The meaning of Career
All of us have experienced the imposition of lockdown as an initial shock to the system, whether it made us feel anxious, stressed, lonely, or all of the above. We have had to make adjustments – both big and small – to our everyday lives. This is especially apparent in our everyday working lives, where we are having to adjust to working from home and homeschooling our kids at the same time, while making big changes to the way we manage our day-to-day from inside our homes. Career support has never been needed more, but what does having a career mean right now?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the impact of the pandemic are changing the meaning of what a “career” is. Massive change is underway in how work is done, the environments in which people work and ways of finding a job that suits particular interests and needs. Contemporary career or livelihood conversations often include: “Where are the jobs?” “What’s involved in working in certain sectors or jobs?” “How do I find information I can trust?” How can I set up my own business?” and, most importantly; “Where can I go for career support, if needed?”
New forms of digital communication have recreated “in-person” experiences. Video conferencing, zoom calls, using Facebook, LinkedIn, and/or Instagram enable individuals and groups to connect socially and in a work context. Mobile phones, the internet, and big open datasets have created unprecedented opportunities to leapfrog into new forms of digital careers support. Think of CiCi the bot, which can remember where you left the conversation. When you decide to return, there’s no need to repeat your story and start all over again – unless you specifically ask for a fresh start. With permission, the bot could also share the online career conversation transcript and action plan with the human adviser saving time and energy.