Author: jadmin

Hey there, career climbers! This month, we’re diving into the hottest trend shaking up the world of work: Skills-first hiring. Forget the days when a degree was your golden ticket. Now, employers are hungry for real-world skills and experience, making this the perfect time to supercharge your career.

Why the shift? Buckle up, because it’s a wild ride:

• Technology is a whirlwind: Industries are transforming faster than ever, leaving traditional degrees with an expiring shelf life. A 2023 study by the World Economic Forum found that 74% of businesses report they need to equip their workforce with new skills due to technological advancements. This means technical skills learned even five years ago might be obsolete, demanding constant learning and adaptability.
  
• Human skills are the secret sauce: Collaboration, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence are gold dust in today’s team-driven workplaces. A whopping 90% of hiring managers report that soft skills are as important, or even more important, than technical skills, according to LinkedIn’s 2024 Global Talent Trends Report. No matter your field, these human skills are the keys to unlocking leadership and innovation.
  
• The price tag on a degree can be a major hurdle: Traditional education can leave you drowning in debt, especially when it doesn’t guarantee a job. Thankfully, alternative learning options like certification programs, online courses, and apprenticeships offer affordable, targeted skill development. A 2023 report by the National Skills Coalition found that 92% of jobs analyzed require digital skills, yet one-third of workers lack the foundational skills needed to enter and thrive in today’s workforce. This highlights the critical need for accessible and effective skill development solutions.

So, how do you conquer this new skills-based landscape? Here’s your battle plan:

• Become a skill-seeker: Identify the skills in demand for your dream career. Explore learning methods that fit your budget and schedule, whether it’s online courses, hands-on opportunities, or apprenticeships. Remember, degrees are just one piece of the puzzle.
  
• Showcase your skills like a pro: Don’t just list skills on your resume; make them sing! Quantify your impact, use relevant keywords, and highlight micro-credentials and certificates to prove your expertise. Think of your resume as a skills trophy case.
  
• Stay ahead of the curve: The world of work is constantly evolving, so never stop learning. A 2024 study by The Conference Board found that 87% of employees believe they need to develop new skills throughout their careers to keep up with changes in the workplace. Seek ongoing learning opportunities, and don’t forget to communicate your skill development to your employer. Create a skills portfolio to track your progress and show off your dedication.

Now, here’s the exciting part: Unearthing your hidden skill potential and learning how to communicate them can be easier than you think! Introducing Journeys Map’s Skills Matcher assessment, a free, 10-minute online tool that matches your unique skills with potential careers.

Here’s how it works:

1. Answer a series of questions about your skills and interests.
2. The assessment analyzes your responses and identifies Best Fit, Great Fit, and Good Fit career options for you.
3. Get a personalized report highlighting the skills that make you a perfect match for these careers.

Remember:

• You have options: Don’t let a lack of a degree hold you back. Explore alternative learning pathways and focus on building in-demand skills.
  
• Be proactive: Take charge of your career by actively seeking opportunities to learn and grow. Don’t wait for the skills fairy to visit!
  
• Network and connect: Build relationships with professionals in your field and stay informed about industry trends. Your network is your skill-building support system. This doesn’t just mean attending industry events or joining LinkedIn groups. Platforms like Journeys Map even go a step further, connecting you with potential mentors, colleagues, and even informing you about relevant job boards, internship opportunities, and certification programs. Pathways to career building are not linear, and Journeys Map knows that your pathway is as unique as you are.

Ready to unlock your true career potential? Head over to JourneysMap.com and take the Skills Matcher assessment today! It’s fast, fun, and your key to thriving in the skills economy!

We are excited to announce that in December, Journeys Map was selected to receive the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) & San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence’s (CCOE) 2023 Cybersecurity Stewardship Award for Organization of the Year!

The recognition symbolizes our ongoing effort to transform the way pathways to meaningful careers are created and utilized. The work begins here in our home base of San Diego — within the education and cybersecurity communities — and extends out to a broader audience through our work internationally. We have quietly but assuredly worked closely with many companies and non-profit organizations within the region to create access and opportunity to available jobs for both youth and adult populations.

