The Economics Of Job Searching.
The success brought about by the skill-sets we acquire on our job searching quest is dependent on one ancient economic principle of supply and demand. It doesn’t matter if you “follow your heart” or “go green”. What will ultimately determine you getting a job is supply and demand. Do you possess a skill-set that is in high demand? If your answer is yes then you have a higher chance of scoring interviews in your search journey.
So, what do these skills entail for your career? A simple exercise is to list things or parts of your career that are important and in demand. Confusing right, let me give you a specific example:
Lionel Messi (one of the greatest footballers to grace the field) and a normal civil servant. Seems like an unfair comparison right, au contraire my padawan. Economics is not partial; it is what is. It does not matter what feels right but reality states that people are willing to hold season tickets just to watch Messi on the field. On the other hand, a normal civil servant will never have that much pull in economic terms.
The harsh reality does not just stop there. There are plenty of footballers on the planet but few with the talents and capabilities of Messi. it is not really that hard to acquire certification to become a civil servant, not really, and therefore their wage bill can never match that of Messi.
In simpler words, the supply of Messi is very limited, whereas the supply of civil servants is infinite. The next logical argument would be that we cannot all become Messi’s. The story sure is not about having generational talent, but it is a matter of finding niches where the supply is limited while the service is high.
Another lesson in economics would involve a very practical exercise for an individual. Sit down and list the top 10 things on your wish list. The next step would be to list courses or degrees you would like to do. Now match the two lists pairing the products with compatible courses on your second list. Chances are most of the courses you list will not match the things on your wish list. This is also the mismatch that exists between the demand for skilled labor in the different fields and the supply of that labor.
Most young people major in what they want, not what the market demands. I think the newer students should rectify this. There should be an ability to scrupulously look at the job market see what is in demand, and select a course that will not cost you in the long run.
This may sound bleak for someone who majored in the wrong course but behold there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Globalization blessed us with infinite knowledge at the tip of our fingers. You can get any skill set you want online if you exert yourself. Companies like Google offer free certificates which can prove invaluable in future job searches everyone has a chance to advance so get in there and advance your career to get that money!
