Five Career Predictions for 2013 [Part 1]

It’s finally here….2013! As millions of Americans are heading back into work many are looking for this new year to bring new opportunities and experiences. But how can you really know what trends to expect for 2013?

Meet Dr. Tracey Wilen-Daugenti, VP and managing director at Apollo Research Institute. With her expertise and skill set, below she offers five career predictions for 2013:

1.  Six sectors will offer on-ramps to career growth

Six career areas provide a snapshot of the new economy: business services, education, healthcare, IT, nonprofits, and manufacturing. Healthcare, the fastest-growing sector in the nation, offers obvious opportunities, but less intuitive choices such as nonprofits—which will need a projected 80,000 senior managers a year by 2016—also offer attractive prospects.

2.  Women’s career paths will zig and zag

Fifty-eight percent of women describe their career path as “nonlinear,” and nearly 90 percent of women executives and managers shift careers in midlife. As women and younger workers look for new ways to blend work, family and other life pursuits, the career ladder will gave way to a labyrinth of stops, starts, and lateral moves.

3. Career credentials will be under real-time scrutiny

Instant fact-checking and counter-claims on social media are not just limited to political scandals and natural disasters. Lying on your resume can hamper your job prospects, but some studies indicate more than 40 percent of employment applications contain false credentials. Today’s workers must present themselves factually and appropriately online, and provide proper attribution for their work.

4. Women will use their tech-savvy at work and home

A look at technology adoption among women, including in the over-50 age group, smashes the stereotype of men as the primary techies. Women spend 30 percent more time on social networking sites than men, and mobile social usage is 55 percent female. Women will increasingly lean on high-tech help to start businesses, enter STEM fields, and manage home-related tasks.

5. Work and education will intertwine

The competition for skilled workers provides an incentive to keep learning, on and off the job. Workers will pursue certifications, degrees, technical training, and leadership development to keep their skills current, and will look for internships, apprenticeships, and job rotations to gain hands-on experience.

Interested to see the logic behind Wilen-Daugenti’s predictions? Check out her exclusive interview with Recruiter.com in part 2 of this article..