The success of Journeys Map is a direct reflection of EdGate’s determination and efforts to power education for everyone, from school age to retirement.

This is the third year in a row that we have been recognized with a Cybersecurity Stewardship Award, and the second time this year, including our CEO Peter Sibley’s recognition as CEO of the Year by the SDBJ, that EdGate has risen to the occasion as an organization. The entire team at EdGate continues to strive to make a difference in the communities we serve. As we like to say, EdGate Powers Education.

For companies, c-suite execs and front-line managers looking to take their teams to new heights in 2024, the first step inevitably lies in understanding the full potential of their existing teams.

A goal here at Journeys Map is to find better ways of empowering managers and CEOs alike with unparalleled insights into the hidden talents within their organization. A key differentiator, the right mix of talent can make or break a company. Once your team is optimized, the key becomes preservation and long term development. Journeys Map is designed to provide directional navigation through the diverse skills, experiences, and potentials of your team members. The information provided can help unearth the untapped brilliance within your workforce to drive innovation, collaboration, and sustainability.

Retention Focused:

Did you know that 40% of employees leave due to a lack of career growth? By identifying and nurturing your teams existing talent sets, retention rate will increase. Often, employees have different sets of skills that can be applied in new and important way — Journeys Map is designed to help you unlock these treasures and identify new ways to apply and optimize them —increasing productivity. Occasionally, new career focuses can be found as well, allowing a good employee to become a better version of themselves in a new and exciting capacity.

Illuminating Diversity:

Diversity matters and according to Glassdoor 67% of job seekers prioritize searching for companies with diverse workforces. Journeys Map lights up underutilized talent, especially in underrepresented groups. By unveiling hidden skill sets, you can build a more inclusive and dynamic workforce, attracting top talent and boosting innovation. Picture a programmer with a passion for community outreach becoming your social impact champion – Journeys Map makes it possible.

Employee Engagement:

We all know that when an employee feels stuck in a career rut, it’s demotivating. Journeys Map showcases the kaleidoscope of career possibilities within your company, reigniting passion and engagement. For example, when Susan in sales utilizes our Interest Survey and discovers her negotiation skills, it makes her the perfect candidate for a client-facing role. That’s just one way Journneys Map can help you retain happy, engaged employees who contribute their best work.

Skills Assessment Lens:

Journeys Skills Assessment helps your employees look at their current roles through the lens of their talents and skills. Are they underutilized, or can you leverage hidden talents within the company? It provides the clarity needed to make informed decisions about fitting into higher roles or switching contributions to a whole new department.

Want more information on how you can transform your workplace into a talent powerhouse? Contact the team at Journeys Map today and learn how the hidden talents of your team can take center stage, propelling them to unparalleled success!

Imagine a world where careers aren’t ladders but constellations. Twinkling possibilities sprawl before you, connected by constellations of skills you already possess. Sounds pretty epic, right? Well, buckle up, because Journeys Map is your personal cartographer to these career galaxies.

Let’s face it, most career advice boils down to two options: climb the same ladder everyone else is on, or take a leap of faith into the unknown. Journeys Map throws this tired binary out the airlock. Here’s why it’s a game-changer for career changers and professionals:

Skills self-discovery superpower: Forget generic career quizzes. Journeys Map delves deep, analyzing your work history, education, and even volunteer experiences to map your unique skill set. It’s like a magic mirror revealing the hidden talents you didn’t even know you had. Suddenly, that passion project you thought was just a hobby becomes the key to unlocking a fulfilling career in something you love waking up to do every day.

Uncharted career path explorer: Forget the “should” game. Journeys Map shows you realistic, attainable career options based on your existing skills. The data-driven map highlights both familiar and surprising new career paths, letting you explore possibilities you might have never considered. Remember the daydreamer in school with a knack for writing? Journeys Map might reveal their potential as a captivating copywriter or even a children’s book author.

Confidence-boosting career compass: Feeling lost or undervalued? Journeys Map is your antidote. Seeing your skills translated into concrete career options is incredibly empowering. It validates your worth and gives you the confidence to pursue your dream job, whether it’s within your current company or in a brand new galaxy.

