STRATEGIC LEARNING
by Dr. Steve Payne
An effective career and life strategist is a good
learner. This learning involves not only grasping his or her changing personal
characteristics (goals, resources, capabilities, etc.) but also potential
market niches and opportunities for these personal characteristics. There are markets for almost everything
valued in life, even forms of personal relationships. Markets can be characterized by their
scarcity or richness of desired products, services, or outcomes, as well as the
level of competition among those interested in these pursuing these products,
services or outcomes. It’s difficult to
compete in these markets without some knowledge of the market and its competitor
characteristics.
There are many tools or resources for strategic
learning – ones that can help unlock more self-knowledge as well as ones that
provide knowledge about specific markets and competitors within these markets. Research skills are helpful for gaining
knowledge of specific employment and other markets. The existence, though, of the internet and
basic search engines, such as Google, allow anyone with basic search skills to
compile a lot of market and competitor information.
There are certain markets and opportunities that
will probably seem much more obvious ones to start exploring – due to their
easy linkage to one’s previous experiences and to current goals and
capabilities. However, hidden opportunities can exist in less obvious markets
that one might at first dismiss. So
exploration of many less obvious markets can occasionally be worth the time and
effort.
Strategic niche potentials can exist at the
intersection of two or more sets of personal capabilities. For example, one
might have a law degree but face a tough and very selective market due to many
law school graduates flooding into law firms.
If that person also possessed some engineering knowledge and
capabilities, he or she might find a few high-paying opportunities in a smaller
niche market for patent attorneys. I
once taught a management major who graduated with a high grade point average. He remained in college an extra year and
completed enough hours in accounting to sit for and pass a CPA exam. His goal was to become an office manager for a
firm of CPAs, and he was successful soon after passing his CPA exam.
Technical schools offer a number of certification
programs. Picking a particular program
should involve not only personal interests and capabilities, but also take into
account research on salaries and projected supply/demand for those with that
craft or skill, locations of projected jobs, etc. Since you could be investing considerable resources
on tuition and other program costs, as well as precious time pursuing the
program, you should try to reduce the possibility of this being a poor
investment. One way to be more certain
of a technical certification program is to talk with students who have been in
the program and are close to finishing it.
If they are willing to share their surprises, disappointments, and
satisfactions concerning instructors and courses in the program, you might find
evidence that deviates from promotional or recruiting information concerning
this program. Knowledge of common
student difficulties and challenges could really help you better prepare for
these possible experiences and overcome certain challenges. Information concerning program graduates and their
employment capabilities in area, state and national markets, after gaining their
certifications, can obviously be helpful.
Technical or academic learning can be a tremendous strategic
and competitive resource. As or more
important, though, than academic or technical learning are social networks and social
learning opportunities. Often I have encountered graduates with higher
grades or other qualifications who are “left in the dust” by graduates who have
stronger social skills and the ability to get “inside information” about employment
markets and potential jobs. The
social/political aspects of work and everyday life cannot be ignored.
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