A number of years ago, I got a degree in math and political science. Big problem. We were going through a recession and I couldn’t get a job. So, I went back to school and got a mechanical engineering degree. During my years as an engineer, I’ve done mechanical, electrical power, quality, software, energy, civil, and software engineering.
It’s not uncommon to see someone 35 having had five or more jobs, many of which were voluntary moves. Even as recently as five years ago, job-hopping was a sign of instability and poor work habits. Now, more employers and employees look at lateral job movement as a means to develop marketable and value-adding skills. Traditional long-term employees can be perceived as homesteaders, protectors of the status quo, stagnant, or risk averse.
The traditional full-time job is also rapidly declining in Europe. In Spain, most of all new jobs are temporary contracts that don’t lead to full-time employment. Many European countries have a two-tier economy – older employees have lifetime jobs while younger workers are itinerant workers trekking from job to job that usually last less than a year.
Your work life is going to be long. You’re going to find new interests and new opportunities. What you are doing now may change next year or in five years. Never say ‘never’ and be open to new opportunities.
Life Lesson Earned: Your success at work and prosperity through life will be due to your inventiveness, flexibility, and desire to renew and reinvent yourself yearly if not daily. Remember it’s your life, your work, your career, and your decisions. Take control – now. Your boss, your employer, or your client won’t.