Are you taking control of your future, preparing for the “what if’s”? As I read about the economic woes of the Toledo area and beyond, I stop to wonder if we are equipped to enter the job market of the future.  Are we putting too much emphasis on building skills for jobs that exist today, but may not five or ten years from now?  Should we instead be developing talents and skills that are transferrable to many fields rather than training for a specific job?

                Because we cannot peer into a crystal ball and see the future, are there things we can be doing now to prepare for the future?  What are the skills that will stand the test of time and prepare us for careers that have not even been developed yet?  It seems logical that communication skills will still be needed, using some kind of language to convey ideas.  We may not communicate via phones or written letters that are mailed, however.  With the advent of fax machines and email, perhaps we will no longer have a need for postal delivery persons.  I would also propose that critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, understanding basic mathematical concepts, a fundamental ability to use a computer, a grasp of scientific concepts, and a general curiosity are valuable assets that would serve a person in a number of fields.  These are also the very same skills developed in a liberal arts education.

                We read about the need for alternative fuels, renewable resource development, new uses for recyclable materials, the green movement, new computer capabilities, medical breakthroughs, and other strategies to prepare for the future and improve life as we know it.  Preparing students in college to be adaptable, flexible and life-long learners seems more important than ever.  The tools developed through a liberal arts education, as well as understanding how to behave in a confident and professional manner are vital to becoming a sought-after employee.                 

                I am just posing these ideas as some food for thought.  Careers are not stationary and stable. Are you prepared?

Thursday, November 20, 2008 1:40:20 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] |