Preparing for Tomorrow Today!

January 17, 2012

Over the past several years, a number of think tanks have examined the issue of a “skills mismatch” going on out there in the U.S. workforce.  Lots of people are having difficulty finding jobs because the skills they have don’t match up to what employers are looking for; businesses of all types have openings, but the jobs they have require skills that workers in their markets don’t possess.

And once you are working, the nature of the job being performed is likely changing – and at an ever accelerating pace.  New technology, new ways of doing things, new – and more complex – tasks are emerging every day that impact the way you do your job.

This situation presents a big challenge to workers today – to always be growing and expanding what you can do and what you know!

One way to not just survive but thrive in this environment is to take charge of your own professional development and get involved in learning!  But how – and where – can that be done?  A great option to consider is your local community college.  They offer affordable short-term and long-term certificate and degree programs that are developed to support local employers’ needs.  You can find contact information for your local community college here.

Having an additional certification or degree can also have a positive impact on your earning potential. Research done by Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workforce found that having one certificate beyond high school can add $500,000 to your lifetime earnings – an Associate’s Degree can mean over $1 million!

You can use online tools such as www.myskillsmyfuture.com and www.mynextmove.com to see how your current skills match up to employer needs and what you might need to learn to move up in your career.

So take hold of your career.   See what skills you’ve got, what you can do to enhance them or what skills you need to add and start adding them today!

Brad Turner-Little
brad.turner-little@goodwill.org

Brad Turner-Little, Director of Workforce Development for Goodwill Industries International, believes in the power of work to change people’s lives.  From his days working for the Goodwill® based in Winston-Salem, NC to his national consulting work related to workforce development to his days on lobbying Capitol Hill, Brad has built a career helping others build theirs.  Brad has been married 17 years and has two kids.  He is a proud Wake Forest University alum, and loves basset hounds.