Update Your References This Week

The first week of May is a great time to re-connect with people and enhance your career.  You don’t need to be in a job search at the moment to touch base with key people in your work-life.  A key element of effective career management is that we don’t wait until we’re in job huntContinue reading “Update Your References This Week”

Adaptability & Flexibilty are Top Workplace Skills

The international staffing agency Randstad issued a report in August detailing the results of their ongoing surveys that are part of the Randstad Engagement Index. In this report, respondents show increased optimism and security in their jobs. Among the many data points I’m intrigued by the skills needed for continued success.  Respondents rated “flexibility” andContinue reading “Adaptability & Flexibilty are Top Workplace Skills”

Where the Jobs are for Mature Workers

With generous support from the MetLife Foundation, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) has worked with seven regions across to country to identify priority industries, examine the job and career opportunities in those industries, and highlight the opportunities that are most appropriate for mature workers. Based on a U.S. Department of Labor supportedContinue reading “Where the Jobs are for Mature Workers”

A Crystal Ball – Skills for Now and the Future

A research report from Apollo Research Institute gives us a crystal ball for looking towards 2020.  “Future Work Skills 2020” I like the way this report takes the major global trends and matches them with the skills workers need to thrive now and going forward. Its very useful for  the many people needing to re-skill,Continue reading “A Crystal Ball – Skills for Now and the Future”

“Future-Proof” Employee

In IBM’s report from interviewing over 1700 CEOs around the world three main themes emerged for the most successful organizations. At the highest level, none are news to us. But going deeper there are some critical nuggets worth exploring. I’m focusing on “Build future-proof employees.” Because emerging capabilities are hard to define, hiring and equippingContinue reading ““Future-Proof” Employee”

Book Review: “Real World Training Design” by Jenn Labin

When the initial flip through a new book stops you on a page that makes you burst out laughing – its gonna be a good read! Incredibly engaging graphics and illustrations! This handbook takes the classic instructional design process and brings it up-to-date with examples and tips. Labin provides succinct and helpful tools through-out theContinue reading “Book Review: “Real World Training Design” by Jenn Labin”

Should You Make a Lateral Move?

Its not unusual for us to make horizontal career moves. They may be a good strategy for a variety of reasons, the best of which is to gain knowledge and skills that will lead to your upward goal.  If your company is in a slow growth mode and promotions are stagnant, then a lateral moveContinue reading “Should You Make a Lateral Move?”

Rallying the Trades

People on the TV program “Dirty Jobs”  look like they are having such a good time.  They get constant feedback all day  – cleaning a cement truck, picking up roadkill, catching bloodworms – so they know how they’re doing without having to be told. Did you know some of these people are millionaires? As weContinue reading “Rallying the Trades”

Critical Skills for our Future

The more I learn, the more I need to learn.  And it doesn’t all take place in a formal educational setting.  As I watch our global economy and read Freidman’s latest book, “That Used To Be Us,”    it is clear that the Knowledge Sets are shifting.  Employers need people with the technical skills toContinue reading “Critical Skills for our Future”

Learn to Learn

When I keep doing what I always do, why do I think it will have a different result? This bit of insanity applies to  many aspects of our lives. But let’s look at just one. We do our jobs well and manage the constant winds of change. Like a sailing a boat we know howContinue reading “Learn to Learn”