Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s Post

Yesterday was #socialmobilityday and it’s something I will always champion. I’m extremely proud of my NE working class roots. I grew up in a mining village, where all my family lived. My mum was an auxiliary nurse and my dad worked in a factory. Sadly they separated when I was just 8 and life wasn’t easy - in fact it became extremely tough. But, ✅ I used school as my outlet, I worked hard and put the effort in. I became the first person in my family to go to University. I also left the village and moved to Brighton. ✅ I had always loved tech as a kid, and within a week of getting my NI number I secured my first job working for Orange - working around my school hours and every weekend. ✅ I always kept focused on ‘what’s next’ and in the final months of my degree, I secured a job with Cisco in their very first graduate academy and moved to Amsterdam just 2 weeks after my exams finished. ✅ Following the sudden loss of my brother, I came back to the NE and carved out a brilliant career in Local Gov, progressing to becoming a Deputy Director in Central Gov leading #ProductManagement and #UCD ✅ I am now at a point in my life where I am focused on fulfilment and have returned to my home at Northumberland County Council as #HeadofDigital to make a difference in the place I live. Social mobility doesn’t happen by accident. For every person who tried to drag me down, who bullied me, belittled me, or dismissed me, I managed to find 3 more people who recognised my abilities, championed me and elevated me. I will be forever grateful to them. I took every opportunity that came my way. When things didn’t work out, I was brave enough to recognise that better things were out there. I moved on. So if like me, things haven’t been easy, then I would urge you to not feel like a victim, but to be a warrior. You can’t change your past, but you can choose your future 💪🏼 #mindset #positivity #warrior #career #livingleader #socialmobility

With all the headlines about AI and the impacts that will have on the #worldofwork, it would be easy to overlook the fact that location dependent job post demand for offline, practical workers is growing much faster than high tech roles in some highly developed economies, like the USA. Thanks for the insight, David Wilkins. #SWP #Skills #FutureSkills

As a software engineer with experience across various technical stacks, I've had numerous conversations with recruiters and fellow engineers in Florida. One thing has become increasingly clear: software engineering salaries here seem to have a very clear ceiling, regardless of experience or expertise. This contrasts sharply with what we see in states like California, Washington, Texas, or New York, where the pay scale often reflects the high demand and intense competition for talent. Despite some companies in Florida branding themselves as "unicorns in an emerging tech market," the reality is that these salary figures almost never align with what true "unicorns" in Silicon Valley or other major tech hubs might offer, even after accounting for differences in the cost of living and the absence of state income tax. This brings many of us in the Florida tech scene to a crossroads: Should we look west or north for better opportunities, or is there a higher calling to stay and contribute to the growth of our local tech ecosystem? While the allure of established tech hubs is strong, there's also something to be said for being part of an up-and-coming market, where the impact of our work could help shape the future. Though that future may be very, very distant. I'd love to hear from others in the industry: Have you encountered similar experiences? What has influenced your decision to stay in Florida or relocate? How do you see the future of tech in our state?

i want to talk about what "job security" looks like moving forward and have an open conversation about it. i've never had the chance to experience job security per se because the concept of workforce and pensions only seemed "attainable" in archaic systems. let me paint my experience in the workforce. in 2017/2018, hurricane harvey hit houston and it affected my career per se in the restaurant industry. in 2020, i landed my first full-time position as a teacher, and being a first-year biology teacher during a pandemic was as stressful and hard as it sounds. in 2021, i experienced a life-altering workplace experience that unintentionally allowed me to quit teaching full-time and work in tech. in 2022, i landed my first tech job on a contract basis and eventually converted to an FTE at my tech job. in 2023, i got laid off from my tech job. as someone who has never had the opportunity to just "be" in one career space because external forces outside of myself required me to pivot, i find myself asking what job security or stability truly means. is it contract work, full-time employment, entrepreneurship, investing, etc.? i've been blessed to have exposure to so many different industries and companies, and to have the education that allows me to move so fluidly between spaces and intersections of the workforce industries. my answer to the initial question i posed is, i think contract-based consulting work or just work in general is what this new era of job stability will look like. not solely corporate contracts but in private sectors, local city, government, and international levels. but let me know what y'all think 🤔

