Young People and Career Future

  Informing and Empowering

Kerry Mental Health Association

www.kerrymentalhealth.com

Today’s Challenge for Young People

Education and Work

Youth is a period of transition from the dependency of childhood to the responsibility of adulthood.   During this period we spend most of our time in school, in education.   For some, unfortunately, this time is a bore, something to be suffered through before real life begins.

Until quite recently, or 2008 to put a date on things, the global economy was kind to those who felt and acted so.   Employment was readily available even to those who had achieved minimal education, qualification or skills.   A ‘job for life’ was a reasonable expectation for many, even for those who had neglected school and skills. This expectation does not hold any longer for the unskilled, and even the highly educated and skilled among us must accept that most of us will change careers, possibly many times during life.

To put some figures on things, unemployment in 2009 among early school leavers reached about 40% while unemployment among graduates since 2000 has been as low as 2% though this is increasing for those who have not continued to advance their skills.   It is expected that in the medium term (post 2009) 80% of jobs will be taken up by persons with third level qualification or by skilled technicians and craft workers.

Education and work for life

Happiness is what we all seek.   We wish one another a happy birthday, happy Christmas, New Year, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and so on; at a wedding we wish the couple happiness and speak of the ‘happy couple’. To be happy we must have three things going for us.   We must be happy in ourselves, in our interpersonal relationships with others and in our work.   The three go together and cannot be separated.   We will begin with the last, our work.

As we saw at the beginning of this article, work, or employment, has changed, becoming much less predictable than heretofore. We must be sure to identify the kind of career we wish to take up.   This requires a great deal of thinking and it is important to look for advice.   The first source of advice is the school career guidance counsellor or a trusted teacher who knows you well; after that, a trusted relative.   Be careful, however, as some relative close to you, with the best will in the world, may direct you to an area of work that has high status but to which you are entirely unsuited.   What you want is a career that interests you and which suits you.   It is your life, be sure you make of it what you want.

When you have decided on the kind of occupation you hope for, find out as much as you can about the requirements of that occupation.   You may find that things like entry requirements, physical requirements or talents put that occupation beyond your reach.   Never mind, it is something to be kept in mind for the future; meanwhile, don’t waste time grieving over a lost opportunity, you will find other areas where you will be happier. Don’t see this change as a compromise but as something positive, something more ‘you’.   Never allow yourself to feel negative or defeated, always be positive.   Remember Barack Obama’s mantra, ‘Yes We Can’.   He won the most difficult struggle in the world by being true to that mantra. So can we in our more humble way achieve success by having confidence in ourselves.   Those who believe in themselves can achieve anything no matter how difficult it may seem at first; remember the song ‘To dream the impossible dream’! This is particularly true of the many rejections we must expect to receive in work situations.   Remember also that you must always be ready to grab the next opportunity for advancement though it entails work, retraining and further education. You must recognise that education is the ladder to success; not just academic or book education but courses in areas as diverse as communication skills, self confidence, self presentation, technology (which is transforming the work world beyond recognition), entrepreneurship, management, culture, crafts and hobbies all of which contribute to self development. An occupied mind is a healthy mind!  

The second element contributing to our happiness is our interpersonal relationships.   Some workers seem to live miserable lives, to be, as it is graphically put, square pegs in round holes.   Unfortunately, these people tend to make life miserable for all around them.   The reason for their unhappiness usually is that they are in the wrong job or that they have exceeded their level of competence within that occupation.   Most such persons have neglected further education or re-skilling.   Let it not happen to you!   The best antidote to becoming a square peg is to develop a sense of humour; in particular, learn that life is often absurd and that we are all part of it – there is something of the ridiculous in all of us.   When we recognise this we can spend many happy moments laughing at our own behaviour and better understanding the foibles of others.   Through all this have a deep respect for yourself and for others.   Anti-social behaviour is but one further example of undeveloped interpersonal relationships.   The person who has not learned respect for self and others cannot be happy.

Finally, the last element in our search for happiness is an integrated personality.   This comes from the successful fulfilment of the other two elements.   This may sound strange as it might seem to many that the integrated personality is more basic than our interpersonal or our work life.   This is not so.   The happy integrated personality is a result of achieving success in our interpersonal relationships and in our work life.

