The modern job market looks dramatically different than it did just a decade ago. Ten years ago, you would never have seen job titles like Chief Remote Work Officer or Digital Identity Manager. And new positions are being created all the time. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs report, there will be roughly 170 million new jobs created before 2030.
But how can you prepare students for the jobs of the future when you might not know what they’ll be? Jessica Lindl, Vice President of Ecosystem Growth at Unity Technologies, has spent years researching this very problem. Lindl joined us on a recent podcast episode to share what she’s learned about career development, including:
- How career paths have evolved
- What skills future employers will need
- What you can do today to prepare students for their careers
The end of linear careers?
Back in the day, the pathway was clear. High school graduation. College. Land the dream job. For the workforce of today and tomorrow, this vision is far from reality. "Linear careers that start with high school, then maybe college, and end with a dream job are dead," Lindl explains. "Those don't exist anymore. Instead, careers today are really organic and circuitous in the job markets that we have."
In fact, her research shows that today’s workers now spend an average of only four years in any given job. The amount of job change is a testament to the fluidity of the workforce. Many people change jobs because they’re underemployed. Lindl mentioned that half of college graduates end up in roles that don't actually require a four-year degree. Prioritizing college above job-training and other on-the-job opportunities may not always serve students as effectively as we once believed.
It’s time to rethink career preparation. Because it’s not just about college readiness anymore. It’s about understanding career development and how to become a lifelong learner.
Durable skills in the age of AI
Lifelong learning means building skills even when you’re not in a formal classroom. But not all skills are created equally. With AI constantly evolving and growing, what skills will future professionals need most? According to Lindl's research, you should focus on durable skills: human capabilities that all employers need.
"Human skills are becoming even more essential than ever," Lindl notes. "Human skills are things like collaboration and working as a team, communication, creativity, and empathy and connection with people and customers.”
Durable skills, like those Lindl mentioned, transfer across industries and roles, making them the foundation for long-term career success. How can you help students build these skills? Start with collaborative projects, creative problem-solving exercises, and opportunities to practice empathy and communication in real-world scenarios.
Gamify career preparation
Already teaching durable skills? Great! Your students have a leg up in the race for their dream job. But do they feel confident about their career readiness? According to a 2024 survey from the Walton Family Foundation, only 51% of iGeneration students (people born from 1997-2012) feel prepared for their futures. How can you temper career anxiety? Make it a game! Lindl and her team developed the Career Game Loop, a framework that transforms career development into an engaging, game-like process.
The foundation for the Career Game Loop is creating a solid community—a professional network that provides career opportunities. Lindl emphasized, “Many job opportunities come through social capital.” Relationship skills are crucial for career success.
Help students practice relationship skills with networking events, informational interviews, and practice professional interactions. This is particularly important for those whose COVID-era adolescence may have limited their opportunities to interact in a professional setting.
After focusing on building relationship skills, you can concentrate on individual career development. The Career Game Loop focuses on four areas:
- Quests to explore career possibilities
- Leveling up through skill development
- Strategically pursuing job opportunities
- Crafting roles that align with personal values and goals
“We created this framework and concept of a career game loop to turn anxiety into agency and empowerment," Lindl explains. You can read all about the Career Game Loop in Lindl’s book here.
It’s never too early or too late to start the Career Game Loop. With industry-recognized certification, you can help your students explore career possibilities, expand their skills, empowering them to craft and find job opportunities that fit their long-term goals. Today’s tech leaders, like Unity, believe in the power of certification. Learn more about Unity certification here.
Ready to play?
Looking for ideas to play the career game in your classroom? Lindl shared a few pieces of advice to get you started:
- Explore their interests: You never know what interest can lead to a future job. Encourage students to think broadly. What are they interested in? Career insights can come from hobbies, influencers they follow, and informal experiences, not just academic subjects.
- Make up mini quests: No career path can be built all at once. Set up manageable learning experiences that build toward larger objectives. Rather than trying to master "content marketing" all at once, for example, students might start by creating a few social media posts to understand one component of the field.
- Change the mindset: Career development is a long-term process. Lindl knows that to succeed, your students need hustle, the drive and motivation to continuously seek opportunities and adapt to change. This mindset shift is particularly crucial for high-achieving students accustomed to linear educational systems.
You can help transform students’ anxiety about the future into the agency and confidence they'll need to thrive in tomorrow's dynamic job market. Thank you to Lindl and the Unity team for their research and insights. Hear more about Lindl’s experiences here.