Perhaps the most crucial adjustment to working in the new economy is
in individual attitudes. For example, a positive attitude toward change
is needed for success. Adjustment to different aspects of employment
brought about by technological changes and strong competition will vary
according to age, gender, previous experiences, role modelling, cultural
heritage, family background and many other factors. Some of the following
changes in expectations will be easier than others for different members
of the work force.
Workers need to realize they will be responsible for their own career
development.
Workers need to realign expectations to include continuous learning
over a lifetime.
Workers need to let go of the expectation that a union or human
resource officer will move them to the next position on the ladder
after a certain period of time.
Workers need to expect that they themselves will be actively investigating
the options available to them.
Workers will be expected to find out what the impact of technology
means to their duties and tasks and to do something about it.
Workers can no longer expect the employer to prepare them for changing
duties. They may need to get out there and upgrade themselves - on
their own time, at their own expense - if they are to compete for
work.
Just because workers and students graduate from a post-secondary
program, they cannot expect to find work in that field. They need
to broaden their scope and actively investigate where else they can
apply the skills they are talented in and passionate about - a different
industry than first expected.
Workers must change their expectation that a résumé
is all they need to market themselves.
Expectations are changing about rewards as well. Especially in young
workers, leisure time, training opportunities, stock options and work
on exciting new projects are taking the place of strictly financial
rewards or vertical promotion.
With so many more options for rewards, workers can expect to negotiate
for benefits such as elder care, day care, flex hours, vacation and
training time.
Some younger workforce participants are already attuned to expectations
that are "new" to older workers. Capacity for success is not
so much about the acceptance of a one-time package of "today's
changes," but about being ready and able to make constant adjustments
to the labour market as it evolves. Career practitioners may need to
spend more time with some clients working on processes and attitudes
for adjusting to change before moving on to specific career/employment
strategies.