As we face the uncertainty of the modern work place keep in mind:

• Have a clear idea of your own career goals
• Get advice about your future
• Do not be put out by rejection; those who reject you are the real losers, Don’t see rejection as closing a door but as opening doors to other areas you will enjoy
• Make use of further education and skill upgrading opportunities
• Constantly develop skills in relevant areas
• Skills you require are in the areas of communication, interpersonal facilitation, self confidence, adaptability and information technology
• Do volunteer work in your local or broader community.   Build up your work profile; your CV will show you are keen to be occupied
• Do not resent having to depend on state subsidies while temporarily unemployed
• Don’t use these subsidies as an excuse to stay unemployed but as an opportunity to upskill
• Look into opportunities to start your own business; self confidence is the basic requirement for the successful entrepreneur.   Remember Obama:   ‘Yes We Can’
• Develop your creativity through literature, art, music, sport or hobbies
• Always be positive; smile and the world smiles with you

Qualifications are more vital than ever

THE CELTIC TIGER HAS GONE

The Celtic Tiger gave us a decade of apparent financial and material prosperity, up to 2009, during which the country was awash with jobs and money. Then the economy ground to an abrupt halt and the country was in the grip of a serious recession. The building industry collapsed and the manufacturing and technology sectors deserted the country like rats from a sinking ship. All of us were constantly being reminded that our unemployment figures were spiralling upwards towards 500,000. Unskilled and low skilled employees, in particular, were losing their jobs on a daily basis. However, there is some consolation in the knowledge that economic recessions are usually cyclical. In a few years time, when all of you enter the jobs market, the economy should be back on track.

NO SKILL NO JOB

The link between education and work has become crystal clear in the recent recession. When times are tough, early school leavers can’t compete with those who have qualifications. Even with the huge number of low status jobs that were generated during the boom decade, the unskilled were still four times more likely to be unemployed than those with a skills training. The unemployment rate amongst early school leavers was as high as 40% and increased rapidly in 2009. In contrast, graduate unemployment during the same ten years had been as low as 2% but that figure has also increased for graduates whose qualifications lack a vocational edge.

 A GOOD EDUCATION IS VITAL

Without a good education you’re at severe risk in a skills based economy. In fact, the educational record of unskilled workers is very poor. In contrast, the educational attainment of skilled and semi-skilled workers presents an encouraging pattern with 50% of these workers being educated to, at least, Leaving Certificate level. Significantly, in an economy, which emphasises efficient service and personal qualities such as enthusiasm, initiative and reliability, it’s interesting to note the rapid improvement in the educational standard of skilled maintenance workers. About 25% of workers in this category have a third level qualification. Professional workers are the best educated, with a whopping 90% having a third level qualification.

WHERE WILL THE JOBS BE?

According to career predictions for your age cohort – second level students - 80% of jobs will go to those of you with a third level qualification or vocational skill. Those of you with poor qualifications will struggle to find employment. The greatest demand will be in the management and professional sectors. The growth in demand for maintenance, skilled and semi-skilled workers will be modest in the current economic climate. There will be little or no demand for manual and unskilled workers. The concept of the “Job for Life” is virtually redundant. You can expect to change jobs two or three times during your working life. As well as needing a good level of education, if you hope to advance your career you will also need effective inter-personal and communication skills as well as computer literacy.

STAY IN EDUCATION

While it’s reassuring to know that high status employment will be available for those of you who are well qualified and have personal effectiveness, the recent recession contained a very poignant message for those of you in second level education: stay in education as long as possible. Education is your best insulation against the cold wind of an economic slowdown.    

Summary   

1)       Unskilled and low skilled employees were being laid off on a daily basis during the recent recession

2)       The link between education and career advancement is crystal clear

3)       The unemployment rate amongst early school leavers is as high as 40%

4)       Graduate unemployment during the ten years up to 2009 was as low as 2%

5)       Those without an educational qualification are at severe risk in a skills based economy

6)       The Irish economy values efficient service and personal qualities such as enthusiasm, initiative and reliability

7)       80% of jobs will go to those of you with a further education qualification

8)       There will be little or no demand for manual and unskilled workers

9)       The concept of the “Job for Life” is virtually redundant

10)   Young people who hope to advance their careers will also require effective inter-personal and communication skills in addition to computer literacy

11)   High status employment will be available for those of you with qualifications and personal effectiveness

12)   Stay in education as long as possible

Coping with Stress

Stress, of itself, is not a problem.   The ability to cope with stress is what is important.   Those who have the right coping techniques can deal with any stress; those who don’t cannot.   The following are a selection of positive techniques/strategies that will help you breeze through life with a smile and a good word for everyone.

·         Look on the bright side of things.

      A positive mental attitude to oneself and to the world is the basis of success. A   good sense of self-deprecating humour and a sense of the ridiculous are needed.                                                                                                                                                                      

                        Every cloud has a silver lining, only to look for it.             

