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The profound disruptions caused by COVID-19, rapid digitalization and automation technology have created unprecedented uncertainty in the ever-evolving labour market. A report by CERIC on 10 major changes shaping career development in 2040, along with the OECD’s prediction of 32% of jobs being transformed within 15-20 years, underscores the need for a reimagined approach to career development services.
The current career service system, though impactful, falls short in the face of an increasingly complex and uncertain future of work. To meet the demands of this evolving reality, both career development practitioners (CDPs) and jobseekers must become active architects of the labour market and workforce. An entrepreneurial mindset – known for equipping individuals to thrive in environments marked by uncertainty, risk, urgency and resource scarcity (Baum et al., 2007) – offers a compelling rethinking of our approach.
‘Fit-in’ approach fails to create a future-proof workforce
We often encounter the terms “organizational fit” and “cultural fit,” reflecting an imbalanced power dynamic between employers and jobseekers. This dynamic influences the way CDPs guide clients, often focusing on how jobseekers fit into existing structures without equipping them with the critical awareness to understand their environment and anticipate forthcoming challenges (Hooley, 2021). The consequence of this approach is a labour market with disengaged workers who are disconnected not only from their employers but also from career guidance services.
To challenge the “fit-in” approach, it’s essential to encourage CDPs to reflect on our role in clients’ personal agency within the work environment (Hutchison, 2015). Simultaneously, jobseekers should not only prepare for the present but actively participate in shaping the future, taking proactive measures to gain autonomy in directing their own lives.
Tam Nguyen and Scott Mallory will be co-presenting a session on “How an Entrepreneurial Mindset Enhances Career Guidance” at CERIC’s Cannexus24 conference, taking place virtually and in-person in Ottawa from Jan. 29-31, 2024. Learn more and register at cannexus.ceric.ca.
Embracing an entrepreneurial mindset
The entrepreneurial mindset urges individuals to become thought leaders, change-makers and proactive agents of future change. It encourages them to closely observe how the market functions, anticipate gaps and actively participate in co-designing the future. This mindset suggests that jobseekers should approach their careers with the mindset of an entrepreneur – observing, thinking, analyzing and acting.
This mindset revolves around three core pillars:
Autonomy
Entrepreneurial thinking revolves around autonomy. Successful entrepreneurs don’t limit themselves to solving today’s problems but seek to anticipate and address future challenges. They embrace the chance to explore ideas, actively learn and identify opportunities. This process begins with thorough research – a step often neglected by both entrepreneurs and jobseekers alike. Labour market information is often dry and inactionable. So, it is essential for career practitioners to guide clients in conducting field research, to help them eliminate less viable options and undertake trend-spotting to prepare for the evolving job landscape.
Adaptability
Like career development, developing a product or service to launch a business inherently comes with ambiguity, uncertainty and risk. Entrepreneurs leverage methods like design thinking and project management to problem-solve creatively and innovate effectively.
Similarly, career paths are no longer linear, and clients must be encouraged to see career development as an iterative process. In the agile environment entrepreneurs live in, where scope, deliverables and timelines are in constant flux, using iterative methods to test assumptions and learn from successes and failures is crucial. The world of work is changing rapidly; jobseekers must be supported in testing options efficiently and cost-effectively, building on what works. This approach can be extended to help jobseekers, especially those from underserved groups, tackle risk effectively.
Tools like social identity exercises and SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, threat) analysis can be combined to develop strategies to leverage strengths and opportunities while minimizing weaknesses and threats.
Self-discovery
“Who are you?” is the question that career development practitioners (CDPs) often pose at the beginning of a career journey with their clients. It marks the initial step in the career development process – understanding oneself.
Entrepreneurs approach self-discovery differently as they build businesses and test ideas. They thrive in an agile environment, constantly evaluating their actions and business plans at both strategic and tactical levels. Self-development, in the entrepreneurial context, is not only about aligning an individual’s business with their personal values, interests and strengths but also with the evolving needs of the world.
Entrepreneurial self-discovery extends beyond introspection, incorporating feedback from customers, business partners and allies. This multifaceted approach requires a blend of critical reflection and questions or models that delve deeper into understanding the business world – an area where both CDPs and our clients may not be initially equipped. It is now essential for us, as CDPs, to view the world of work through the business lens of an entrepreneur, so that self-discovery is enriched with the reality of the environment.
In conclusion, the entrepreneurial mindset presents a robust framework for individuals to proactively shape their careers in the face of an ever-evolving professional landscape. By embracing autonomy, adaptability and self-discovery within the entrepreneurial context, and aligning these principles with targeted career interventions, individuals gain the tools to navigate uncertainty, seize valuable opportunities and negotiate effectively in pursuit of their career aspirations. This harmonious integration not only empowers individuals but also paves the way for a more inclusive and agile future in career development.
