May 18, 2018 "To succeed, youth need entrepreneurial skills, experience": Today I found this article by Bruce Rothney in the Globe and Mail:
CEO and Country Head, Barclays Canada
Artificial intelligence, robotics and technological advancements are transforming the global economy. In our daily discussions with our Canadian clients, the No. 1 strategic business challenge they confront is the impact that disruptive change is having on their businesses.
The second-most important challenge for these same companies is how they attract and engage the most highly skilled employees to meet these challenges.
The second-most important challenge for these same companies is how they attract and engage the most highly skilled employees to meet these challenges.
The effects of this global transformation are being felt across Canada, particularly by our youth, who are entering the work force at the exact time when vast numbers of traditional jobs are becoming obsolete, others are undergoing momentous change and new ones are being created.
How do we best prepare our youth for a future filled with rapid change, challenges and opportunities? Like many Canadians, I believe the future prosperity of our country and our youth is dependent on how we change our behaviour today.
How do we best prepare our youth for a future filled with rapid change, challenges and opportunities? Like many Canadians, I believe the future prosperity of our country and our youth is dependent on how we change our behaviour today.
Much has been written about the key skills needed to ensure we have the most productive work force possible. STEM educational programs, investment in vocational training and community colleges, comprehensive apprenticeship programs and improved access to risk capital are all important elements. But I believe one of the most important cornerstones of growth, productivity and wealth creation for Canada is creating a more robust culture of risk-taking.
An important part of the solution is to equip today’s youth with an entrepreneurial mindset and related business skills to succeed at creating new businesses. Supportive government policies and initiatives can help create a favourable environment for such change.
Government investment in business and vocational education programs, tax policies that incentivize business investment and capital formation are helpful foundations. But the real onus for success in a primarily free-market economy to develop the next generation’s skills must lie with the business community. As Brookfield Institute highlighted in its 2017 report Future-proof: Preparing young Canadians for the future of work, entrepreneurial experience will prepare our young talent to succeed in a complex labour market that has fewer and fewer entry-level jobs, yet demands more experience and a wide range of skills.
Government investment in business and vocational education programs, tax policies that incentivize business investment and capital formation are helpful foundations. But the real onus for success in a primarily free-market economy to develop the next generation’s skills must lie with the business community. As Brookfield Institute highlighted in its 2017 report Future-proof: Preparing young Canadians for the future of work, entrepreneurial experience will prepare our young talent to succeed in a complex labour market that has fewer and fewer entry-level jobs, yet demands more experience and a wide range of skills.
Starting and running a business forces one to take risks, become comfortable with uncertainty and remain focused on goals. It also teaches one to be flexible, adapt quickly to new opportunities and challenges, hone persuasion skills and develop critical decision-making and leadership skills.
Most importantly, it builds resilience. In a future filled with new, ever-changing technologies, all organizations – big and small, new and old – will be seeking individuals with these skills.
Most importantly, it builds resilience. In a future filled with new, ever-changing technologies, all organizations – big and small, new and old – will be seeking individuals with these skills.
As part of Barclays’ citizenship work, we focus on helping individuals connect into work and entrepreneurs to scale up and grow. In my career as an investment banker, I have had the great fortune of working with many successful entrepreneurs. One powerful reality that has struck me over the years is the number of highly successful growth companies founded by Canadian immigrants.
Over my career, I have attempted to better understand the underlying common threads to these success stories by interviewing the founders. As I met with more and more of these leaders, it all became crystal clear: These immigrant entrepreneurs took risks where others would not.
Over my career, I have attempted to better understand the underlying common threads to these success stories by interviewing the founders. As I met with more and more of these leaders, it all became crystal clear: These immigrant entrepreneurs took risks where others would not.
In almost all cases, the entrepreneurs had little to lose – they arrived in this country with great ambition, but little material wealth. Most of them arrived in Canada with a different valuable practical skill in which they were proficient, such as manufacturing, software programming, design and communications equipment.
But even more importantly, they each had a powerful vision of their future, combined with energy and a commonly held view that initial failures were only stepping stones to eventual success.
Their continued attempts to succeed not only helped them course-correct, but also taught them the importance of tenacity, self reliance, leadership and grit. In short, they all learned that fortune favours the brave.
But even more importantly, they each had a powerful vision of their future, combined with energy and a commonly held view that initial failures were only stepping stones to eventual success.
Their continued attempts to succeed not only helped them course-correct, but also taught them the importance of tenacity, self reliance, leadership and grit. In short, they all learned that fortune favours the brave.
I believe that our youth, while often well educated, are missing the important lessons of entrepreneurship and risk-taking. So how do youth get the entrepreneurial skills and experience they so desperately need?
