At an Employability Workshop recently organised by the South Africa – German Centre for Development Research (SA-GER CDR), I shared a thought piece about what I consider to be foundational elements for career development. A subject I am passionate about as I myself continue trying to navigate the ever challenging and dynamic job market. In my view, employability refers to a set of achievements – skills, understandings and personal attributes that make graduates more likely to find gainful employment and be successful in their chosen occupations. This conception of employability encapsulates both perspectives on the ‘likelihood to gain employment’ and also ‘be successful’ in your chosen occupation. Employability therefore can be seen as an on-going developmental process even while you’re still on the job!
I titled my presentation “The Capital you need for Career Growth”. The few nuggets I shared were based on the value (capital) you need to invest in and accumulate, in order to draw on and build a fulfilling career. For many years I have closely observed colleagues and mentors I admire as having achieved fulfilling careers. These are individuals that have had not only financially rewarding jobs but have also enjoyed balanced personal lives. In my view, their contentment has been the outcome of investing in key areas of their lives, that I call “capitals” that have in-turn profited them professionally. Each form of capital is not mutually exclusive and may bleed into the other, possibly also leveraging on the other.
I have identified at least three (3) forms of capital that are equally important in crafting not only a financially successful career but also a more fulfilling life.
1) Personal Capital – This entails continuously building your personal capacities such as upskilling yourself with current critical skills within your craft. Remember, industry is not a respecter of qualifications but rather skills required on the job. In the third world today, we are not only facing the challenge of unemployment but also a problem of the skills mismatch between graduate qualifications and industry needs. As such many graduates find themselves unemployable. For instance, if you are in the development sector you may consider taking up short courses or certifications in data analytics, development finance or project management. Today, there are a host of great online platforms such as Coursera, edX and others that offer skills-based programmes from Ivy league and other reputable universities across the globe. Another way to upskill oneself is to take up voluntary and internship placements to gain the skills required for a job – something which most people today are reluctant to do as they rush for the big bucks before equipping themselves adequately for the labour market.
2) Social Capital – This is based on the premise that there is value in social networks. How far is your social reach? The importance of creating, expanding and nurturing relationships cannot be overstated. Identify mentors and attend professional events that will expose you to decision makers and trends in your prospective line of work. Creating new relationships means that you may need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable – at social gatherings for instance, learn how to work a room and google up some conversational ice-breakers. In the same way you probably consult a particular pastor, priest or imam for spiritual guidance or otherwise, you also need professional mentor(s) for career guidance. These mentors are not only a great resource and resume referee, but they can also hold you accountable on your professional targets as they hold you by the hand through a guided apprenticeship. Be sure to invest in relationships. The stronger and wider your social milieu, the wider your entrée of opportunities.
3) Emotional Capital – This is one area that people do not talk about enough. In life, it is inevitable that whenever you embark on something worthwhile such as a new job there are going to be times during your journey when you have to cross an enormous abyss on a tight rope – sometimes on a rope as thin as the hair on a baby’s head! During such times you will need the emotional energy and enthusiasm to spur you ahead. At times you may need to adapt to a new environment, industry or sector or perhaps have to manage new personalities. In my experience as a consultant on various tendered projects, this is something that is quite familiar to me. I understand the emotional wherewithal required to take on new professional challenges. As such, I have since learnt the importance of having a balanced social life and supportive group of friends. You need to keep your socials going. As the old saying goes, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.
While the concept of investing in these three (3) forms of capital may sound a bit vague and theoretical, and admittedly it is, the idea is not to be precise like a scientist but rather to share some guiding principles or rules of thumb. Regardless of your career choice, these capitals are the foundation upon which you could build a career and a more wholesome and balanced life. While most professionals may be aware of these foundational principles, the question remains unanswered as to why most do not succeed in adopting them in their own life journeys. Here, I am inclined to lean on my initial training in Psychology for answers. Most people simply do not know how to condition their minds towards perseverance, persistence and tenacity in adopting these principles (capitals) as life-long habits.
A simple yet useful technique to mastery and developing habit is simply practice! There is no other shortcut or superpower to this rule. If you are familiar with Malcolm Gladwell’s blockbuster book “Outliers” then you will be aware that the evidence suggests that it takes about 10,000 hours of practice to gain mastery of complex skills. Other studies suggest that less complex skills and material may require much less time. Mastery also requires a process of (i) inputting information i.e. learning (ii) reflect (iii) implementing the learning (iv) sharing it and (v) repeating the process again and again. It ought to be noted that this technique requires that you spend twice as much time reflecting on new learnings as you do on taking in new information.
After much reflection, I would therefore posit that a good way of positioning yourself to build and leverage the capital that you need to grow your career is to continuously build your professional capacities, nurture your network of relationships and identify personal mentors that are already in professional spaces in which you envisage yourself in your far future. Write down on paper your medium – long term plans which will inform the implementation of your short terms goals (diarise everything daily). Take time out to reflect on your written plans daily making adjustments as you go along.
Next, I will be sharing my two pennies worth on the International Development labour market.
Kwezi John Jere
Lead Consultant – Knowledge Management, World Bank’s Lusaka Sanitation Programme (LSP) & Postgraduate Lecturer, International Development Theory – University of Lusaka
