LinkedIn wants to help millennials deal with 'quarter life crisis'

MANILA - Professional network platform LinkedIn on Monday launched its new "Career Advice" feature in the Philippines, hoping to enable young professionals to connect with others for advice and deal with job-related "quarter life crisis." 

LinkedIn said that based on a study it commissioned, more than 60 percent of Filipino professionals aged 25 to 33 are worried that they are not earning enough, 54 percent feel unsure about what to do next in their lives or careers, and 53 percent are frustrated with their career options.

It added that 49 percent report feeling stuck in their current roles with no transferrable skills, 46 percent feel that their current workplaces don’t offer enough support to help them progress. 

LinkedIn also said 87 percent of young Filipino professionals deal with doubt and insecurity which can lead to anxiety or depression. 

Seventy-one percent want advice to help them figure out what to do next but don’t know where to go for answers, according to the LinkedIn study. 

"While there isn’t one simple solution to get over a quarter-life crisis, getting advice from people that have had similar experiences can help navigate these career crossroads,” Linda Lee, LinkedIn’s Head of Communications for Southeast Asia and North Asia, said. 

The professional network said that with "Career Advice" those interested in looking for job negotiation tips, switching careers, or pursuing one’s passions, among others, can find professionals who can help based on the type of advice needed or mutual interests.

"With the LinkedIn Career Advice feature, you will be able to connect easily with a range of mentors," LinkedIn said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Canada makes it easier for foreign experts to practice

CANADA - Good news for acupuncturists and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners: The government of Canada recently announced they are making it easier for these professionals to practice across the country faster.

"What we want is a one common national examination process so we can be sure that our licensed TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) practitioners in Ontario is at the same standard, same knowledge, same training as one in BC, essentially allowing them to move around the country and practice. Secondly, it also streamlines the process for immigrant doctors, TCM doctors who come to Canada. This is part of a broader strategy to make it easier for foreign-trained professionals for all the licensed professions to work at their skill level, be more productive," said Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development.

This is something that Filipina Melissa Briones hopes for other licensed professionals coming to Canada as well.

A lawyer in the Philippines, Briones experienced first-hand the problem with Canada's foreign credential recognition.

"We clocked in the hours. You went to school. You put in the time and then you don't get to practice and you're so very willing to pay the taxes. You're so very willing to work and able and then they don't recognize it because there's a credentials recognition process. Nakaka-demoralize for a lot of professionals here," Briones said.

It's the same problem that the government has been working on for years.

"The problem of licensing foreign-trained professionals is a long standing, really complicated problem. Unfortunately, there's not one easy solution. If there was, we would have come up with it a long time ago. It's complicated by the fact that professions and trade are regulated at the provincial level, not at the federal level."

"But by working together in practical measures like this project were announcing today, we really will continue to seek progress," added Kenney.

But with these steps, Briones hopes that Chinese professionals' example also teaches kababayans the power of working together for a common goal.

"Dapat yung mga Filipinos we have to be more proactive, we have to be more active in lobbying for our rights and our abilities and we have to educate them on how good the Filipinos are. It is doable. It is possible," she said.

Various Pinoy groups have begun lobbying for foreign credential recognition for Pinoy nurses in Canada.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com