Make Your Way 7, Schulbuch mit Audio-CD und CD-ROM

The job market today How do you think your workplace will be different from that of your father’s/mother’s? Make a list and compare with other students. 7 Read the following text carefully. Mark in one colour the things which you respond positively to and in another colour the things you respond negatively to. Then get together in groups and discuss. 8 J ust a few years ago, two out of three American workers held “traditional” jobs, with regular hours, benefits and retirement. The rest had what we will call “new century” jobs, meaning that they created their own work, either by starting their own businesses or by piecing together several positions. Now, the balance has dramatically shifted. More than half of all Americans are in new century jobs. Here’s why: Employment trends Fewer permanent full-time jobs now exist – but a new business is created in the U.S. every eight seconds. 40-hour-a-week jobs are being replaced by temporary, contract or consultant positions – so working as a temporary employee is now the best route to a full-time job. Activities once done by employees or departments within a company are, more and more, being done by specialised outsiders, or by machines – creating lots of opportunities for businesses and services in speciality fields. Specialists are more in demand than generalists – so good technical skills are very valuable with or without a four-year college degree. Traditional government social service agencies are becoming smaller – resulting in employment opportunities in the new private non-profit social sector. inking di erently Perhaps the most important survival skill for the world of work is a new mental outlook. People can no longer think about simply “finding a job.” Instead, we must learn to “create a livelihood.” What skills do employers seek? English, communications and maths skills Proven technical ability Willingness to learn and work hard Interest in the employer’s business Positive attitude Flexibility to perform many tasks Ideas on how to improve products and services Ability to work cooperatively with others Making wise career choices In preparing for the future world of work you can help yourself by exploring the following questions: What do people do in a particular job? Does the job look interesting? Fun? Fulfilling? Meaningful? Does it pay well? What knowledge and skills are required to do this work? New century jobs 184 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv