It's the end of a life of studies and exams for millions of university graduates. You're marching to get a diploma and embarking on the beginning of "real life" as an adult, where you are now the CEO of your own life. You're in charge. So, what happens next?
走上职场是数以百万计的大学毕业生学习考试生涯的终点。拿到毕业证后,作为毕业生的你开始了作为成年人的"现实生活"。如今的你是自己生命的CEO(首席执行官)。你需要为自己负责了。那么,接下来会发生什么呢?
Picking an industry where there's a greater upside can lead to greater success, for certain. But how many of us would bristle at the thought of choosing a career path in an industry that is growing when you have absolutely no interest in the field?
当然,你会选择进入一个更有可能助你取得成功的行业。但是,又有多少人进入了一个飞速发展的行业,却对此行毫无兴趣呢?
The industry you choose to build your career in will have a huge impact on your success. And while many can excel in that profession, the path you take to get there will have as much to do with your success as anything else. But does that mean you should pick a career path in something that doesn't appeal to you, just because it's a hot growth spot?
你选择开拓事业的行业对你的成功有着巨大的影响。尽管很多人可能在这一行出人头地,但是你要在这一行站稳脚跟,你所付出的与你在别的行业不会有很大区别。但是这就意味着仅仅因为这个行业是增长热点,你就应该选择自己一点都不感兴趣的职业道路吗?
A growing industry attracts people with the opportunities being created in it. Over time, more players enter that market, reducing the best opportunities for any one person. So if you're not sure where the intersection of opportunity and your interests lie, what can you do?
因为蕴含着很多机会,所以高速发展的行业往往吸引着求职者。但是,经过一段时间,随着更多的应聘者进入这一市场,平均每个人得到的机会也就越来越少。那么,如果你不知道机会在哪,也不了解自己的兴趣所在,你能做什么呢?
Be honest
要诚实
It is a fundamental truth that most people really like to do things that they're good at. So, what are you good at? What skills do you have; what work do you enjoy doing? Make a list, and then ask: In what type of job or career track is this skillset really valued?
大部分人喜欢做自己擅长的事,这是一个基本的事实。那么,你的所长是什么?你有哪些技能?什么工作是你喜欢做的?列个清单,然后问自己:哪种类型的工作或职业道路能让你的技能真正得到发挥?
In contrast, if you end up in a job where your particular talents aren't highly valued, you'll not only be unhappy, but you'll also be wasting valuable time. If you're great working with people, why sit in front of a computer all day doing social media?
反之,如果你的工作让你的才能得不到施展和重视,你不仅会不开心,而且你也在浪费自己宝贵的时间。如果你擅长与人打交道,你为什么要整天坐在电脑前用着社交媒体?
要有策略
What if you aren't really sure what you like, what you're good at or what you want to do? There's nothing wrong with that but you need to be smart about your next steps.
如果你真的不确定自己喜欢什么,擅长什么或是想要做什么,你又该如何呢?这并不是什么错误,但是你需要很清楚自己接下来要做的事情。
I suggest a strategy of maximising your options and experiences. That means engaging in as many different types of projects, extracurricular activities like joining a club or even creating one and internships while at school. The greater the variety, the more you'll learn about yourself. For every year you are in university, you should have at least one new type of internship. And if you're still not sure after you graduate, keep seeking new opportunities to test out.
我的建议策略是尽量增加你的选择和实践经历。这意味着在校期间,你要参与各种不同的项目、课外活动,如加入或是自己创办一个俱乐部,以及参加各种实习。如果在毕业之后你仍不确定,你可以继续寻求新的尝试机会。
要明智
There's one more thing to keep in mind if you want to give yourself more career options. Focus on the most important skills that apply to the world we're in. These are skills that can be applied to all sorts of jobs and are least likely to be replicated by machines, making them especially valuable since they'll put you in high demand for whatever direction you end up going in. According to the World Economic Forum's report on The Future of Jobs (January 2016), these top skills are: Complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management and emotional intelligence.
如果你希望给自己更多的职业选择,你还需要记住一件事。关注那些最重要的技能,这些技能正应用于我们所在的世界。这些技能适用于各种类型的工作,几乎不可能被机器复制,它们有着特殊的价值,无论你将从事何种行业,这些技能都能让你成为急需的人才。根据世界经济论坛关于"未来的工作"的报告(2016年1月),这些技能包括:复杂问题的解决力、思辨能力、创造力、人员管理技能以及情商。
The key message I want you to take from all this: Your career isn't something beyond your control. It is in fact one of the absolute most important things you need to actively manage as CEO of your own life. If you can make Sunday night feel no different than Friday night, you'll know you did it.
说了那么多,我想传达的关键一点是:你的事业并非不可控。事实上,作为自己生命的CEO,它绝对是你需要积极去应对的重要事项。如果你能让自己觉得周日晚上和周五晚上没有什么区别,你就会知道你做到了。