Challenging the Traditional Definition of Work

Posted In: Career Coaching, Career Resources · By: Seniors for Jobs.com · Date: 21 Jan 2009

2MI stands for Managing Multiple Incomes. This is a new work model and means pursuing two or more sources of income, such as income from both a part-time job and a part-time business, or two part-time jobs.

• There are many new styles of work including:
  • Contract work: short-term work, usually less than a year; occasionally it is longer and may lead to permanent work.
  • Term position: a job that covers a time period with a specified end date. It is used to fill positions where the employer doesn't know how long a person will be needed. It may continue past the proposed term.
  • On-call casual: on-call for busy times or to cover sick days. This can result in anywhere from 0 to 40 hours a week of work and varies week to week.
  • Job sharing: a job where two employees share full-time work. This means sharing salary as well.
  • Working from home/telecommuting: with computer access you can work from home rather than an employer's office. Contract or project work can often be organized in this way.
  • Volunteering: working for a community agency to gain new skills or to get your foot in the door. This also allows you to meet new people and network in the community.

What this means for the Older Worker

• Permanent full-time work is on the decline and new work styles are part of today's work reality.
• The better you understand these new ways of organizing work, the better prepared you will be to work and thrive in the new world of work.
• You may need to change your assumption that the only good job is a permanent nine-to-five job with benefits. There are many good jobs that don't look anything like that. The benefits these jobs offer may not be immediately obvious to you if you have worked all your life in a "secure" job.
• What you know is more important than ever, but you may need to consider new ways to sell your experience and skills.

Recent years have brought a major shift in the type of jobs available. There's a move away from labour-intensive, unskilled work. All sectors, from forestry and farming to fishery and factory work, are using more computer-controlled equipment and far fewer people.

The jobs that have replaced traditional factory or harvesting work are now in a narrow range of service and information fields. Your knowledge and vast experience are assets that should not be underestimated.

One of your best hopes for success in the new work environment is flexibility. It may be necessary to have more than one income-earning activity.

Things to think about

• By being flexible you can find satisfying work and reasonable income.
• Look for new opportunities and you will succeed.
• It is true that the new work styles are short on security, but they may offer other benefits, such as the ability to work on a variety of projects that are both challenging and satisfying.

Things to do

• Make a list of your needs in terms of income, benefits, hours, etc. Knowing what you want and need can help you decide which style of work best suits you.
• Talk to people who have contract work or have a term position to hear firsthand how it works for them.
• Think of ways to meet your needs for income and hours of work that don't include a permanent full-time position, such as combining a part-time job with a part-time business venture.