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] | 

I often hear the expressions, “do what you love” and “find something you are passionate about and success will come.”  I was reminded of this last night as I watched an episode of Iconoclasts on the Sundance Channel. This particular episode was an exchange between skateboarder Tony Hawk and writer, director, actor Jon Favreau.  Both of these men were clearly driven by their passions. They did not let failures upset their visions but instead they learned and grew from missteps. They recalculated and worked through obstacles to persevere. Most importantly, they found success because they love what they do and they utilize their personal gifts in careers born of their passions.

I meet with prospective students daily who are choosing to study a subject, simply because they are told that jobs are plentiful in that field.  As an example, I see people asking about Nursing, when they have poor math and science grades.  But they are choosing to be a nurse because a family member has told them they will always have a job.  How sad it is to me that students are limiting their choices and the full use of what their gifts happen to be.

It often strikes me that we do not spend enough time helping students at a young age to develop their skills and talents.  We have opportunities for athletes, musicians, and artists to practice and persevere and find their niche.  Only a lucky few can say that they found their passions at an early age and knew their career path.  It seems vitally important to help people recognize all their skills and gifts that have value, which can be turned into job opportunities that will be fulfilling.  

For many people, it is difficult to look at themselves objectively and really see what their unique abilities happen to be. For instance, do people realize that the ability to look at an object and see potential improvements is a valuable skill? This can take the form of looking at a room and rearranging the furniture to a more suitable flow, or looking at an automobile and improving the design components, or even evaluating another person’s physical appearance to enhance one’s features. Another valuable skill is the ability to break down a complicated procedure into simplified steps. Perhaps a person is very good at combining colors for varying graphic effects. Recognize that having an intuitive sense about people is a skill.  Some people possess an analytical mind. Other people are level-headed in a crisis situation.  Having the creativity to develop new ideas or being able to take a machine apart and put it back together are talents that should not be overlooked. These are employable skills and gifts that can help a person find a career that they will be excited to pursue every day and will do well and be successful.  We need to help people by broadening their abilities to see the options and opportunities that abound, especially in these lean economic times.  Employers are looking for people who have the right fit – not just the pursuit of a paycheck.

If you are seeking employment, studying for a new degree, or looking to change jobs, take some time to figure out your gifts.  Get out a sheet of paper and number it 1 to 100. Really think about what you love to do or what you are good at. List at least 100 things, and keep going if you can. Having trouble thinking of your talents – let me know and I will help get you started.

Friday, October 31, 2008 12:11:14 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

I am so excited to have this opportunity to blog about topics related to pursuing higher education. I have worked in the Admissions Office for seven years and have done extensive research and reading on subjects from career information to scholarship searches to transfer students and the importance of fit when choosing a college.

I am the mother of 2 daughters, one has graduated from a very large college in the state of Florida, the other is currently a junior at a small liberal arts college. During the college search process we did a great deal of reading and searching the internet and made numerous college visits. Consequently, I learned a great deal from this process with each of my girls.  I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with you to help make college enrollment a bit easier.

I welcome your feedback and questions.

Friday, July 25, 2008 4:00:19 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] |