How to make a career change

By Leahcim Semaj, Ph.D. - Change Agent, Contributor

THE OLD Work Order promised us that the job would last forever but recent events have forced many to accept the reality that we have entered The New Work Order. We now have to learn to live with the reality of downsizing, accompanied by increased outputs. The New Work Order Has Some Other New Words; Early retirement, OUTPLACEMENT, Lay offs, Outsourcing.

Over the last five years our major trading partners have moved in this direction, resulting in a significant reduction in the cost of most of our imports. They found ways of using less labour to produce more goods and services, thus reducing the price to us. This we gladly accepted.

It is now our time to do the same in our companies and in our country. If we do not, who will buy our products and services?

One thing that we know is that the winner will be the knowledge workers. Who is a knowledge worker? I can best answer this question by asking you: "Can you programme a computer? To this question you are only allowed two answers. The best answer is "YES". If you can't say this, the next best answer is: "I AM WILLING TO LEARN".

If you are not willing to choose either of these answers you are in trouble. If you find your mouth forming to say "NO", don't even allow the word to come out. Get on the phone and call your preferred funeral home. You are obviously to go home. Anyone who is not ready and willing to learn new things is quickly dying. Your choice.

As we experience an increase in demand for knowledge workers, we will see a contrasting decline for production workers. Look at the back of all your appliances. See how many are now made in China. Remember 20 years ago how many were made in Japan. We used to laugh at some of the junk. Eventually they got better and better. Today China has many of these jobs because Mr. Chin will work for U$1 per day and a bowl of rice. You will not do that. You are going to want rice-and-peas-and-carrot juice.

THE NEW RULE

The End Objective for the survival of many companies is the 1/2 by 2 by 3 Rule. They will have 1/2 as many people on the payroll. They will eventually be able to be paid twice as well, but this will only be based on productivity. The only catch is that you will have to produce three times as much as before. But don't worry, you will not necessarily be working harder, just smarter.

The other reality is that we are now experiencing some significant changes in the Stages of Life;

Stage 1. 0 - 30 Years - Learning

Stage 2. 30 - 60 Years - Employment

Stage 3. 60 - 100 Years - Self Employment

No, it is not a typo, Stage 3 used to be called retirement, but not any more. We are experiencing longer life expectancy. Do you have enough saved to carry you for 20 years without working?

TODAY RETIREMENT SHOULD BE AT AGE 95

You need to examine the origin of retirement. For this we have to go back to Germany in 1891 and the ideas of Otto von Bismarck (the German statesman known as the Iron Chancellor). At the time, life expectancy was 45 years. By the same rule, today retirement should be at 95 years. It was not intended to work for too many people. Note the struggle in the US to save Social Security from going bankrupt because people are living longer, thus outliving their benefits. Too few people are working to sustain those who are not. The reality then is that if you plan to eat after age 65 you better think about self-employment, not retirement.

What this all means is that a career change is in every one's future. In fact, the projection is that those entering the world of work today will be changing careers five or six times during their life.

WHERE SHOULD YOU BEGIN?

The best place is with your personality profile. What type are you? There are 16 types with many variances.

ISTJ	ISFJ	INFJ	INTJ
ISTP	ISFP	INFP	INTP
ESTP	ESFP	ENFP	ENTP
ESTJ	ESFJ	ENFJ	ENTJ

The core of human nature is as follows:

SJ (Sensing, Judging)

SP (Sensing, Perceiving)

NF (Intuitive, Feeling)

NT (Intuitive, Thinking)

Why not use your natural core values in selecting your next career?

SJ Core Values - Approximately 55 per cent of the Jamaican population. Responsibility, Service, Duty, Hard Work, Tradition, Conservative Values, Respect for Authority.

Work That Use SJ Values

Stable and predictable environments

Clear reporting hierarchy

High level of responsibility for all

Evaluated and rewarded for good work

SP Core Values - Approximately 25 per cent of the Jamaican population Freedom, Fun, Excitement, Action, Variety, Autonomy, Skill

Work That Uses SP Values

Variety and change

Flexible and relaxed environments

Less bureaucracy and rules

Working alone with real things

Skilled using tools, crafts

NT Core Values - Approximately 6 per cent of the Jamaican population Intelligence, Competence, logic, Creativity, Independence, Excellence, Mastery, Constant new learning, Ingenuity

Work That Uses NT Values

Highly intellectual and achievement oriented

Mastering new technologies, new projects

Using creativity to solve complex and theoretical problems

Need to work with people they respect

Best at perfecting flawed systems

NF Core Values - Approximately 14 per cent of the Jamaican population: Harmonious relationships, Personal growth, Originality and creativity, Integrity, Personal Expression, Meanings and possibilities

Work That Uses NF Values

Able to see the positive impact on others

Tension free environment with caring people, feel appreciated and liked

Solving global problems in creative ways

Developing their greatest individual potential

Careers for Dominant Sensors: ISTJ, ISFJ, ESTP, ESFP

Need to be able to collect and use the many facts you notice

Areas that let you gather information

Use your keen powers of observation

Careers for Dominant Intuitives: INTJ, INFJ, ENTP, ENFP

Work that allows new ways of solving problems

Use of unconventional approaches

Not limited by what has been done in the past

Careers for Dominant Thinkers:

INTP, ISTP, ENTJ, ESTJ

Allows you to use objective criteria

Fair set of standards and principles

Reward logical decisions

Careers for Dominant Feelers:

ISFP, INFP, ESFJ, ENFJ

Feel good about the work you do

The impact it has on people

How humanely and kindly you and others are treated

Next week we will show you how to create your own career handbook.

We Welcome New Travellers,

If you are joining this weekly quest for the first time, you can easily catch up on the past instalments by logging on to www.jobbank-ja.com. On the Download Page, you will find all the back articles. You may also leave your comments or questions on the message board at the same site or e-mail me at lsemaj@jobbank-ja.com. If you do not know your type, you can assess your Personality Profile by clicking on the Personality Profile/Flair/ Nationwide banner at www.jobbank-ja.com and follow the instructions.

You are also invited to join us on Mondays on Nationwide (HOT 102FM) 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. to continue this discussion. Each week we will take you deeper into understanding your personality profile and how to use this knowledge to take charge of your personal and professional life.

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