Global not-for-profit organization Junior Achievement (now known as JA), which has charters across Canada, is one option that I personally, along with Barclays, support. JA has been around for decades. JA Central Ontario, the largest charter, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, but it is now more relevant than before.
Global not-for-profit organization Junior Achievement (now known as JA), which has charters across Canada, is one option that I personally, along with Barclays, support. JA has been around for decades. JA Central Ontario, the largest charter, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, but it is now more relevant than before.
JA sparks and nurtures the entrepreneurial spirit inside youth and provides them with concrete skills and experience to succeed in the jobs of tomorrow. Through JA’s 18-week company program, high-school students gain first-hand experience starting and operating a successful company, from creating a business plan, through development, to taking their product to market.
When I was in high school in Winnipeg, me and a group of fellow students started Survival II, a miniature company that made and sold winter-survival kits, through JA Manitoba. The experience had a profound impact on my thinking toward business and the important and positive role business has in advancing society. Importantly, this experience gave me a solid foundation and confidence to enter the world of business.
When I was in high school in Winnipeg, me and a group of fellow students started Survival II, a miniature company that made and sold winter-survival kits, through JA Manitoba. The experience had a profound impact on my thinking toward business and the important and positive role business has in advancing society. Importantly, this experience gave me a solid foundation and confidence to enter the world of business.
Like me, for many students, participation in the JA program is a transformational personal experience. Equally important, it helps them overcome the dilemma of getting vital work experience to enter a work force that will have increasingly fewer entry-level jobs. For Canadian businesses, JA is doing much of the legwork of building and strengthening a talent pipeline they can tap into in the future.
At this point, experts are predicting a range of changes to the work force that may result from the spread of rapidly advancing technology throughout the economy. Regardless of which scenario plays out, we know we are looking at significant change and our youth need to be prepared to not only adapt but to thrive.
At Barclays in Canada, we are doing our part by supporting JA. In honour of JA Central Ontario’s milestone anniversary this year, me and seven other business leaders and entrepreneurs are volunteering time to give 24 JA friends a unique, curated experience to mentor and support young people for the ever-changing business world. Barclays is a proud partner of JA. I encourage others in the business communities across Canada to do the same, either by making a corporate donation or volunteering your time as a mentor. It is an investment from which we will all benefit immensely.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/careers/leadership/article-to-be-successful-youth-need-entrepreneurial-skills-and-experience/
Jun. 6, 2018 "Eviction of a 30 yr old from family home is a reminder- get a job": Today I found this article by Eileen Dooley in the Globe and Mail:
Jun. 6, 2018 "Eviction of a 30 yr old from family home is a reminder- get a job": Today I found this article by Eileen Dooley in the Globe and Mail:
Eileen Dooley is a human resources strategist, VF Career Management, Calgary office.
It is never too early to start building a résumé.
The recent story about the 30-year-old man being evicted through court action from the family home by his parents was a startling wake-up call. Although an extreme case, it highlights the challenging job prospects of someone 30 years old, with apparently minimum job search skills, and seemingly not much ambition.
As with many people my age (a Generation Xer), we could not move out into the real world fast enough. We wanted independence and privacy. We did not much care what we moved into, so long as it was ours. We were not looking to move into something like where we came from (in my case, a nice 2,000-square-foot home). Instead, a 500-square-foot apartment downtown that we could make our own was perfect. But to do that, we needed a job and needed to keep it. Responsibility and accountability were key to keeping that job and owning up to it.
Recently, a former babysitter called me for reference. She is 15 now and wants to work during the summer. She landed a job at a popular downtown restaurant, with a patio, working as a server’s assistant. Not glamorous work, but it is part of her gradual evolution in the work force and I have no doubt she will work hard to be a good employee.
As the school year winds down, it is never too soon for kids to start building a résumé. Working early is not about just making money – it is about gaining experience. It’s really not very different than when you land your first job out of postsecondary schooling, and equally contributes to building one’s character.
Eventually, when it comes to landing a first “real” job that allows them to be independent, your child will have the skills, knowledge and leverage to find work. They will have references, a list of accomplishments and will have demonstrated their commitment to being a solid employee.
So, how can you help your child get that résumé going and hopefully avoid having the 30-year-old at home? There are no absolute guarantees, but here are some suggestions.
1. As early as possible, involve children in volunteering, especially in community causes that show them the value of work. Stuffing food hampers, garbage pick-up in community parks, or serving meals to the homeless come to mind. This type of volunteering opens their eyes to the world beyond their front steps. It starts to build the foundation of the importance of work and what it could mean to others.
