Zenployment – the new emerging employment trend?

By Satu Kreula

Posted in: How to overcome fear & obstacles
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You may have caught this bit of news a few weeks ago. Norwich Union surveyed 1200 people over 40 about their views on jobs and careers. Two thirds said that they were unhappy in their jobs, and more than half of those surveyed said they'd be happy to go for job satisfaction over ‘conventional measures of success'. Most of those surveyed said they could see themselves moving on to careers that were more fulfilling and which made more of a difference to others and the world - hence the term ‘zenployment'.

Whilst this was looking at ‘second careers', I would have said this type of trend is also evident in the late 20/30 somethings too. I'm in my mid-30s and am starting to see friends who went into the rat race starting to raise their heads and go: "actually, is this really what I want to do with my life?" Most people I know then want a change immediately, which isn't likely to happen. The poll actually found that it takes an average of nine (!) years to plan an exit and embark on this ‘second career' - so maybe that's what I'm seeing now, the initial spark that's going to be required to actually get people out and about doing more fulfilling work.

I come across quite a lot of clients (and other individuals) who want to then make the ‘right choice' of career. We're still somehow programmed to think that we'll have 1-2 careers in our lifetimes even though most studies say that the Generation X and Y people are likely to have more like over 5 different careers during their lifetimes. If you think back to 30 years ago (okay, I was 4, so don't remember much either, but I have a general idea), most of the jobs that exist now, didn't back then. And with the rate that technology and thus society seems to be changing, I'd venture a guess that we can't even begin to guess what a lot of the jobs/types of work available and needed will be like 20 years from now (when most of us are still in our working prime).

So instead of worrying about the ‘right choice' for the rest of your life, how about taking that time zone to a more zen-like place. What feels ‘right' right now? What are the prospects for that type of work in the next 5-10 years. Good? That could be an easier way of looking at what to do next and take a bit of the pressure of.

See article about the study: http://www.management-issues.com/2007/5/11/research/millions...

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