2020 Career Trends and Possibility
It’s a new year and for many of us that means goal setting, planning and visualizing the future. But when it comes to careers, peering into the new decade can seem daunting. There’s no denying that the landscape of work is changing, with artificial intelligence, social media and economic volatility rocking the boat everywhere. Some of the more influential trends that are here to stay are:
Automation. In fact, PwC recently predicted that as many as 30% of today’s jobs might disappear completely, within 10 to 15 years due to automation of tasks.
Global workforce. Similarly, digitalization is opening up the marketplace for a global and remote workforce, where you are no longer competing against your next-door neighbor but with the entire world, for the same jobs.
Flexible work. The regular 9-5 seems to more and more become a thing of the past, as new technology is making it possible to work from anywhere, at any time.
Freelance economy. Not to mention the booming freelance economy, eroding traditional concepts such as long-term employment and job security.
Sound scary? Actually, there are two ways to approach these trends – from fear or from possibility. The first option is probably familiar to you, since human beings are hard wired to look for signs of danger. It served us really well when we were out hunting in the savannah and needed to keep an eye out for lions. Unfortunately, in this day and age, that mindset is more likely to give you anxiety and ulcers than to make you competitive in the workplace. Where fear will constrict and narrow your vision, possibility expands and invites creativity. Fear will step on the brake, while possibility takes the sideroad or simply builds a path to something new.
What would shift in your life if you were to take a stand for possibility in 2020? Would your goals be bigger, your actions different or your choices more varied? If new technology is indeed making the planet appear smaller, what does that open up for you? Perhaps this is the time to cut your commute down to zero, work from Bali or learn how to code? You can choose to see globalization as a threat, or simply as an invitation to a larger smorgasbord of options. And while we’re on that train of thought, you might as well choose something that really fuels your passion, since that’s the fastest and most enjoyable way to get really good at something. Chances are that a fully expressed, authentic and true version of you has a much better chance of standing out in a crowded market, than if you try to fit in or suffer through your days with boredom. In a world that is characterized by change, the “safe choice” will eventually become an illusion. And if the rules are changing, wouldn’t you rather be a part of creating new ones, than taking the back seat and let life happen to you?
From here, I invite you to choose; it’s either ALL possible, or it’s not. How you answer this question will color how you take on the new year and the decade to come.