Walter Okpala: Marketable skills 1

Walter Okpala: Marketable skills 1: In my last posts, I asked some questions relating to the concept of marketable skill. In this post, I will try to answer the first question...

Marketable skills 1

In my last posts, I asked some questions relating to the concept of marketable skill. In this post, I will try to answer the first question. The question is: what is a marketable skill? In my understanding, a marketable skill is a skill with higher probability of getting job in the marketplace. The professions considered to be more marketable are those linked to the STEM field. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. However, this classification is too generic. For example, those who study pure science are not easily marketable as engineers do. Pure sciences include physics, chemistry, biology, among others. These professionals generally find jobs in the classroom and the wages are less. They are also obliged to take on graduate study in order to have academic career. 

     With the exception of medical studies, marketable skills are not constant, but depends on the generation and what seems to be the most important challenges of that generation. In the current generation, connectivity is the most important thing. Consequently, every skill related to computing is highly marketable. This may not be marketable in 20 years to come. So, the question now is: how can I be sure that my skill will be marketable? There are three options for anyone who aspires to have a marketable skill.

     The first option is to study medicine which is always a guarantee in any circumstance. The second option is to understand where the market is going so you can prepare ahead of time. The third option is to be prepared to make changes in order to adapt yourself to the wave. 

     In my next post, we will look at the best option for the majority of the people. So, watch out!      

  

Walter Okpala: I have a marketable job skill, but without job!

Walter Okpala: I have a marketable job skill, but without job!: I receive comments from people that they have marketable job skills, but they have no jobs for quite some time now. Before going on to look...

I have a marketable job skill, but without job!

I receive comments from people that they have marketable job skills, but they have no jobs for quite some time now. Before going on to look at this issue, I would like to ask you what a marketable job skill is. What are the factors that make your skill marketable? What is market? In which markets can you sell your job skills? How can you transform your college degree into a marketable one? I would like to receive your inputs into this discussion.

   

Walter Okpala: Should choosing a career be determined by need or ...

Walter Okpala: Should choosing a career be determined by need or ...: I left a question in my last post about choosing a career. Is choosing a career determined by need for survival or by passion? What was the...

Should choosing a career be determined by need or passion?

I left a question in my last post about choosing a career. Is choosing a career determined by need for survival or by passion? What was the determining factor when you chose your career? My own career was determined by need since I came from a poor family. However, I chose my career within the area I was good at. Since I was good at physical sciences, I decided to study engineering instead of  pure science. The reason is simple. On the average, engineers have better job opportunities than those who study pure science.

     I decided to write about this topic because many people are lost when it comes to choosing a career. The case is also complicated by some career advisors. Career advisors generally tell people to choose their majors in accordance with their passion or what they are good at. Although the advice may be partially true, there are some things missing in the equation. Firstly, career advisor should know the family background of the student and from that provide all the possibilities on the table. If the background is poor one, the need for survival should overide the other factors such as passion. In the case of need being the overriding factor, marketable skill becomes the choice. 

     Even someone from a rich family may decide for a well-paying job too. This also the reason why everything should be made know to the student. If the student makes decision after the right information, then, the problem is his or hers. It is bad to give a uniform career advice as if everybody came from the same background and therefore, has the same need. Think about this!          

Walter Okpala: The driving force for career choice - need or pass...

Walter Okpala: The driving force for career choice - need or pass...: Career advisers always talk about passion in choosing a career. However, I have a question regarding to that. What should be the main drivi...

The driving force for career choice - need or passion?

Career advisers always talk about passion in choosing a career. However, I have a question regarding to that. What should be the main driving force behind career choice? Should it be passion or should it be need? I would like you to give your input into the discussion. Tell us what you think.!

Walter Okpala: How to plan your career effectively 1

Walter Okpala: How to plan your career effectively 1: In my last posts, I wrote about the common causes of career problems. However, those posts are meant for those who are already in the field...

How to plan your career effectively 1

In my last posts, I wrote about the common causes of career problems. However, those posts are meant for those who are already in the field. In this post, I want to give advice to those who have not started their careers yet. Before going into the detail, I will anticipate that planning for your career today requires a paradigm shift about education.

     The first thing you should consider during career planning is to set your objectives. The second factor is to consider your family background. For example, many young people dream of being a doctor. However, one needs to come from a good financial background in order to bear the cost of medical education. That does not mean that someone from a poor background, but shows that you may not go directly to study medicine unless you have a scholarship. You may need to go to a vocational or technical school to learn a trade which will allow you get a job easily and from that, prepare for medical school. 
     Another paradigm shift in education should be to study something that has a higher probability of employability and not just studying something one likes. One can only study what he or she likes if he is from a wealthy family. In order words, college education must have a return on investment just like anyother investment. However, the payback required from parents should be their children's attaining financial independence. Education cannot be for the sake of getting knowledge which cannot be transformed into financial independence. What is the essence of knowledge if one cannot pay the basic bills?
     Therefore, in order to have a successful career, one must think about what to study in college and how the knowledge obtained can be used to make himself stand. Many college graduates today live with their parents because of lack of jobs or lack of employable skills. Many of these graduates used their parents' savings or obtained a loan for the courses. In this situation, knowledge tends to become a curse instead of a blessing. This is the case in many poor families where they expect a college graduate to help in training one's younger siblings. What is the importance of education in this case?
     The bottom line is that college education must be planned in order to provide one with a success career. I know some people say that they studied a marketable skill, but still without job. In the next post, I will give some insights on how to solve this type of problem. So, watch out!