Career Literacy Guerrilla Style

My passion to increase career literacy among young people drives to me attend and present in conferences to stay updated on the latest research and activity in the education system. I use this knowledge to supplement my services with what the education system drops and to enhance coachee experience.
 
Reading recent research on the predicament of youth today, it is clear that youth between the ages of 18 and 34 change jobs 12 times on average. What to do and how to best help them? As always, my answer is Career Literacy.

Does Career Literacy include Teaching AI

The artificial creativity of AI (artificial intelligence) will never match the innovative creativity of humans but we need to teach students the skills to be creative. While not a direct quote, this is one of the messages I heard at the Creativity in Education Summit in Paris.​ Seems that CREATIVITY is one of the new buzzwords to deal with AI concerns about jobs of the future.

In my private practice, I continue to prioritize individualized narrative and dialogical coaching. I guide youth to value what I call HARWIRED ADAPTABILITY. Roy C. Vella details it as, “learn, relearn and unlearn”. Does this skill fall under the creativity in education blanket? Yes. When you are adaptable, you are using your creative skills to embrace change and come up with innovative solutions.
 
What about AI? No, I don’t need to worry about my clients’ knowledge and use of AI innovations, they are usually way ahead of me. I learn from them. 

I do worry though...
 
Will they know to use AI responsibly?
Will they distinguish between what is virtual and what is real?
Will they use AI productively?

The skills needed to answer these questions with a yes go beyond AI navigation.   

Competing in the New World of Work

Inspired by the book Competing in the New World of Work (a book I recommend to all my fellow book nerds), Radical Adaptability and Foresight Competency are the apparent necessary skills for my young clients. I want them to learn how to “see what is visible but not yet seen”.
 
I met Chris Mackey at a conference this past August and we started talking about skills of the future. He agrees. Chris is the co-founder of Skillsline, a company that helps people make the most of school, work and life opportunities. Skillsline is successfully partnered with schools, training providers and other employers in the U.S. helping students and employees improve these skills. Nudging my clients to develop soft skills or “human skills” as Chris and his team like to call them is crucial upskilling for AI age. These skills include communication and teamwork but more importantly for my practice is they do also include self-knowledge skills. Skills that will help clients increase their adaptability, foresight and creativity. Check out our workshop to learn more. 

Unplanned Obsolescence 

Recently, Chris shared the following article, Unplanned Obsolescence by Brent Orrell a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), specializing in job training and workforce development. 

In his article, Orrell talks about the need to develop skills and knowledge that are not affected by latest trends. The following quote confirmed what Chris and I had been dicussing:

“Chief among these (necessary) skills is something called noncognitive or “soft skills” which employers already see as the biggest deficit in the American workforce. These types of skills—things like communication, team work, and interpersonal perception and response—are vital in two respects: They help workers execute specific tasks within jobs and are foundational to learning and adaptation as new technologies emerge”

Guerrilla Style Tactics

​Going back to the conference and what is currently being taught in the education system.

Can we bundle all of the above under the umbrella of a career literacy curriculum?

For now, an upheaval of the education system seems unpractical and incorporating career literacy as a core curriculum topic has been an uphill battle. However, I am content to see the embrace of embedding career literacy within the curriculum precisely as Dr Kris Magnusson recommends, “guerrilla style tactics, avoiding head-on collision with the curriculum”.

It IS Happening

Having interviewed over 100 career people, I know that embedding career literacy in the curriculum works. It’s clear to me that career literacy among young people is increasing in programs initiated by hidden gems. I am excited to see it happening at Curtin University Australia under the leadership of Dr Alan McAlpine, the work being done by Educators Cooperative under the leadership of Ed Hidalgo and Dr Steve Regur and at Bostania Global led by Nerel Winter. It also works in my practice as I see it every day in the confident faces of my young clients.

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Imagine a world...

You are on the right pathway to what's next. You know who you are, what interests you and have found a connection to these interests. You are aware of what engages you to want to make a difference. And you are clear about what you want to talk about.

I can help you get there.
 
I am Hoda Kilani, Career and Academic Coach. I work with students, parents, teachers and community partners sharing the latest strategies to help you get there. Check out my Eventbrite page for the workshop that will help you get started or book an appointment to learn more.