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#86 Farai Chideya: Re-think Your Career. Find a New Job

Richard Davies
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Have you spent your life switching careers, changing jobs and titles? So has former NPR host, professor, and journalist Farai Chideya. It’s the new normal, and it’s called the episodic career.

 

 

  • Can you build a career with a non-traditional work history?

  • How do you find a rewarding career in the new world of work?

  • How can you thrive and prosper in a jobs market disrupted by technology and globalism?

These questions are answered in this podcast. Our guest is well-known journalist, professor, author and former NPR host, Farai Chideya, author of “The Episodic Career”.
 
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average job in the U.S. lasts 4.6 years, a far cry from an era when a large percentage of the workforce could expect to stay with their current employer for decades.  
 
Farai tells us why resiliency, lifelong learning, plus understanding how your skills relate to the needs of the employment market are the three pillars of a successful career.  

Solutions

Know yourself and set your own goals. Some people are risk takers, while others are more cautious. Are you an innovator, team player, change agent? Do you want to have a high social impact in your work?  Is money the most important thing as you advance in your career?  Answering these questions is crucial in finding the right type of job for you.

Five to-do's before starting your career: 

  1. Examine your heart and wallet. How much time can you spend without a job or unhappily employed?

  2. Use online tools and networking to find a job.

  3. Find your allies including your "weak ties" - people outside your immediate social and work group.

  4. Check your market value. Know how much you are worth to an employer.

  5. Broadcast your search: tell people you are looking for a job.

Contact several people each day.

When searching for work, master your personal narrative. Explain why you want the job.  Be flexible about the job and salary.

At work, always say "yes, and..." Speak up and add something to the discussion. Make yourself useful.

Useful job-search and career-building websites

Books about careers and job search