A New Breed of Worker

Entry level applicants these days could probably do my job better. OK that is a bit of a joke, but in all seriousness the caliber of workers coming in for entry-level jobs is pretty stunning.

The multi-talented worker trend seems to be driven by more than one force:

• Younger generations developing a technical foundation early on in life due to exposure
• The economy has driven people to enter into new careers where they can merge new and old skills
• Following your work to the end as it passes through other people’s hands ensures you remain valuable to an employer. No longer is it acceptable to pass on your part of a project and hope the next person moves it along quickly or with the same quality.

It has become a world ran by technology. Sales personnel are learning about websites to ensure their main marketing collateral delivers the right message. Designers need to learn about how to make their output responsive. Writers must understand html to be able to post their content online with the right formatting.

Whereas some career avenues require formal education to enter in the field, (doctors, accountants, lawyers…) the internet becomes the main educational tool for online technical fields. Places like YouTube, thought leader blogs, and even LinkedIn are slowly becoming huge virtual campuses. Could this be the beginning of participation in a worldwide classroom? Things like finances, location and social status have washed away and driven workers can develop skills in an online related field.

Some of these thoughts were confirmed while attending Interactive Day San Diego. Top executives of a few large local agencies were expressing the need for what they called a “Technologist” on every team they had. So what does this type of person bring to the table? They are the link between departments. They may be crafty writers who can generate their own html and css, they may be developers with a strong understanding of design, and they may be marketers who understand usability and platforms…. Whatever their mixture, they are the bridges between departments and they help make stronger teams with better communication.

My only issue now is what department do I actually put them in!?