By Eric Shepherd, Executive Director, Foundation for Talent Transformation
As a workforce development professional, you know that success in today’s job market isn’t just about finding jobs—it’s about finding good jobs. You see firsthand how access to meaningful, well-paying work transforms lives, strengthens communities, and drives economic mobility. And in times of uncertainty, guiding job seekers toward sustainable career pathways requires a strategic approach.
Preparing clients for jobs with a bright future - roles that provide stability, growth, and opportunities to develop new skills - makes your work truly impactful. To achieve this, you must develop your skills development and build resilience, all while helping job seekers cultivate the self-awareness needed to make informed career decisions.
Good Jobs, Not Just Any Job
The distinction between a job and a good job is critical. A good job provides fair wages, benefits, career advancement, and long-term security. It’s a steppingstone to economic mobility, not just a paycheck.
As you work with job seekers, encourage them to look beyond immediate employment and consider the bigger picture. Which industries are growing? What career pathways offer upward mobility? How can they align their skills with future opportunities? By helping individuals focus on quality employment, you set them up for lasting success.
Skills Matter More Than Ever
In today’s economy, skills-based hiring is gaining momentum. Employers are placing greater emphasis on competencies rather than just degrees or traditional credentials. That’s why helping job seekers to upskill and reskill is one of the most impactful ways you can support their career growth.
Encourage job seekers to invest in industry-recognized credentials, apprenticeships, micro-credentials, and on-the-job training. Stay informed about labor market trends so you can connect people with the right training for the right opportunities. When you emphasize skill-building, you empower individuals to remain competitive—even as industries evolve.
Cooperation, Collaboration, and Communication: The Three C’s of Workforce Success
You can’t do this work alone. The best workforce strategies emerge when organizations, employers, and job seekers work together. Strong cooperation, collaboration, and communication between stakeholders ensure that training programs align with industry needs and that job seekers have access to the right resources. So, what’s happening?
- Cooperation - Workforce professionals, community organizations, and employers are aligning efforts to build effective talent pipelines.
- Collaboration - Partnering with industry ensures that job training programs are relevant and impactful.
- Communication - Transparent, accessible information about career pathways helps job seekers make informed choices about their future.
By focusing on these three C’s, you help create stronger, more resilient communities that benefit both job seekers and employers.
Building Resilience in a Time of Change
The job market is shifting fast. Automation, artificial intelligence, and economic changes are reshaping industries in real time. For job seekers, the ability to adapt and stay resilient is just as important as having the right skills.
How can you foster resilience in the people you support?
Job seekers need to stay curious and open to acquiring new skills, continuously adapting to the evolving job market. You can help them develop a growth mindset by encouraging them to see challenges as opportunities to learn rather than roadblocks. Teaching them how to pivot is equally important, as career paths are rarely linear, and flexibility is essential for long-term success. By instilling resilience and adaptability, you empower individuals to navigate uncertainty with confidence, equipping them to seize new opportunities and thrive in an ever-changing workforce.
Self-Awareness: The Missing Piece of Career Development
One of the most overlooked aspects of career success is self-awareness. When job seekers understand their strengths, values, and career interests, they make better decisions about their professional future. Encouraging self-reflection helps individuals:
- Identify careers that align with their natural strengths.
- Recognize what workplace environments suit them best.
- Gain confidence in their ability to succeed.
This is where the My Talents App can make a difference. It’s a powerful tool that helps job seekers—and even workforce professionals like you—develop self-awareness. By using the app, individuals gain insights into their personal and professional traits, which helps them navigate career decisions with greater clarity.
Your Role in Shaping the Future of Work
As a workforce development professional, you are more than a job placement specialist—you are a career guide, a coach, and a champion for economic mobility. By focusing on good jobs, skills development, collaboration, resilience, and self-awareness, you help individuals move beyond short-term employment and toward long-term success.
Now is the time to double down on strategies that help people to thrive. Together, we can build a workforce that is prepared, adaptable, and equipped for lasting economic mobility.
