By Karolina Grzeszczuk
I am writing this note in a post-Brexit, pre-American election world where the Canadian – and indeed the world – economy seems to be holding its breath, teetering between hope and anxiety.
As career development professionals, you have probably encountered clients who are feeling some of this anxiety and wondering what it means for their future. They might be paralyzed by indecision and they probably turn to you for guidance and stability. You might be experiencing some of the same feelings as your clients. How do you advise and assist your clients in this uncertain economy where every day we hear stories of robots displacing workers and new business models replacing old (hello Uber!) without becoming paralyzed yourself?
Though there are no easy solutions to help any of us alleviate our anxiety during times of uncertainty, this issue of Careering seeks to provide you with some useful tools and practical advice. It also offers some helpful tips on assisting creative clients as well as clients experiencing the post-retirement phase of their lives, both of which require understanding the unique personal and economic circumstances these clients are experiencing. For those who work with secondary and post-secondary students, you will also learn about two exciting programs that you can easily adapt to help your students gain the skills and confidence they will need for a changing workplace.
It is perhaps appropriate that this issue of Careering is themed “Conquering indecision and anxiety during times of uncertainty” as I am personally on the cusp of a career transition. Working on Careering magazine has been a wonderful learning experience and I am grateful for the support of the CERIC staff, the guidance of the very knowledgeable reviewers and the many great authors who I have had the privilege to correspond with over the past year. Even though I cannot be certain of what the future brings for any of us, I know that we will all adapt, hone our soft skills and emerge more resilient than before.
