Do The Experienced Professionals Need Internship?

I will leave you with that question for a minute.

Just look at the tension in today’s job market - Is it because millennial generation have a better way of doing things than the Generation X?

Again I am going to let you ponder on that question as well.

Digital Competence

In the emerging digital age, do you feel that you are not competent enough, fast enough, smart enough, knowledgeable enough or productive enough?

Just being efficient enough to juggle between apps is not digital competence. Seriously!

An even worse scenario is this:

Do you think your whole past work experience is not good enough? Those two or three decades of work is actually going against you because you are not able to quantify your achievements?

If any one of these thoughts cross your mind even once, you are a potential candidate for internship.

Image Credit: Canva Design

Seeking To Return To Work

It is a huge challenge to re-launch and set your career graph in the appropriate direction. However during a job gap, say the five years you were missing in action, a lot has changed.

“People of age” definitely need to take internship first to take stalk of business and job market and then to up skill to fit into that dynamic job landscape.

There is absolutely nothing wrong in taking extended break provided you have skill and knowledge coping mechanisms in place.

There are many women who once had a great career, took time off to raise children, manage domestic priorities or take care of ailing seniors at home.

There are two ways to catch up - read when you are away or pick an internship to be back.

The Switchover

There are many senior workers who actually want to do something of their own. They are aware that there is so much happening outside the corporate world. Some of them have the dough to get started as they are in their income peaks, however they are not sure about the kneading process, the grind and what to expect from an alternate income venture - a business, e-commerce, consulting, coaching or software company.

They have rich experience however without much clarity about how the startup Eco system works. They are probably too proud to be hand held because they definitely have an intelligent mind of their own. 

If they work for a live project either as a Co-Founder or on equity that can just be the much required trigger for them to take the final plunge, gather the required skills and mindset for a seamless switchover

Is that not internship too for first time entrepreneurs – in the startup world?

Two major outcomes of this switch over would be

1] Someone younger replaces him

2] Many more job opportunities can be created through his company

BECKON Coach creates learning road map for similar internships. We already have two internships in progress in spa and tourism industry. We will soon create/ upload those case studies, once it goes live. Contact here to know more

Alternate People Model: This Concept Will Take Some Time To Catch Up

Yesterday was my nephew’s birthday and so we were at my sister’s place for a small family gathering.

The night before yesterday I received a call from a real estate firm stating they received my submission on LinkedIn however without a resume. For me, every company I ping on LinkedIn is a lead for potential business – work scope that I can front end with client (Company) and my virtual team can execute under my supervision.

The key components of the work scope will be my ownership.

I am the single point of contact with client
I am the one receiving the instructions.

The role was Digital Marketing - My virtual team's sweet spot. They are trained on that and have executed assignment for US clients in Real Estate industry.

I was glued to my laptop till 3.30 AM doing something of medium importance and completely missed sending the resume.

I woke up yesterday morning with another call from the firm and even before the caller spoke, I apologized and promised to send my resume, withing 10 minutes - which I did. In the mail, I categorically specified I am open for contractual assignments only and I am not stepping out (work from home)

Within a couple of hours I receive another call to attend an interview on Tuesday. 

Now this is the difficult part. Traveling a couple of hours for an interview is outdated.

I do not just work from home for my clients, I do not get interviewed. 

I do short paid assignments to let clients test my skills and ability. Then we go long term or discuss the major project. If I like the industry and the subject in scope, I am okay to do a no obligation sample assignment. If they agree, the client will be made aware that the sample will show up in my portfolio and will be their intellectual property only if it is paid for.

I had to very gently offer alternatives to the lady who called - that I was open for SKYPE interview (Digital) and Test Assignment (Digital) only

Here is the irony. As I mentioned earlier in this blog, the role is digital marketing and the interview is physical - Why can't I be allowed to sell my skills digitally too?

The benefits of SKYPE interview:

1] Saves travel time 

2] Screen/ documents can be shared for past assignments done successfully and ongoing projects for which candidate has approval from clients to share with potential prospects

3] Live demonstration of how digital marketing can be done effectively 

4] It reflects company culture and forward thinking attitude.

5] There is mutual respect for each other's time which is a great contributor to build strong business relationship

6] This reduces the hiring cycle time frame considerably because the logistics part of coordinating with prospective candidates to attend interview, negotiating time, giving address instructions is down to zero.

Are the companies here ready for this little change? It will require some effort from both parties.

Write to advocating.outcomes@gmail.com if you have thoughts and perspectives on this. The most apt response will be published here.