Why Focusing Too Successfully In College Could Backfire Analysis

What is the best way to succeed in the twenty-first century workplace? The answer may be to think like a general preparing for battle. Be strategic. Know what you are facing and be aware of the potential threats and opportunities. Plan your attack and prepare for any obstacle or ambush that could alter your strategy. Determine if the resources and weapons you have on hand are adequate or if you need to refresh your current supply. Be adaptable to the point that if something doesn't look or feel right, change your plan. Be patient and wait for the right moment to strike, and accept that success in battle takes time to plan and time to execute. While today's work environment obviously isn't quite as dramatic as a battlefield, several characteristics

Researching the employment outlook in “hot” industries and emerging fields, as well as those that are perennially in demand such as engineering or nursing, can provide a favorable return on investment by increasing the likelihood of financially viable and relevant employment. In his essay “Why Focusing Too Narrowly in College Could Backfire,” Wharton Business School professor Peter Cappelli makes the case that parents should incorporate strategic thinking when helping their children with college and career planning. According to Cappelli, “parents guiding their children through the college-application process . . . have to be something like venture capitalists. They have to think through the potential returns from different paths, and pick the one that has the best chance of paying off” (435). Another strategy to consider is career specialization, which can be a detriment if the skills acquired are not relevant to what is needed in the current or projected market. Cappelli cautions that “It may be worse to have the wrong career focus in college than having no career focus” thus avoiding the ambush of having “skills for one career [that] often can’t be used elsewhere”

Change in the work environment can take place seemingly in the blink of an eye, and can often be unsettling to workers who may have a difficult time adjusting to the pace of change due to rapid advances in technology. In past decades, changes in the workplace occurred at a much slower pace making the changes seem less obvious. Today, processes and procedures can be implemented so quickly that workers often do not feel they have time to appropriately adjust. But to survive in this environment, one must be able to adapt. Peter Cappelli suggests that students entering college may find choosing a school that allows students to easily switch majors may be helpful in adapting to changing trends in fields with the highest demand for skilled and educated workers (438). He also suggests that it may be advantageous to “go to college to get a well-rounded education and worry about the job market after education” (438). This notion, along with limiting specialization in favor of a broader course of study, may be a wise choice considering the skills learned (i.e. communication and critical thinking) can be put to use in a multitude of industries and work environments leading to greater workplace