One of the biggest challenges facing students and their families is what prospective career they should enter and what is the best path for them to take.

I was talking to someone the other day who told me he first studied accounting because that was what everyone was studying several years ago. It was and some say still is a reliable career.

However, then he told me that he was now studying financial investment because again –that’s what everyone was studying now and it was needed if he wanted to get ahead in the company.

And I asked him what he was actually interested in and then - well the conversation kind of died. So I asked why had he bothered studying accounting in the first place and he explained that it was his parents’ idea. Ultimately I asked what his passion was and he wasn’t too sure because he never thought about it or should I say – was never given the time and attention to think about it. And so it is – lifelong learning – or the continual need to make ourselves marketable in a world that appears to becoming more competitive as time ticks by. Is there a secret to help us so we can try to eke out some form of quality of life? Is happiness and peace of mind even an option these days – or was it even ever a reality some may ask. Were the good old days really that good?

Regardless or not at this stage in world history with increasing connectivity between people, ideas and markets – the ability to match the needs and desires of the day with your own skills and products is a tremendous and vigorous challenge.

Many of you may have gone into English or foreign language study because it was encouraged at the time when China was entering the WTO and this was promoted as necessary. Or maybe you were interested in international affairs or working abroad. Upon graduation you then faced the reality that there were many others like you who also had the same idea and there was a limit to how many jobs you could apply for.

Perhaps some then studied further doing courses for work such as a tour guide or translator/interpreter. Many may have decided that going into teaching was more rewarding or stable. Others would have gone into media or advertising or conference management and acquired new skills along the way.

This constant quest to remain ahead of the game is for many unsettling and exhausting. Some futurists who examine technology have even predicted that people should expect to change careers six or seven times during their lifetime!

So if you are concerned by the nature of change why not start spending more time looking through the World Wide Web particularly at leading cutting edge economies, institutions and their publications. Whole changes are afoot yet there is no reason why this cannot be enjoyable, exciting and also rewarding. Our attitude, approach and willingness to continually learn and update our skills must remain strong.

My tip is to track the work that Obama’s new administration is setting about to achieve. In particular, look at the people he has chosen as his key support team and try to read behind the light surface news and look at their career development and examine the recent reports that they are now recommending the US Government move towards. Key industry development, new modes of dealing with information and new demands are creating opportunities for the students and workers of tomorrow - if we stay prepared.

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