I grew up believing in the power of education. There wasn’t much opportunity in my hometown, aside from working offshore or farming. I never knew what I wanted to do with my life, but I always knew that my future plans did not involve physical labor. There’s nothing wrong with physical labor, but it’s not for me. I accepted early on that education was my only hope, which meant I was going to college, even if I didn’t know what I was going to major in.
So I got my degree. Now what? The Great Recession comes around and the value of my degree falls sharply. What I once thought was my golden ticket to opportunity is now just a prerequisite to even be considered for employment. The discrepancy between reality and my expectation revealed, my world came crashing down. Where do we go from here?
I’ve finally realized that amid crisis lies opportunity. Now, employers should have no problem finding properly-educated people to fill their vacancies. Those candidates are everywhere. Instead, job seekers should be focused on finding candidates who possess the desired intangibles. Employers now have the green light to find team players, employees with great attitudes, people who care about customers, etc. Rather than plugging a hole with the first available body that pops up, employers can focus on quality. And in these harshly competitive times, that’s what’s needed – quality workers.
With the rise of social media and the technology that is at our disposal, has it ever been easier for employees and job-seekers to express themselves and show their intangibles? We can share our insights via blogs, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and through so many other media. Is there any excuse for not taking charge and showing this side of yourself to employers? Isn’t this what branding is all about?
Also, what does formal education really say? That you can follow instructions, that you keep with the status quo? We are moving away from the industrial age. If any labor can be automated, it will be. Today, we’ve got to find ways to add value to what we do. And following the status quo does not do that.
This video of Tom Peters ranting about education says it so much better than I can:
Resumes don’t allow for much expression. Resumes might have been good tools when you needed to stress your formal education. But now, that’s not the education that matters so much. What is your real-world experience like? Do you possess any intangibles? Do you learn from your experiences and possibly even the experiences of others? Can you find a way to communicate your intangibles to others?
I think that’s how we’re going to get ahead in this business environment. Tell me how you feel about it.
