -- there are opportunities that come with major periods of change. 

As a college student thirty years ago, I would never have believed that I would have a career in information technology and staffing. My college had only one computer for which we had to signup weeks in advance to get an hour of use. But life brings opportunities when we least expect them. 

A couple of tips on how to think about your career of the future, and to encourage your team and fellow colleagues to cultivate theirs as well:

-         Keep learning new skills. Information today is freely available. Consider taking free online courses offered through sites like Coursera and edX. Self-study can have a tremendous impact on your skill-set – and it illustrates that you are a self-motivator as well. Set yourself apart.  

-         Think before you act. Before you decide to pursue a specific degree, keep in mind that there is currently a huge deficit of computer skills. In fact, the US Department of Labor projects that by 2020 there will be 1.4 million computer specialist job openings, while universities are projected to produce degreed candidates for only 30% of those jobs.  

-         Don’t assume you are not cut out for STEM. You do not have to be a math whiz to succeed in computer science. Think about this -- humans create algorithms for technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). Since AI is expected to create 58 million more new jobs in the next 4 years, ask yourself - what is human that AI cannot do?  

-         Do your research. Rapid learning apps powered by Artificial Intelligence have emerged for a number of industries. For example, Emotional intelligence augmented with AI is one of the most desirable skills right now. Our business problems are going to be solved with human skills augmented by technology.

-         Be accepting and confident. The more accepting you are to the changes and allow the changing job market to create a role for you, the better off you will be. For me, it was important to keep my boundaries open. That is what lead me from architecture to management information systems to staffing. Be confident in your skills and your ability to adapt.  

-         Do not have a narrowly defined career goal. Leave it open while continuing to learn new skills. It is estimated that by 2020, 31 million jobs will become available as the more experienced workforce retires, and another 24 million new jobs will be created. 

-         Most importantly, do not set limits! Remove all self-doubt and you would be surprised what you can achieve. Technology does not have to include coding and programming. Many tech positions are focused on creating solutions for business problems. Think bigger always! 

Having worked in the field of creating jobs now for 25 years, I see that the future of work is better than ever before. Stay open to possibilities, identify problem- solving business challenges, work well with people, constantly improve your communication skills and stay focused on goals.

Let your role be governed by the contribution you make to the global economy. Know what makes you feel fulfilled and keep working on not “what” you want to be, but who you want to be and the contribution you want to make. Remember, these opportunities are yours if you stay open to what your job could look like. The rest will fall into place.