Work to Suit Your Lifestyle

Work patterns have changed dramatically in recent years, largely as a result of the death of the "Job for Life", but this doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. In fact, our lifestyles are also changing rapidly. So a more flexible way of working could be more suitable for many of us - once we get past the initial shock.

Fifty years ago, someone starting out on a career would expect to be in the same field, if not the same company, by retirement age and would not have considered relocating unless the company itself moved. Nowadays things are very different, and work comes in a interesting array of styles. With many employment contracts lasting only one to three years, an increase in outsourcing and temping are becoming a way of life for many employees. Other interesting possibilities are now open to us - portfolio working allows one person to have a variety of jobs, often unrelated to each other, and more of us are now opting for self-employment.

Initially these developments may appear negative because of the possibility of instability

for the individual worker. However, not everyone is happy with the traditional 9-5 routine and many of us don't want to do the same thing every day. Although seasonal work has always been common in certain industries, thirty or forty years ago it was not a choice for the average worker. However, if you want to spend your winters in a hot climate doing something exotic and the rest of the year as a secretary in the city, this is no longer considered too unusual.

Many of us prefer to stay closer to home but would like a less rigid pattern of work. Fathers and working mothers want to spend more time with their children, possibly sharing the responsibilities of childcare. Teleworking, freelancing and setting up a small business can all offer more flexible routines for parents and anyone else who prefers to escape some of the unpleasant aspect of work, such as dull routine and commuting .

Another current phenomenon in the workplace is downsizing - on the part of either the company or the employee. It is often more cost-efficient for companies to outsource certain jobs and in some cases they will contract people who were once employees.
Alternatively, many people who have had stressful jobs, for example in the city, choose to downsize by moving to the country and either teleworking or setting up their own small business.

So if you or your children are concerned about the instability of the job market, you could consider preparing for a more varied career than was previously the norm. Keys factors in your preparation should be developing transferable skills, keeping up to date in your present field and considering retraining. You may not be able to prevent redundancy or the effects of short-term contracts, but with careful preparation you can be ready to set up your own alternative way of working.

For a free e-course on career change go to: Free Course

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