Find your cluster, not your career

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question most of us have heard countless times as a child, and in some cases, even as an adult. While our answers might have ranged from “astronaut,” to “doctor,” to “Santa’s head elf,” according to new research from the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), we should have been saying “a Generator” or “an Artisan.” FYA argues that instead of aiming for a specific role or job title, we need to identify the skills cluster we fit into. What does this mean for the way job seekers will forge their careers in the future?

Job seekers need the right set of skills to navigate multiple roles within a cluster.

Focus on your skills, not your profession

The FYA report found that many of today’s jobs are highly connected, so that when someone develops the skills for one particular role they actually possess the expertise needed for an average of 13 other roles by extension. The CEO of FYA, Jan Owen, says that this is an important insight that will change the way we understand career development.

“At the moment much of the focus around the future of work is on which jobs will disappear and which will remain,” she said.



“This report shows our mindset needs to shift to reflect a more dynamic future of work where linear careers are less likely to exist and young people will need a portfolio of skills and capabilities, including career management skills, to navigate multiple roles within a jobs cluster.”

Ms Owen argues that if you reorient your focus to cultivate capabilities instead of targeting a particular job, you will be better equipped with the skills to withstand the evolving job market in the long-term. Rather than being limited to one job, you can adapt more easily and fit the needs of numerous professions within your cluster.

The 7 clusters of your future career

The seven skill clusters that were identified by the FYA report are as follows:

• The Designer: Mathematical, design and scientific expertise.
• The Generator: Interpersonal skills.
• The Technologist: High levels of technical competency.
• The Coordinator: Administrative and service skills.
• The Artisan: Hands-on, manual abilities
• The Carer: Empathy and a desire to improve the well-being of others.
• The Informer: Strong ability to educate and deliver information.

Perhaps the most influential aspect of this approach to career development is that it gives job seekers a strategy to analyse the best fit for them, while anticipating the cluster that will have the most long-term potential at the same time.

If you’re looking for a role that is best suited to your unique expertise, the consultants at Bayside Group are here to help. For more information or to register with one of our specialist brands, click here.