Be on the Right Side of the Global Economy

Solutions to problems need to be the topic of conversations; not the problems. Career and job issues will continue to occur and it’s up to an informed workforce to develop solutions that are transferable to achieve employment stability. “Re-inventing the wheel” and having to apply singular solutions is not effective, multiple applications are. Here are some suggestions to help maintain your employability and sanity.

We are in a global economy that’s here to stay; deal with it! Employers are adapting (again) in how to use the U.S. workforce due to “re-shoring” of jobs. Your end goal is to secure satisfying employment, not just find a job. Finding an interim job is acceptable, but keep pursuing your goal. A second mindset is “what technology giveth; technology taketh away”. Many professionals are learning to take it back.

What were the advantages of off-shore outsourcing?

Most organizations went this route to cut labor costs. Their concept of highly paid labor being the primary cause is now being challenged. Time issues regarding the 24/7 mode of operation is also a key factor. For a profitable organization, time is money. The internet is the biggest influence and will only increase over time.

Those of you who are or were employed by larger companies have seen your ranks thin by jobs going overseas. Trends of inefficiencies due to differences in language/cultural, time zone or levels of performance due to in skill levels have been apparent for a few years now.

Poor quality, recalls, product safety, logistics, etc. has caused U.S. companies to bring some of the work back for domestic production or service. Feedback from customers has also been a significant influence (lost customers/lost profits).
This has been the most prevalent in manufactured goods, but customer service for most sectors is returning. Software development and internet security are returning due to legal protection reasons.

Your attitude

You need to see yourself as talent, not the “worker bee”. Without this in your mindset it will not come out in your actions or communication. Make sure that you’re displaying confidence, not arrogance. The skills that you have to offer must be wanted and tangible. Communication skills and business etiquette are critical: There’s nothing soft about soft skills.

How to find the best employers

Look for companies that are global suppliers, have overseas operations or are divisions of International corporations. Their customer base is diverse enough in the U.S. to cushion detrimental economic trends. The automotive industry and their suppliers are prime examples.

Look for organizations that are heavily investing in research and development. The U.S. has always enjoyed the privilege of being the innovators. Many companies are bringing that back for increased proprietary protection. Internet and systems security are being brought back in-house or that is what the company specializes in. Applications/customer service is now in-house often due to customers’ demands.

Remember corporations are also end users, not just people. What hard numbers (achievements) regarding solutions are you bringing?

High tech jobs are not the only ones in demand; support and front line staff is also needed. Keep in mind that lifelong learning is required. Find employers who invest in employee development; they give you the time to attend, plus reimburse fees/tuition. They also have a system that allows or encourages you to implement and/or share that new knowledge.

Look for employers who understand the value of their workforce. Does top management understand what it really means? It’s up to an empowered workforce to determine corporate cultures and business trends. When the two good entities (employer and workforce) connect it’s a win-win situation.