Managing and Develping Careers

Managing and Developing Careers - 200376

ASSESSMENT 1

‘The concept and experience of career continues to change and evolve as we travel through the 21st century.' Critically assess this statement within the context of employment opportunities for new entrants into 21st century Australian workplaces

As society and its members adapt and change to better suit the social, professional and personal climate of the 21st century, the concept and experience of careers will continue to change and evolve. Arthur defines careers as being "the evolving sequence of a person's work experience over time". This definition suggests that career is not a momentary thing but it involves continuity and changes throughout the person's life and work experience. Work experience is not just paid work but all activities that are outside our employment involve experiences that are relevant to one's career. Career are affected by major influences beyond the job itself, as it does not depend only on the individual's preferences and choices but on the opportunity structures that provide work that people do. For instance, the labour market, the supply and demand for work of various sorts is of critical importance and is affected by a wider of range of factors, such as economic, social, organisational and technological. All bring huge changes in employment and organisations structure to better adjust to the information technology and the global competition leading in the fundamental transformation of careers (Inkson 1989, p.3).

In the past, the concept of career was perceived as a mark of privilege and only few people, mainly males in highly respected profession such as military, law and medicine would talk about their careers. Other people had a simple job or occupation and only considered it as a source of living (Inkson 1989, p.3). However, today most of the occupation is seen as basis or part of a career. As the experience and knowledge gained from an occupation later plays a particular role in the individual's life as it gives them additional skills and more opportunities for other jobs and career progression. Hence, individuals career goal are no longer just focused on keeping their current jobs secure but to continue being employed by collection portfolios of skills, knowledge and experience which are attractive to today's market (Arnold 1997, p.28).

The continuous change and evolvement of the concept and experience of careers resulted in a wider range of job possibilities for new entrants into the 21st Australian workplace. New jobs emerged but did not compensate for the jobs losses incurred and more particularly, the unemployed without skills and qualifications required by new technologies were left out. In the 21st century, organisations demand employees to do more sophisticated and technological work. Common strategies