Jobs That Didn’t Exist 10 Years Ago

By Charles Purdy, Monster.com Senior Editor

I was recently interviewed by Forbes magazine for an article on how the world of work is changing: “10 Jobs That Didn’t Exist 10 Years Ago.” The article describes how technology is changing job duties and job titles — and, of course, the the skills that job seekers need.

Take jobs in social media. Ten years ago, we didn’t even know what “social media” was. Now, in any given month, Monster may see hundreds of new social media jobs posted. The number of social media-related jobs (which are jobs turned up by a search for the keyword term “social media”) on Monster has increased 52% over the past year (from May 2011 to May 2012). About 205 positions are available a month, up from an average of 155 a month only a year ago (Sep 2011).

I’m quoted in the Forbes article as saying, “I don’t believe that new needs have been created. We’ve just created new ways and adopted new technologies to get them done.” And I believe this is true. Companies use social media for advertising, for customer service, for public relations, and so on — these are all things that companies have always needed to do. The technology is just different now.

And this points to a truth that we all have to embrace: In order to have a successful career in just about any industry, you have to make a lifelong commitment to learning. The days when you could walk out of college with a degree, get a job, and then do that job for 30 years (relying on your employer for training) are over — just ask any marketing or PR person who didn’t stay up-to-date with how social media was changing that field. In 2010, we conducted a poll on professional development. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they  hadn’t taken a class related to their career in a year, and 60 percent said they hadn’t read a book related to their career in a year. These numbers seem awfully high.

And that’s because no one can predict with assurance where the jobs of the future will be, or what they will involve. As someone who represents Monster.com, I’m often asked for “hot industries” — sure bets for new grads. And I always answer with a note of caution: No one knows for sure what the hot industries will be in 2022. It’s up to today’s grads to stay engaged with their industries and their careers, so the hot industries of tomorrow don’t take them by surprise.

Get More Tips for New Grads:

• 10 Job Search Mistakes of New College Grads
• Essential Workplace Skills for New College Grads
• The Monster Guide to Online Networking

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