🌟 Why Southern Cities Are the New Hubs for Young Professionals … and Creating Future Taxpayers! 🌟 In today’s competitive job market, recent college graduates are finding promising opportunities in Southern cities like Raleigh, Austin, and Atlanta. These cities combine affordable living, attractive salaries, and strong hiring rates, making them ideal for launching a career. 📊 Contrast in Employment Landscapes: While Southern cities are booming, places like Salt Lake City and Seattle struggle with high living costs and slower job growth. Despite a general decline in entry-level job availability, regions with tech, health, and financial sectors offer bright prospects. 🏡 The Appeal of Southern Living: Young professionals are drawn to the South not just for job opportunities, but for the vibrant social scenes and affordable living. These factors allow for a comfortable lifestyle while establishing their careers. 🔍 Personal Insight: Living in Greenville, SC, I can personally vouch for the numerous advantages Southern cities offer. This trend highlights the region’s potential to attract talented individuals, many of whom will be High Earners Not Rich Yet (HENRYs). This influx will undoubtedly enhance the South’s appeal, creating a thriving environment for future generations. 🌟 Join the Movement: If you’re a young professional looking to kickstart your career, consider the Southern cities where opportunity and lifestyle meet harmoniously. 🚀 Discover more about this trend and why the South is becoming the go-to place for young professionals. 🚀 https://lnkd.in/eZgvQqtU #CareerGrowth #YoungProfessionals #SouthernCities #JobMarket #AffordableLiving #NewOpportunities #TechJobs #FinancialSector #SouthernLiving #CareerLaunch

MentorTown USA® is a nationally standardized, comprehensive and coordinated system designed to help prepare youth, in their local community, for a successful workforce and career life ‘fit.’ The system is designed to recruit and train Civic, Commerce, Education, Faith-based, Healthcare, Human-service, Performing-arts and Physical-activity employers youth in their local community begin a goal setting, talent driven planning document, The Talent Transcript™, to help them plan and prepare to meet the top goals of people in every city in the world …. a good job and a happy and fulfilling life. The US continues to have the worst work and life career readiness system among the 36 advanced countries in the world. “A recent Gallop report concluded that only 14 percent of Americans and 11 percent of business leaders strongly agree that high school and college graduates are adequately prepared for the workplace.” The Huffington Post, 2018 Over the years WE (WE News, LLC) have trained over a thousand employers to mentor high school, higher education, and technical training students to prepare for further education, technical training and eventual work placement. For more information, contact Ed Watkins at [email protected].

Q: What does it take to be the go-to destination for Gen Z talent?  A: An abundance of employers that place a premium on economic opportunity and career mobility.  NYC has long been one of the most desirable job markets for young talent. But...can NYC keep its crown as the job market shifts and the expectations of Gen Z place new pressures on the world of work?  In her latest Crain’s New York op-ed, Jobs for the Future (JFF)'s Cat Ward breaks down how NYC can stay on top as the go-to destination for young talent by addressing Gen Z’s needs for career growth, inclusivity, and quality job opportunities. See more of Cat's insights here: https://lnkd.in/dwyBY7J5 #ImpactEmployer | Salesforce JPMorganChase

In elementary school (1994 I believe), I recall a schoolwide assembly where the topic seemed to be something around future career preparedness. I recall the speaker telling us how the norm for our generation would be that each of us have 5+ jobs over the course of our adulthood. I thought that was unappealing then and I still feel that way if I'm being honest... So far I've had two roughly 9 year stints for two employers, first in education and currently in tech/software sales. I often ponder what one would even begin to tell an auditorium full of 6-10 year olds today about the future of their work life? Feels like a lot of pressure / uncertainty if you ponder it... a world where many historical roles will be automated, leaving those humans to ________________? #TimesTheyAreChangin #WorryingOutLoud

💛 🖤 *𝗦𝗢𝗦* 💛 🖤 𝗧𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝟵–𝟭–𝟭 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 – I need your help! This month, I have two virtual sessions to present. The sessions are requested by teachers who need volunteers to help educate their high-school students on different careers. Sometimes there are unique considerations - for instance, in the past I did a presentation to a class of students who were neurodiverse. In this particular presentation, I was able to share with them my own experience and how something they thought 'held them back' in 'normal' activities would actually benefit them in public safety. Some students may be looking specifically for careers that do not initially require a college degree, etc. I digress - I think educating students about a career in 9-1-1 is important because let's be honest ; most of us didn't plan for our journey into 9-1-1 or even thought of it as an option but we ended up there and (for the most part) we love(d) it! Part of this is about being honest and letting them know - it's ok to not have it all figured out at 16,17,18. Look at me, I made a career change in my 30's and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up ! So - what I need your help with. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝟵-𝟭-𝟭 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟵-𝟭-𝟭 ? The good, the bad and everything in between. #publicsafety #publicsector #911dispatch #911dispatcher #dispatcher #police #firedepartment #hero #heroes #everydayheroes #firstresponders #firstresponder #shiftwork #careers #womenintech #jobopportunities #opportunity #jobs #future Decided to be annoying and tag a few people who may be able to provide some great insight: Scott Brillman, ENP, CEM Dru Clarke, ENP Halcyon Frank, ENP, APTD Kris Inman Andrea King-Smith, ENP Erica Walsh, RPL Ashley Valenzuela

Unlocking Success at Duquesne University's #HelpDesk. Explore how the team effectively integrates student workers in tech support for 10,000+ users. From defining support scope to fostering core values, discover the secrets behind hiring, training, and empowering the right students. Dive into a journey of professional growth, #teamwork, and efficient #customersupport. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g3DkPr22 #TechSupport #StudentSuccess #CustomerService