Surviving the Paradoxes

In the introduction to his epic novel A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens records the duality of European life in the late 18th century:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. ... It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."

He could easily have been describing the paradoxes in today's world.

The Canadian workplace, since the start of the 21st century, has been a turbulent arena, branded in history now by words and acronyms that already seem commonplace: Y2K, 9/11, dot.com meltdown, Enron, SARS, BSE.

By comparison, in Canada at least, 2004 was year of relative stability. But whether it was a year of darkness and despair or hope and light depended heavily on whether or not you were working.

For Sonya, most of the year passed as the worst of times. A bright woman with an MBA and a strong marketing background, she had been unemployed for a couple of years. The darkness lifted in December when she was finally offered a position that will put her career back on track.

James also found work late in 2004 after more than a year of searching. It's not close to home and doesn't fully use his skills, but he's glad to have it. At 58, he'd begun to think he'd never find another job, let alone full-time employment. His new employer seems to value his maturity, he says, with obvious relief.

Sonya and James joined the majority of Canadians who, according to an Ipso-Reid survey, ended the year in an optimistic mood. The November poll asked 1, 000 people about their work situations, the purchases they're planning and the state of their personal finances. More than 80 per cent said they felt generally positive about the Canadian economy. About 40 per cent believed their personal fortunes were about to improve. Only 19 per cent voiced concerns about work prospects for themselves or their families.

This sense of optimism flowed, perhaps, from last year's relatively positive job market. Although not the best year this decade for job creation, about 195,000 "net new jobs" had become available by the end of November, most of them full-time.

Last year's economic news was generally upbeat, as well. The Canadian economy functioned at nearly full capacity, according to some economists. Inflation was under control. The dollar was stronger than it had been in decades. Canada's commodities market was booming. And the number of merger and acquisition transactions rose, typically a sign of confidence among corporate leaders.

The sense of confidence seeped in to employer's hiring plans, according to a Manpower Canada Inc. survey. Most enthused about hiring in the first quarter of 2005 are employers in mining, finance, insurance, trade and transportation, public administration and education.

And yet, for some, 2004 did not end on a positive note. The changes that have reshaped the workplace over the past decade have deeply threatened the livelihood of no small number of Canadians.

About 1.2 million people are unemployed at the moment (more than 420,000 in Ontario); another 750,000 are considered to be "underemployed," working part-time only because they can't find a full-time job.

By this tally alone, some 2 million workers in the country are not feeling particularly optimistic now. And for them, reports of an expanding economy and employers eager to hire seem oddly discordant.

Workplace contradictions like these exist, in part, because a positive perspective on one front often heralds negative repercussions on another.

The strong Canadian dollar is a case in point. It's a boon for importers and anyone heading south for vacation, but at the same time puts intense pressure on Canadian manufacturers. Some 50,000 manufacturing jobs were lost in Ontario between July and November. The strength of the dollar is also a factor behind the upsurge in mergers and acquisitions. While these sometimes improve an organization's bottom line, they can also cause workplace upheaval and career distress among workers.

Whatever your circumstances, this threshold moment at the start of a new year is a fitting time to consider ways and means to take charge of your working life.

There's little doubt that the Canadian workplace will continue to be turbulent and contradictory. Some industries will do well; others will falter. Managers will hire and fire. Employers will continue to merge, acquire and restructure in search of stronger profits and higher productivity.

If you're unemployed and living in the worst of times, taking charge requires persistence. You'll need to find ways to fight discouragement. You may have to upgrade your skills or your search methods. You may also have to adapt your plans or entirely change your career path.

If you're working, taking charge is a different exercise. The first to reap the benefits of a better job market are those considered to be "top talent": People with strong technical and interpersonal skills; people who embrace change rather than resist it; creative people who come up with new ideas and new solutions.

Career success on the job today means cultivating a mindset of this kind and finding ways to let your employer know you possess it.

Paradoxical times challenge us all. But if you're resilient, if you have strong self-management skills and persist during the worst of times, as James and Sonya did, you can survive and then thrive again.

Tip of the Week

If your agenda for the new year includes new learning, check out the federal government website www.canlearn.ca. Follow the 'Getting Started' link on the top left hand of the homepage to review some of the components of a comprehensive learning plan.