Is Virtual Work the New Work Reality?
The simple answer is YES! It is here and growing! For a number of months, I have been involved in a career transition. In the process of reinventing myself.
I have attended numerous career work search sessions, and I have some nuggets of information that I am happy to share and hope they will be of value to you as well. I have met many individuals in career work search sessions who have told me their tales of being in their own “career transition” not weeks, but months, and some a year or more!
I thought to myself “That won’t be me!” How naïve was I to think that I would be one of the lucky ones to land a position quickly. It is reported that 85-90% of most jobs are hidden. I figured I’d be an exception to Murphy’s Law and be in the 10% that was successful at being employed immediately!
Unfortunately, that was not the case, my journey continues as I write this witty prose. I soaked up all the information I could by attending networking events, attending work search classes, and learned how to use LinkedIn for my “targeted” informational interviews.
I am meeting contacts for coffee, joining meetups, polishing my “Elevator Pitch”, attending networking functions, volunteering, taken numerous online tests with recruiting agencies, and keeping busy taking "free" online courses with the public library.
Take a long look around – there are fewer and fewer fulltime positions with benefits and paid vacation days, and perks. Also, if you do not have a LinkedIn Profile with a photo, I suggest you create a profile and a sharp photo. This is the reality of an individual in a "Career Transition in 2018".
No luck getting hired for a “position” then consider becoming an entrepreneur. Live Your Passion! As of January 2018, I started producing my own podcast by interviewing individuals that are living their passion. Currently, working on a guest list that are interested in sharing how they found their passion and started living it! It is a matter of scheduling their calendar with mine. Those individuals who follow their passion are most likely to be happy people with the direction of their life.
My podcasts are to be like mini commercials – unrehearsed – live podcasts. What a great opportunity to practice your “Elevator Pitch” and maybe land you more clients?
Your story may empower someone to Live Their Passion! You just never know what a difference you can make to another individual.
Here is the link to my podcast – if you know of someone who would like to be interviewed, let me know and thank you in advance for your support. Outside The Cubicle-Live Your Passion with Lorraine
Whether it be a remote working position (i.e. virtual) or becoming an entrepreneur, one thing is certain you have to go with the flow folks.
Technology is here and moving at Star Trek Warp speed Scotty! We have to find our way through this myriad of information and figure out where do “I” fit. What is my “special sauce or unique quality” that will benefit others? Only you can answer that question.
Entrepreneurship – Granted is not for everyone, not everyone has the desire to do so, many people want that fulltime job with the perks, paid holidays, sick days, etc.
If you are not getting interviews – it is your resume?
If you are not getting the “offer of employment” – it is your interviewing skills or lack thereof?
Or it could be one or a number of things, not targeting the proper market with your skills, one thing is for sure you need to be visible, create your brand, be seen and heard, attend the right networking events, meet someone for a coffee, be informed, listen to the news every morning, so you have something interesting to talk about with someone standing in line at Walmart, Safeway, or wherever it is you are standing in line, you never know where the next opportunity occur.
Millenials some may have the jump on those of us over age 40. There is a lot that we are able to contribute to society, life experiences and skills, we are industrious with a strong work ethic, and adaptable to changing times, we got this far, didn’t we?
Your thoughts create your reality. So have thoughts of the results you want. In the movie "Back to the Future", Doc Brown said:
Jennifer Parker: Dr. Brown, I brought this note back from the future and - now it's erased.
Doc: Of course it's erased!
Jennifer Parker: But what does that mean?
Doc: It means your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one, both of you.
“….your future is whatever you make it to be.. so make it a good one ..” Fantastic line, don’t you think?
Yes, folks it’s a new world. Robots are online now in some jobs. we humans are going to have to keep reinventing ourselves to stay ahead of the world of work.
Consider a Portfolio Career. That is an individual with multiple streams of income. Find ways to make money, set up an online commerce store, depending on the products you sell, you may make a great deal of money.
No action = nothing changes!
If you are interested in working from home, Canada is coming around to this new reality of work. Here are some websites for your review:
Work From Home Jobs In Canada - January 18, 2018
23 Remote Companies Hiring Now – Oct 2017
