Why being smart is not enough in the new economy

A New York Times columnist recently wrote about a newspaper in Pasadena, California, that uses reporters from India to cover local news. Traditionally, reporters attend public meetings, meet with sources and work in the communities they cover. But these outsourced reporters watch meetings on streaming video, and never work in communities they cover. How can they get to know a place? Google Maps. Community blogs. Pasadena-based websites. The more that's on the web, the easier it is to learn about a place.

So what does this story mean for planning, public affairs, and community and economic development professionals? Anything you can do from your desk could be done by someone else anywhere in the world - and probably for less money.

Technical professionals - those who specialize in analysis and technology tools like GIS -- should be especially concerned. In order to expand their markets, technology companies over time make their products easier to use. A decade ago, there were many trained web designers building sites that can now be done by technophobes with templates. How many people still work exclusively as typists?

Even when the economy recovers, it doesn't mean that technical or desk jobs will be safe. The growing global market means increased competition - and more pressure to be more efficient. If a few firms save money outsourcing some technical functions, expect others to do the same. Nonprofits and government agencies, under pressure to be cost-conscious, will follow suit. (Government agencies may lag behind because of political pressures to keep local jobs. But they may contract out more services to firms that would then outsource their jobs.)

How do you protect yourself in a recession and the new economy?

• Build your leadership, management and interpersonal skills. Become more effective at leading groups, managing conflicts, getting others to work at a higher level, adapting to change and communicating effectively in diverse organizations and environments. These functions are much more difficult to outsource. Become more knowledgeable about budgeting, project management, regulations and other matters that help keep organizations running. This may make you more useful in your employer's eyes.
• Network, network, network. In our fields, where so much work is collaborative and done in the background, it is hard to distinguish yourself from other professionals. The more people with whom you have good relationship, the more opportunities you may get.
• Broaden your areas of knowledge - and make your peers and supervisors aware of your growing knowledge base. As with any ecology, when economic conditions change, specialists who fail to adapt get hurt. By the way, knowing more may help you be more creative and effective.
• Pay attention to office politics. The people who support you now may leave, or be removed from, their jobs. If you've got support from their supervisors, great. If not...
• Keep your resume fresh. Keep your eyes open for new opportunities. It's better to change on your own schedule.

For more reading: Maureen Dowd's "A Penny for My Thoughts?"

--Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP

Do you have a professional development tip you would like to share? Have a question that you would like to see answered here? Please send it to Leo at vazquezl@rutgers.edu