This text is part of the special booklet Trades, professions and careers
The classic professional route from studies to retirement is no longer what it used to be. More than ever, in 2023, career counseling goes through a multitude of trials, errors and enriching experiences. This is all the more true for the new generations, for whom uncertainty and change are part of everyday life, which is not without generating its share of stress and anxiety.
Among 14 to 30 year olds, anxiety about the future is widespread, but also about their career choice and their professional future. Indeed, what was once called, in good Quebec, “changing branches” is a very widespread phenomenon, especially within the famous generation Z, and it has become more pronounced since the pandemic.
Last May, Academos, in partnership with Desjardins, unveiled its third GenZ report, entitled Understanding the professional aspirations of young people in 2022which reveals that 14-30 year olds juggle many uncertainties about their future.
In light of this survey, conducted from December 2021 to January 2022 among 2,006 young people aged 14 to 30 from Quebec and Ontario, we learn that more than 25% of respondents changed their professional orientation between the start of pandemic and the timing of the survey. And, in 2022, 45% of respondents said they were quite or very anxious about having to make a career choice.
“The reasons they cite are the pressure to make the right choice, or to make only one, and the pressure to succeed,” says Catherine Légaré, founding president of Academos, an application that allows young people to exchange with mentors from a variety of professional backgrounds.
The right to change your mind
This is what prompted Academos to launch, last fall, a “Plea for the right to change your mind”, a campaign accompanied by a series of videos painting the portrait of professionals who have changed careers and whose the atypical course has proven to be a source of fulfilment.
“With this plea, we wanted to send a message to young people, their parents and educators, and that is that there is nothing wrong with changing your mind,” says Catherine Légaré. This is not to say that we can change our minds like we change our shirts, but rather that we have the right to explore areas that interest us and the right to make mistakes. »
Often misunderstood, even misjudged, indecision about career choice is completely normal. Despite the prejudices, it should not be perceived in a negative way, says Catherine Légaré. On the contrary, the fact of having studied more than one discipline or exercised more than one profession can be a strength.
“In 2023, we live in a world where you can try things out,” she says. We are no longer at the time when people spent their whole lives in the same field. Even if studies remain a major investment, young people today know very well that the job market they are about to enter values a variety of experiences and learning, not just training and diplomas. »
Advantages of an atypical course
The clear and linear trajectory is no longer the only path to success. On the contrary, candidates with atypical backgrounds have strengths that allow work teams to progress and innovate.
“It’s an advantage for a work team to have diverse people who have done something different before arriving in an organization. These people bring other points of view. Someone who arrives with an atypical background in a team where everyone has a similar academic and professional profile will bring new ideas and innovative working methods. And on a personal level, they are often people who have taken risks and are not afraid to fail. We need people like that in our society to work in emerging fields, or to become entrepreneurs. »
Both in the labor market and among young people, versatility is also seen as an asset. “Young people know that it is important to have several strings to their bow,” says Catherine Légaré. In addition, our recent surveys indicate that the skills of knowing how to be, knowing how to say and knowing how to act are important, and not only the technical skills specific to a trade. We talk about knowing how to communicate, work in a team, emotional intelligence. »
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.