The New Reality
Layoffs, redundancies, company shutdowns, recession, economic downturn, are words that you will have come across in recent months. Some of the most renowned organisations, (Netflix, Robinhood, Klarna, Compass and many others) have undergone layoffs this year. In fact there is a tracker with information about companies and the number of staff that have been let go.
For the average worker, the pressing question is, if global companies with arguably robust business models have had to struggle on this front, is any company immune? A widely cited sentiment is that it is only a matter of time before one’s time comes – oh the dread!
One answer is, were our jobs ever secure? The majority of stories about being made redundant have an element of the affected employees being taken by surprise. Were we in a state of false security all along?
The great resignation, quiet quitting, declining employee loyalty all point to changing dynamics of the workplace – one governed by new rules. The million dollar question revolves around finding best ways to thrive in the new world of work.
Changing Attitudes and The New World of Work
Career transitions might have traditionally been frowned upon. How could you ever leave your profession? Attitudes towards careers have also undergone significant changes over the last couple of decades.
As a result, being able to shift to a new career to carry out more meaningful work, higher pay, increased flexibility is not only acceptable but is looked upon favourably in a lot of cases. The ability to learn and unlearn and carrying across soft skills are some of the highly in demand attributes. Transitioning from a field that is more prone to automation to another that is going to grow over the next few decades carries a lot of benefits, both for workers and employers.
Final Thoughts
With the above in mind, it is important to keep an eye out for the changing dynamics of the workplace, the evolving elements in the economy and in relevant industries. The way to future proof careers might just lie in career transitions. What is there to fear about?