Learning to Keep Up in Global Job Market

“Chainsaw Al” Dunlap slashes 50% of Sunbeam Corp.’s work force, or 6,000 employees--a real-life employee nightmare.

What determines who keeps their job and who gets fired? How long will it take for those laid-off employees to find new jobs? What might help an employee find a job of equivalent pay sooner rather than later?

Unfortunately, these types of questions confront an increasing number of employees as companies seek an advantage or simply to survive as competition intensifies along global and technological paths.

Ask a First Interstate Bank employee after the Wells Fargo takeover. Talk to a GTE employee after a number of reorganizations in recent years. Or the General Motors employee who was laid off when the Van Nuys assembly plant was closed and still can’t find a job of comparable pay.

Times have changed. Doing our work well does not necessarily mean that we will keep our jobs. There was a time when doing your job well meant an annual pay raise and long-term employment. Implicit was the employment agreement: I do my work and you will pay me. If I keep on doing this, I will have a job.

Doing a good job is not enough to feel comfortable with one’s ability to earn a living. Today, lifelong learning is an essential ingredient to sustain a career or to find good, comparable employment.

Lifelong learning means keeping abreast of how technology and competition are changing job requirements and then seeking ways to participate, rather than fight the resulting changes. Lifelong learning means developing new, relevant skills on the job or at workshops or schools. Lifelong learning means embracing the learning process as fun and not work. Lifelong learning also means recognizing learning myths.

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Myth One: After I graduate, my education is done.

Sally just received her bachelor’s degree in business. All the studying is behind her. She can just concentrate on what is important--work.

Wrong!

We often equate our early life and formal schooling with education and learning. This compartmentalized view of learning has given many people a false sense that their learning is complete. Today, the average person will have at least five to seven jobs, if not different careers, during his or her working life. Is it realistic to believe that these job or career changes can be made successfully without learning new skills? No way.

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Myth Two: Learning is not necessary.

After years of school and five years of hard work, Jim finally got the promotion he was working for. Now he can relax.

Does this career game plan sound familiar? Unfortunately, this is not reality in today’s working world. Rapidly shifting demand, fierce global competition and rapid technological innovation have made lifelong learning a necessity. Jobs and skills are becoming obsolete at an increasing rate. Sustaining a career of “good” jobs, rather than facing prospects of ever downgraded jobs, in terms of pay and ability to add value, requires lifelong learning.

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Myth Three: Learning can wait.

Have you wondered why some people take months to find employment after getting laid off, while others have recruiters pounding on their doors with incredible job opportunities? A critical determinant in this situation is the development of relevant skills and experience based upon continuous learning.

We are creatures of habit. Once we start procrastinating and tell ourselves that learning can wait, it becomes all too easy to continue to defer these opportunities. Inertia is difficult to overcome. On the other hand, once we understand the value of learning and actively engage in learning activities, learning becomes a habit and an important part of our lives.

Just as we can find a number of excuses not to visit the dentist, we can find any number of excuses not to engage in learning experiences. Why? Because learning takes time, effort and commitment.

Yet learning is worth it. Learning not only creates employment opportunities and options, it also is a key to a better life. Unravel the mysteries of new ideas and business processes. Fill the skill void created by technological innovation. Remove the fear of change.

Make lifelong learning a habit.

Gary Izumo is an instructor in the Moorpark College business department and has managed his own consulting practice. He is a former McKinsey & Co. consultant and practice leader for the Strategic Management Consulting Practice of Price Waterhouse.