New Trends

What’s up in the workforce this decade?

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Key/Interesting Sources:

Forbes “8 HR Predictions for 2020”: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericmosley/2019/12/23/8-hr-predictions-for-2020/#1a35cd9d70ce

Young Entrepreneur Council: https://yec.co/

Inc., “2020, According to Business Leaders”: https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/8-ways-workforce-will-change-in-2020-according-to-business-leaders.html 

Welcome to the 2020s, Oaks!

While our students launch back into the grind of the semester, the Career Services Office (also in the semester grind) is both planning ahead in this first year of the 2020s, and already taking action. On March 24th, our annual Career Connect Day will feature guests from companies including Facebook, Uber, Enterprise Holdings and more, as well as Menlo alumni, faculty, staff and students. Presenters have been asked to gear their topics around this year’s theme: “Defining Tomorrow: Preparing for a New Decade.” 

What are some of the workforce predictions for 2020 that Menlo’s Oaks will need to prepare for? 

  1. Flexibility. Many of those making predictions, among them Nigel Davies from Forbes, point to the increase in remote workers and flexible scheduling happening in many industries. Not only is technology making this easier to achieve, but the calls for more diverse workplaces are placing an emphasis on flexible scheduling. This is because our definition of a “diverse” workplace is becoming all-encompassing, from focusing on who is represented at the leadership table, to finding ways to make it to the leadership table more accessible. Remote working, for example, can make it easier for single parents and people with constraining physical disabilities to work effectively from their own homes. 
  2. Comfortable – and likely, collaborative – work environments. A heads up for our HR majors: you may see opportunities pop up that will demand your knowledge in making the workplace function cohesively as a community. What will this mean? Bringing the team (the office) together to envision the future of a company, and at some places, immediately followed by a party amongst co-workers. 
  3. … Paired with Professional Development. Employers are becoming increasingly aware that in order to retain their employees, they need to “upskill” these employees. This may mean that you are granted a stipend to use towards professional development opportunities that you believe will enhance your effectiveness in your job, or you might engage in a week-long training with your co-workers to bring you up to speed on what your company’s leaders are planning for in the year ahead. 
  4. Learning forever, learning continuously. Advancements in technology mean that future advancements will pick up the pace. The increased development and use of Artificial Intelligence does not necessarily mean that there will be a decline in available positions – in fact, some are arguing that based on what we have seen so far, the integration of AI in the workplace will mean an increase of jobs. However, in order to qualify yourself to fit into that desired position that a potential employer desperately wants you – or someone – to fill, you will have to constantly be learning and picking up new skills to keep pace with the development of technology. This doesn’t have to mean you pursue another degree, but rather that you might seek a credential program, enroll in a community college class, or seek out classes you can take online. 

Key advice as we move into this new decade: 

  • Become interested in what your organization needs to succeed and move forward. 
  • Take advantage of the professional development opportunities your organization offers to make sure you keep up with the curve, or get ahead of it. 
  • If there isn’t a conversation around professional development at your organization, start it. 
  • Never stop learning. 

Categories: New Trends

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