Finding a career is even tougher than finding a job.
When I was 14, the school counselor asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. Are you headed toward college or do you want a vocational career? You know, auto mechanic, hair dresser, photographer, computer repair and the list goes on. I chose to be a graphic artist because while we were waiting for food in the restaurants, the doodles on my napkins were pretty good. Mom always thought I had artistic talent so she was pleased with my choice.
Some of you are smiling because my method of choosing a career path sounds familiar. And the process doesn’t get that much more sophisticated when we reach 18. The average college student changes majors 3.5 times during four years of getting a bachelor degree. Talk to some of the liberal arts graduates who are now 21, and a large majority will tell you they have no idea what they’re going to do to earn a living.
Wait it gets worse. Many career centers are predicting that 50 percent of the jobs that will exist 20 years from today haven’t even been invented yet. Seriously, we don’t really know what the job market will look like in 20 years, so how are our children supposed to prepare for a lifelong career?
When it comes to earning a living and trying to plan a career, I think today’s young people have it much more difficult than we did (I’m speaking as a Baby Boomer). If you’re an eternal optimist I guess you could say it’s better today because the possibilities are endless. Don’t get stuck in one boring career like your mom or dad. The one thing you can count on is change … and plenty of it.
But with all this change comes the responsibility to be prepared for a future that is difficult to predict. Today’s generation can’t sit back and say, “I don’t want to open another text book or take another test. Just give me a good job, a reasonable paycheck; I just want to enjoy life.” I still like the sound of that plan, but even at 60-ish, I find myself having to adjust plans because the stability I hoped for isn’t there.
More important than helping your child choose the right career path at 14, 18 or 21 is to help them learn how to manage their career for a lifetime. A friend said his son doesn’t want to work for a large company (he calls it working for “the man”), and he’s going to follow his passion. The experts say you should write about what you know, and here’s what I know from watching people struggle with this dilemma: The challenge to find a happy balance between our passion and having a job that pays the bills is one of life’s most difficult challenges. I’ve watched friends stay in a job they hate just to pay the bills, and it is a difficult pill to swallow. I also have friends who have been 100 percent committed to their passion and have accumulated debt that will burden them for a lifetime.
If you think I have a simple answer to make this problem disappear, you’re going to be disappointed. My way isn’t the best or only way, but for many people it’s a path that makes the most sense. Work hard to pursue your passion because the potential to do what you love is worth the risk. But, you can also work hard at developing the skills for a second career that becomes a safety net if your dream doesn’t materialize. I guess it’s as simple as saying don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Pursuing your passion down one solo path was more appealing when more alternative jobs were available. Today, the lack of acceptable job options (beyond service jobs) almost necessitates the need to manage parallel career paths. It’s hard work to manage one career — let alone two — but it may be the best approach to find some peace of mind and a good night’s sleep.
Bill Kaminski is president of Stone Associates Training. He is an HR consultant with 35 years of experience in the employment field, teaching managers the art of hiring great employees. He also is an adjunct instructor at Keuka College. You can contact him with your questions, suggestions and comments at www.bill@stoneassociatestraining.com
