career Changers
In this dificult economic times; more and more people are changing careers to better their future..... Is this just a trend or the future??
LAWRENCE,
That's what I am reading and experiencing as well. This is our 'new' normal.
Susan Backofen
I agree, the economy is encouraging many people to 're-career' at the moment. However, based on the pace of job changes and new ccareers that we have experienced in the last 10 years, I think this in itself is a new trend. People will need to much more regularly retool for new opportunities.
I agree. As a vacational instructor I see students right out of high school, Former military and older career changers. If the opportunity presents it's self I'll get the former military and career changers to help the younger students and mentor them to a degree.
Judith--
Very valid point. We are now operating in the knowledge age, where we will need to continually learn and master new skills. This is a very different environment than any of us grew up in. So making students comfortable with the learning process becomes even more important.
Susan
I think this is the wave of the future. The economy is getting better, but there are still jobs out there that have been eliminated and will remain so. Also employers are requiring more education from their employees so we will continue to have those who have jobs but need to increase their education.
With economic changes people need to seek another career. These students are a little older and are a pleasure to have in class. Tou can use the experience to help guide the younger set.
My father (a seventy two old man) told me four years ago that our college would fill up with career changers when he heard of all the lay-offs. He said that historically when faced with unemployment people typically go back to school.
George--
I agree, the economy is encouraging many people to 're-career' at the moment. However, based on the pace of job changes and new ccareers that we have experienced in the last 10 years, I think this in itself is a new trend. People will need to much more regularly retool for new opportunities.
Susan
I teach at a vocational technical school, I see alot of students who are of varying ages making career changes. Some due to loss of jobs, some because they are bored with their current occupation. I believe we will continue to see a large number of people making changes in their careers, in the hope that when the economic situation improves that they will be ready for the job market.
Amy--
I think this is a great observation and I am also seeing this. More and more students, especially adults, are re-careering. They want to 'matter' either at work or to have time to matter in other ways within their communities.
Susan
I really think this is the future, people are just not happy in the jobs that they choose many years ago I know for myself a job in the culinary field would never have been one that would have been encourged. It is so nice to see people taking that leap of faith.
I have to disagree. When the economy is hot it is usually not a problem to find a “foot in the doorâ€. With the economy in the dumps it becomes an employers market. They can afford to be choosier. Formal training becomes one of the first eliminators when the employer sifts through the resumes. When things turn around the employer will not be getting the same huge stack of resumes. At that point we will need the student far worse than the student will need us.
I think it is a little bit of both. Once the economy rights itself I believe that we will see a change in enrollment but I do not think it will be a huge change.
Dennis--
Good points. And, I think it is important for all of us to help 'retrain' how we think about the employment world. The days of a 'gold watch' are pretty much gone. I heard the other day that about 40% of today's jobs didn't exist 10 years ago. So the fact we are getting more and more adults coming back to training is not likely toj change and our current students need to understand the 'new' reality.
Susan
Whether it's an economic downturn, or a boomtime, there are always some industry's somwhere that are in decline. They will shed workers, many of whom will need re-training for a new career, as their old one is gone.
It won't be everywhere like it is right now, but the opportunity to help people with that transition will most likely be great in many places, for quite some time.
I think a key skill for all admissions staff is to have a decent working knowledge of what's going on regarding local and national employment trends so they can better indentify the particular needs and potential of a student, and thus better serve them. (Not just have great product knowledge!)
I believe this is just a trend that could very likely reverse, if the economy corrects itself.
In reality are dificult tims , but also in this industry they are many just completing their life time dream
Stephen--
I think you are correct. I heard a statistic the other day stating that 60% of today's jobs didn't exist 10 years ago. This makes it extremely important to teach our students how to learn and to be flexible.
Susan
I think it is a combination of both. Career changers may have found that in tough economic times their chosen career is volatile and because of that they are seeking a new career path that will survive the next economic downturn.