·                       More time with friends and family.

                        Communication, honest and open, must be worked on; it is not as easy as it  sounds. Learn, above all, to listen to others and to yourself also.

·                       Think about, and try out, ways to solve the problem.

No problem is insoluble.   Calm yourself and think.   Most of our problems are in our own minds.   Smile at yourself – you will be surprised how this will help.

·                       Talk to someone who might be able to help.

      Identify persons that you can trust and that can help you.   Make a habit of talking with them even when you do not have a problem.   Such persons  might be a family member, a teacher, counsellor or friend.

·                       Try to stay calm and relaxed.

This is like point three.   Think back – how many of the awful things you have feared have come to pass; and even if the worst happened, how bad was it?   Smile!

·                       Let off steam by doing exercise.

Your muscles are stronger than your nerves.   Let them help you out.   You s hould plan and carry out a regular routine of aerobic exercise. A healthy body and a healthy mind go together. Lack of exercise is destructive.

·                       Look for help from a teacher, counsellor, adult.

Most teachers are only too glad to help.   Get to know those whom you feel comfortable with.

The following negative coping techniques are not useful, take it out on your own nervous system and general health, mental and physical, and leave you feeling dull and hopeless, drifting into despair.

·         Worry about the problem and keep it to yourself.

                 This sets up an inward spiral of despair and blocks your ability to think clearly. A problem shared is a problem halved.   You are not the only one to have your particular problem.   We all have much the same problems, thoughts and

feelings. When you realize this you are on your way to success.

·         Blame yourself for the problem.

                  Sometimes we are responsible for the problem.   It is good to recognize this but don’t bludgeon yourself to death over it.   Every human being makes mistakes.   So develop that sense of humour that enables you to look smilingly at yourself and say “you blew it”.   Don’t feel guilty; just get on with finding a solution to your present dilemma and resolve to do better next time.

·         Ignore the problem and hope it will go away.

                   This is living in denial.   It is doubly dangerous as it allows a problem to gnaw away at you while you pretend all is well, so denying you the chance to face yourself honestly and get the help you, and all of us, need.

·         Think that nothing can be done to make things better.        

                   This is the most serious of these coping strategies.   This is

                   approaching despair and closes the door on all the positive techniques that will certainly make things better.   You owe yourself positive thinking; otherwise you are in danger of using one of the confused-destructive  techniques listed under the last three headings.

·         Make a wish that everything would turn out O.K.

                    This is living in cloud-cuckoo land.   It’s all very well to wish but it is

                    essential to be up and doing and engaging in one of the positive strategies. So, check out these strategies and work on making them part of your repertoire of coping.

·         Let off steam by crying, screaming.  

                    This technique is related to two of the negative techniques, under headings four and two   -‘thinking nothing can be done to make things better’ and ‘blame yourself for the problem’.   That attitude of hopelessness and self blame leads to this unproductive behaviour that solves nothing.   Learn to smile at yourself and don’t waste time in screaming or crying.

·         Use alcohol/other drugs to try to block out the problem.

                    We are not being dramatic when we say that we are drowning in a sea of alcohol.   Exploitation of the young is rife.   They are being hard sold on the idea that they must have anything they want and have it immediately. Some 10% of our people are disposed to become alcoholics, some 30% to be heavy drinkers.   For those who are struggling with a problem or with stress, alcohol and other drugs provide a quick fix for a moment but leave one much worse off in the short run and in deep trouble and depression in the long run.   The young person who uses alcohol or other drugs is extremely foolish.   The one who leads a young person to drink is surely irresponsible and uncaring.

•  Lose yourself in cyberspace.

                The advent of twitter, facebook, bebo and other forms of communication can present one of the most insidious   and dangerous challenges to the student’s mental health.   They can be quite addictive and cause participants to spend hours steeped in values that can be destructive of healthy personality development. Develop genuine relationships with real people and enjoy human interaction with your family and friends.

·         Blame someone else for the problem.

                     It may be someone else who is the source of the problem but it is your problem now!   It is a waste of time and a distraction blaming someone else. So you exonerate yourself – the problem remains and you are now further away from resolving it.   Forget about laying blame, smile and use one of the positive active techniques.

TEENTXT is a text support line for young people in Kerry.   Are you suffering from bullying, exam pressure, alcohol/drugs, abuse, depression or no one to talk to?   You can avail of help or support by texting the word ‘teen’ to 50101.   The service is available daily and is free of charge.   Your concern will be dealt with in complete confidence.   For further information log on to the KMHA website www.kerrymentalhealth.com