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CAREER crashes have become a predictable crisis for many people in Asia. The definition of job and career are changing fast. There is no such thing as "business as usual" any more. In some cases, when certain jobs are phased out because they are part of a sunset industry, things will never be the same again.

Changes will continue to take place at an ever-increasing rate. It is hard for many people to accept that what they know and are familiar with will no longer work in the future. The issue is not how to stop change, but how to acquire the knowledge and skills to equip yourself to operate successfully in this new world.

The workplace is filling up with people who graduated long after you did and who have acquired newer and more efficient skills. These youngsters are eager and hungry to show their skills to your employer and they do not care whether they move you down the road.

If you are retrenched, it is a great way to prove to yourself and others that you are capable of bouncing back after a setback. It is time for you to enhance what you already know and pick up new skills.

Learning is really a lifelong process, not just a short course you do for the first 10 to 12 years of your life. The need to gather knowledge and realise the meaning of sound principles has probably never been greater than it is now.

Developing and maintaining core skills is not an optional investment. You cannot let your skills maintenance slip for any period of time. In the past, many people considered formal education and learning beyond 40 years of age of little value to one's career advancement.

But today, you must accept and take responsibility for constantly upgrading, improving upon and adding new skills to your resumé.

Learning is certainly a key attribute of today's employee, and falls into two categories - learning that enhances core skills and learning that improves general skills. What employers look for in today's employees are adaptable or portable skills.

You will have to be a specialist and a generalist at the same time. Apart from functional skills specialisation, you have to master a broad range of skills that is required of a generalist. You must accept that employment security resides in yourself, rather than the position you are holding. Whatever your age or circumstances, remember that it is never too late to be in better control of your life.

Life today is a constant juggli g act between your time and commitments, caring for family and friends, and making space and finding the energy for learning. There is a lot going on, but with planning and commitment, you can continue your lifelong learning wherever you are.

Here are some suggestions as you take your first step towards upgrading your skills:

• Believe in yourself, especially in a time of unpredictable change.
• Do not think of yourself as a victim of circumstances. This focuses on negative thoughts and is a recipe for failure.
• Three basic skills are required of every one of us: To be literate, numerate and computer-smart. Without these basic skills, you cannot even continue to learn.
• Ask yourself:
  
  1. In which areas do I have strong interests to learn and grow?
  2. What do I do that makes me feel best?
• Constantly refine your specialist skills, and update your knowledge base.
• Do not let age be a barrier to learning anything new.
• Learn to apply your skills in a multitude of ways.
• Consider going back to school to pick up new skills. Back-to-schoolers have an advantage over their younger classmates - years of experience.
• Do not be embarrassed to ask for help.
• Remember that continuous learning is vital to keeping a job.

As an adult learner, you can make up for speed with your experience and knowledge. It is worth remembering that you can either continue to learn throughout your life or allow your skills and knowledge to slide into obsolescence.

Article contributed by N S Kumar, an executive consultant with the Management Development Institute of Singapore, a non-profit professional management body, which offers a range of management programmes from diploma to doctorate level. Website: www.mdis.edu.sg.