2. Help children find early “jobs” that demonstrate responsibility and, most important, accountability. Babysitting comes to mind. With some proper training, it is something a 12-year-old can do. It is not about making a huge chunk of change.
Instead, the focus should be on learning responsibility and accountability, and earning a much-needed reference for later. There are also people looking for help shovelling snow or cutting grass. Children should seek out these opportunities themselves and not have their parents doing it for them. That helps them gain confidence and begins the essential early networking skills that are tremendously important later on.
3. As soon as the child is of legal working age, suggest (or insist) that they find some sort of part-time job. There are plenty of roles out there for responsible teens who can interact well with people, show up to work and work hard. Too many times I have heard the story about how a parent prefers they focus on school work rather than juggle both. Except in extreme circumstances, most children can do both, and do them well.
My opinion: Except me, I never worked in high school. I was terrible at math and science and needed a lot of help.
4. No working-age kid should be bored in the summer. Getting up every day and going to work will fix any type of boredom and could possibly earn some decent money to go toward further education or training. Think about working at a summer camp, or seasonal student employment with the private or public sector.
Work isn’t perfect, but looking back each role teaches us something about the real world, where accountability and responsibility are paramount. It’s never too early to start learning about that.
Yep! Get a job! :-)
Loved this article!
Thanks Eileen for writing about what I think most people are thinking when they read a 30 year old needs to be removed from his parents home.
Loved this article!
Thanks Eileen for writing about what I think most people are thinking when they read a 30 year old needs to be removed from his parents home.
There are a lot of jobs out there, but for many it means leaving their parents home in the GTA, where mom and dad pay the bills and buy the food and booze, and moving to where the work is.
Face it, not all, but lots, of these kids just don't want to leave the nest. Parents think they are 'helping' them, but all they are doing is screwing up the kid's future.
Face it, not all, but lots, of these kids just don't want to leave the nest. Parents think they are 'helping' them, but all they are doing is screwing up the kid's future.
Great article, especially in light of the many young people you hear of who do not have summer jobs, or any work experience by the time they hit post-secondary education. The onus, of course, rests on the parents, not the kids.
RE: GET A JOBI owe my early start in the Canadian workforce (12) to two factors:1. The need for my own spending money. My parents were slightly parsimonious in the "allowance" department. That worked. First job: paper route. The hidden benefit: how to organize, take responsibility, and the importance of reliability and salesmanship (wow: the bonuses at Christmas!)
2. Girls. My parents spotted me (then 15) holding hands with my first girlfriend as they drove by (Kathy Woodley, where are you now?) Said mom when I (finally) arrived home: If you're going to start squiring girls around, you need to get a job." ("Squiring girls around": don'tcha love the language??)
So I went out and got one: bag boy at Shop Easy. Besides the money, learned a lot there, too. About what I was good at, what I really wanted--and it wasn't retail, in ANY department--and unions, too.
What I later learned was that the right job can actually help you GET the girls you want! Being in radio's good for that--not a lot of OTHER things, but that one, at least.
See? It's called incentive.
2. Girls. My parents spotted me (then 15) holding hands with my first girlfriend as they drove by (Kathy Woodley, where are you now?) Said mom when I (finally) arrived home: If you're going to start squiring girls around, you need to get a job." ("Squiring girls around": don'tcha love the language??)
So I went out and got one: bag boy at Shop Easy. Besides the money, learned a lot there, too. About what I was good at, what I really wanted--and it wasn't retail, in ANY department--and unions, too.
What I later learned was that the right job can actually help you GET the girls you want! Being in radio's good for that--not a lot of OTHER things, but that one, at least.
See? It's called incentive.
Eileen,
How about answering a really challenging question.
People at my former employer are blocking me from employment, among other things.
There are people in this gang with access to very powerful people and lots of money. They probably dream of creating a slave relationship. Blackmail is definitely part of the picture.
They block access to lawyers, police (unless it's one of their pals) and other sources of support.
They tell their buddies in civil liberties organizations big lies.
What to do?
Signed,
Someone with a heck of a lot more experience than a high school student
How about answering a really challenging question.
People at my former employer are blocking me from employment, among other things.
There are people in this gang with access to very powerful people and lots of money. They probably dream of creating a slave relationship. Blackmail is definitely part of the picture.
They block access to lawyers, police (unless it's one of their pals) and other sources of support.
They tell their buddies in civil liberties organizations big lies.
What to do?
Signed,
Someone with a heck of a lot more experience than a high school student
PS - I'm not joking at all or speaking "in reverse".
This is a nightmare. See the article about the veteran who committed suicide in PEI for an idea of how much of a nightmare this is.
This is a nightmare. See the article about the veteran who committed suicide in PEI for an idea of how much of a nightmare this is.
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