R. Stevenson authored a white-hot editorial about
what we should all be factoring into our career
management planning.
Let’s draw closer to what this means to each of
our career management.
The trends are moving faster, too.
Business conditions in our multi-disciplinary,
globalized fields dictate radical restructuring to
bring shorter term focus.
Company cultures change [management changes,
new business realities set in, global changes in all
aspect of business relationships]
core technologies morph, and
leadership’s extrapolation of what is needed for
survival against unknown rivals creates gaps, time
lapses and missed opportunities.
Stevenson cites that the true value of some of our
specific technical skills has a realistic half-life of
a decade. (I suggest he is optimistic. You need
to be a continuous learner.)
Four ‘echos’ affect our technical skills and abilities:
- abilities degenerate with non-use and become
obsolete
- many are unprepared for the next technology
generation
- older skills can be uncompetitive and too narrowly
focused
- demographic realities bias promotion decisions
Stevenson extrapolates the future while permitting
longer healthy lives will also require employment
extending another decade [Social security full
retirement = 75, in the future].
What can we do?
1. Faster start-up ramps to learn new skills 1
2. Maintain digital notebook of areas of mastery and
latest developments 2 [as noted in comments
include networking, mentors and professional
associations]
3. Recognize the urgent need to ‘move on’ to gain new
experiences and grow professionally 3 [it is not
radical to change jobs or careers mid-stream, any
longer.]
4. We need to factor “system’s thinking” into our
personal career management planning. 4