Career Change Is The New Normal: How Does eLearning Help?

Career Change Is The New Normal: How Does eLearning Help?
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Summary: Career transitions are now the norm. With eLearning, a little help from family or friends, and a well-thought-out plan, a career change doesn't have to be difficult or scary.

Ways eLearning Helps Career Change

Once upon a time, for a person to be set for life, all they had to do was go to school, find a job in a good company, stay in that job for as long as they can, and they’ll eventually be rewarded with good pension and benefits for their years of hard work and loyalty.

That era is long gone. Nowadays, career change is the norm. In fact, according to Helen Barrett, Work & Careers editor at the Financial Times, you have to plan for five careers in a lifetime because many sectors “are in a constant state of disruption”.

Meanwhile, in a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics longitudinal survey released in 2017, approximately 10,000 American men and women born between 1957 to 1964 (later years of the Baby Boom) held an average of 11.9 jobs from ages 18 to 50.

Research by Gallup also reveals that Millennials, dubbed “the job-hopping generation”, are less willing to stay at their jobs and more likely to look for other opportunities within the next 12 months compared to non-Millennials. Gallup estimates that the millennial turnover cost is a staggering $30.5 billion annually for the U.S. economy.

The End Of Loyalty

The employer-employee dynamic has indeed changed, and drastically at that. The research that was done by Pulitzer Prize winner and Drucker Institute senior adviser Rick Wartzman shows that the shift kicked into gear much earlier than many believe—in the early to mid-‘70s. He expects the divide to continue due to various pressures he doesn’t see changing anytime soon, namely:

  • Technology and automation
  • Globalization
  • Decline of unions
  • The pressure to put the interest of stockholders above everyone else’s

Wartzman also added that work culture somehow reflects societal norms and national culture, i.e., the “we” mindset prevalent in the Great Depression and World War II era versus the more individualistic “I” mindset that’s been pervasive since the 1970s.

Why People Change Careers

There is, so far, no consensus as to what constitutes career change. That said, career change, depending on whom you’re asking, can be defined in several different ways:

  • Getting a job with a different employer
  • Switching to another field of occupation
  • Getting a promotion or another job within the same field

But why do people change careers, exactly? Here are some of the most common reasons:

  • Poor Job Outlook / No Advancement 
    Lack of advancement opportunities is a major reason people leave their old jobs
  • Changes In Circumstances / Needs
    For example, you’re a woman returning to the workforce after taking care of the family for many years. Or perhaps the fast-paced job routine you enjoyed in your 30s no longer works for you now that you’re in your 40s
  • Job Stress And Burnout
    When the stress of the job becomes too much and starts to affect a person’s life, it may be time to switch careers
  • Better Pay
  • New Challenges
  • To Fulfill A Dream That Never Goes Away

Making A Successful Career Change With eLearning

Changing careers is not without its difficulties. But there is a way to transition successfully, and it all starts with knowing what you’re looking for, understanding your passions, and determining what the change entails, such as acquiring new skills, which can mean going back to school full-time or taking classes on the side.

Self-improvement is a character trait hiring managers love about job seekers, and your ability to demonstrate a willingness to improve can significantly define the trajectory of your career. Thankfully, knowledge acquisition and skills development aren’t confined within the four walls of a physical classroom. With eLearning, short courses, even degree/diploma courses (which, by the way, you don’t necessarily need when changing careers), can now be taken anywhere, anytime at your convenience.

If you’re planning to make that switch with the help of eLearning, here are a few places to check out to prepare for the leap.

  • 41 Classes You Can Take Right Now To Advance Your Career (And They’re Free!)
    Free online courses in the fields of programming, graphic design, online marketing, entrepreneurship, communication, and writing
  • 10 Totally-Worth-It Online Courses For Mid-Career Professionals
    MBA concepts, salary negotiation, meeting management, building a personal brand, setting SMART goals, productivity, resume makeover, and advanced management training
  • Career Development Training And Tutorials
    Learning paths include persuasive coaching, review preparation, supply chain, and operations management, cover letter writing, everyday tech questions, building business relationships, productivity, career management as an introvert, retail sales, etc.
  • LinkedIn Career Development
    Short courses on communication, leadership, talent management, business writing, business etiquette, influencing others, achieving your goals, strategic thinking, writing a business report, email writing, etc.
  • Alison Career
    Certificate courses available include time management, communication skills, achieving personal success, tourism, quality standards, Six Sigma, social work studies, human resources management, inventory management, food safety and hygiene, understanding dyslexia, mental health, and illness, etc.
  • edX Professional Development Courses
    Organizational leadership, becoming a CEO, soft skills, evidence-based management, innovation, leadership in the digital age, English for business networking, etc.
  • Udemy Career Development Courses
    Competitive advantage, leadership, success formula, programming, real estate, becoming a C-level executive, professional networking, business analysis, getting your dream job, yoga teaching, blockchain, etc.

Is A Career Change On The Horizon For You?

A career change or professional transformation is a fact of life for most of today’s global workforce. Work is never permanent and can extremely be frustrating. As Barrett aptly puts it in the linked Financial Times piece above, “It makes sense to seek protection by reinventing ourselves before someone else decides we are dispensable.”

Originally published on May 17, 2019