Do you believe that automation threatens your job? If so, you share that believe with 37 percent of employees, according to the American Staffing Association.
Is Automation a Real Threat?
Many studies put the likelihood of job loss much lower than employees believe, somewhere around 12 percent. Artificial intelligence is not yet able to think as compassionately and creatively as humans, and fails to reach the same level of dexterity (think of jewelers and dentists). Automation will actually cause some jobs to grow—including information technology and machine repair. In other cases, automation is more likely to change the nature of a job rather than replace it.
Still, the fear of being replaced by a machine is one reason why professional development and training are important to 80 percent of US workers when looking for a job. They want to be able to improve skills, gain new skills, and prepare for the future of work.
What Can You Do?
If you are concerned, there are several steps you can take to prepare for automation in your field:
- Build your networking muscles to find out about jobs that are a closer match for your skills, but in a position or career less prone to automation.
- Seek opportunities practice skills that cannot be automated, especially compassion, creativity, and decision making, either at work (for example, by serving on committees) or through volunteering.
- Teach yourself new skills; the more skills you have, the more opportunities will come your way.
- Take courses at a community college, trade school, or the adult education department of a four-year college or university.
- Search for a similar job but at a company that is committed to training and developing their employees.
- Keep an open mind; you are never too old to learn something new or step into a new role.
- Update and revise your LinkedIn profile and resume.
The last step is important. Your LinkedIn profile and resume should demonstrate the ways you have prepared for the job you want: a job that feels safer from automation. That means re-thinking your current information to emphasize the experience, education, skills, and interests that would transition to your new job. Robin’s Resumes® has decades of experience in helping job seekers transition to new roles, careers, companies, and industries. Contact us today.