Essay 29 – The idea of having a single career is becoming an old fashioned one

GT Writing Task 2 (Essay Writing) Sample # 29

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic:

The idea of having a single career is becoming an old fashioned one. The new fashion will be to have several careers or ways of earning money and further education will be something that continues throughout life.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

You should write at least 250 words.

Use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

Model Answer 1: [Agree]

The concept of having a single career throughout one’s life is rapidly becoming outdated. In the modern era, it is increasingly common for individuals to pursue multiple careers or engage in various sources of income. Moreover, continuous education has emerged as an essential component of personal and professional growth. In this essay, I will discuss the reasons why embracing multiple careers and lifelong learning is the new trend and why I agree with this perspective.

One of the key reasons why having several careers is becoming the new fashion is the evolving nature of work and the global economy. Technological advancements and globalization have led to rapid changes in industries, creating new opportunities and rendering certain job roles obsolete. In this dynamic landscape, individuals who possess diverse skills and are adaptable to different fields are better equipped to navigate through career transitions and maintain financial stability. For instance, someone with a background in computer programming might explore opportunities in entrepreneurship, freelance work, or even venture into a completely different field such as digital marketing. Embracing multiple careers provides individuals with flexibility and resilience in an ever-changing job market.

The idea of continuous education throughout life aligns with the need for ongoing skill development and personal growth. As technology evolves and new knowledge emerges, individuals must actively engage in lifelong learning to remain relevant and competitive. Continuous education can take various forms, such as pursuing higher degrees, attending workshops and seminars, participating in online courses, or acquiring new certifications. By embracing a mindset of lifelong learning, individuals can broaden their horizons, enhance their skill sets, and adapt to the demands of different careers. This not only boosts employability but also fosters personal fulfilment and intellectual curiosity.

Another factor driving the trend of multiple careers and lifelong learning is the changing aspirations and values of individuals. In the past, the focus was often on finding stability and security in a single career. However, the present generation seeks fulfilment, personal growth, and a sense of purpose in their professional lives. They are more inclined to explore different avenues, take risks, and pursue diverse interests.

In conclusion, the idea of having a single career is fading, and embracing multiple careers and lifelong learning is gaining prominence. The dynamic nature of work, the need for continuous skill development, and changing aspirations of individuals contribute to this shift.

Model Answer 2: [Disagree]

It is not uncommon in today’s world, depending on where we live, to meet people who are having more than one career and furthering their education also at the same time. But, I would not go as far as yet in concluding that the idea of a single career is becoming an old fashioned one. Nor I would agree with such a statement which says that the new fashion will be to have multiple ways of earning money. I will explain why.

Having more than one career is always going to be challenging, no matter how efficient and skilled we are, primarily because we are not some kind of robots that we could work 24/7 without any need for rest, family time and socializing. Of course, we can work like this for several days or even several months, but continuing it year after year to meet our financial challenges would make us feel tired sooner or later. In fact, if having more than one career was a new trend, we would not see that the number of people in the USA, having more than one job, has decreased in recent years, with only about 4.9% of them having more than one job.

Besides, having more than one “career” and continuing education also at the same time would not help us excel in our career goal because it would almost certainly affect our productivity level. Besides, the challenge of working for longer hours will always be there to make us feel stressed, which would affect our health in one way or another in the long run.

So, based on the arguments above, I believe that I would still go on to maintain that having a single career is not becoming old-fashioned and will not become so either in the foreseeable future.

Model Answer 3: [Agree]

Single career is rendered obsolete with the rise of technology, inflation and competition. So, multiple careers will be the answer to this situation and technology facilitates this to a great extent. Besides, education will be a recurrent event to stay engaged and progress in our careers.

Inflation rises the general level of prices where one unit of money effectively buys less than it did in the previous period. And when a currency’s buying capacity decreases due to inflation, severe economic consequences arise, including the soaring cost of goods and services contributing to a high cost of living. In consequence, single career professional struggles to afford basic expenses such as food, housing, and healthcare. To combat this, more and more people tend to have multiple jobs. For example, my father has taken up a part-time job recently to support his current salary despite having a good full-time job.

Similarly, we live in an era where skill sets can become outmoded in just a few years; therefore many employees are scrambling to just hold their jobs. In the scenario, employees, metaphorically, are to be considered as surfers. They catch a good wave; the wave crests and falls, and they need to look for a new one. That is to say, the forces of technological advancement alter how the work gets done. Many professionals go to online sites such as Udemy, LinkedIn, Pluralsight, and Skillsoft, to name but a few, to enhance their skills. To justify the same, there is an epitome of my case. I regularly surf Pluralsight so as to equip myself with the technical and technological skills I need to keep pace in the industry.

In fine, it seems pertinent to remember that the notion of having a single career is becoming outdated. Multiple jobs will be in vogue in the immediate future. Likewise, executives should combine new skill sets with previous ones through learning until retirement in order to stay engaged.