Turn your skills into new career pathways:  Want to explore where your skills can take you? The Journeys Map Skills Matcher walks you through questions that assess your current skills and where you shine best. Then matches you with exciting careers that fit your individual skillset! 

Journeys Map isn’t just a career mapping tool; it’s a talent liberation movement. It shows us that career paths aren’t linear, but constellations waiting to be explored. It’s a self-discovery journey, revealing hidden talents and opening doors to fulfilling careers, new and old.. So, chart your course with Journeys Map, and let your career constellation shine.

Ready to map your future? Visit JourneysMap.com and ignite your career journey today!

Journeys Map is pleased to announce that CEO Peter Sibley has been named Small Business CEO of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal. The award was conferred at The Journals signature dinner event, held on June 27, 2023. Along with Peter were finalists from across a spectrum of business categories representing the diversity of the San Diego business scene.

San Diego has a talented, highly educated workforce along with a dynamic mix of high-tech industry and recreational assets. With a strong Defense industry presence, San Diego has developed into a world-class leader in cybersecurity training and job creation. A part of the San Diego business community for the past 33 years, Peter has been steeped in the education and technology scene and is well known and admired by everyone he connects with.

Peter has been CEO of EDmin for 33 years, of EdGate for the past 19, and of Journeys Map for 9. In 2022 the companies underwent a restructuring, bringing all entities under the EdGate brand. EdGate’s mission is to ‘power education’ with world class services and technology. With the most comprehensive and well-maintained database of academic and CTE standards, EdGate is widely considered the ‘Gold Standard’ in Learning Standards.

Universally admired for his patient, thoughtful approach to business, Peter is not only admired within EdGate, but also serves on several regional non-profit boards and advisory councils. He serves on the University of San Diego School Leadership and Education Advisory Board, the National Initiative for Cyber Education (NICE) Career Pathways Taskforce and is a former member of the West Texas University Department of Information Systems Advisory Board. Peter also held the position of Dean of the School of Computer Science & Engineering at National University based in San Diego, California. Presently, Peter serves as a board member of the San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE), a nonprofit that mobilizes businesses, academia and government to grow the regional cyber economy and create a more secure digital community for all.

“Peter’s passion and commitment to seeding and diversifying the talent pipeline is infectious and we’re grateful for his leadership on the Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE) Board.” – Lisa Easterly, President & CEO, CCOE

Peter is dedicated to empowering others and has set his sights on creating dramatic change within the career pathways industry. His drive is to use the resources available within EdGate to empower individuals of any age to successfully navigation their life’s journey with a tool that is both intuitive and highly functional.

The entire team at EdGate would like to thank the San Diego Business Journal for its recognition of Peter as an outstanding CEO and leveling a spotlight on his dedicated and steady leadership within the community. We are proud of his recognition and pleased that the rest of the world gets to see what we see every day; a leader of outstanding character, patience, and intellect who is selfless and humble, while also able to lead with determination and a strong resolve.

The below article originally appeared on Austin Dale Group, Inc. and was written by Bob Dale. Please click here to read the original article.

Cybersecurity has led an M&A bonanza in tech for several years, but 2021 brought a new bonanza in this hot sector. 451 research reports that during the first three quarters, there were 151 cybersecurity deals. The figure for 2020 was 94, with 88 in 2019 and 80 in 2018. While other technology sectors also saw increases in deals, few rivaled the increase in cybersecurity, where deal volumes jumped by more than 11%, with increases of 19.3% in cybersecurity software.

The massive changes the pandemic wrought, as well as increased awareness of cyberattacks, are fueling this change. Industry analysts generally think the changes are here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future.

The pandemic increased consumer adoption of a host of digital technologies, with an acceleration in enterprise digitization, too. Companies now must expand beyond protecting their own networks, and think about protecting home networks of employees, too.

Large scale attacks this year undermined supply chains. While this is bad news for consumers and the government, it’s bad news that will only strengthen the cybersecurity industry.

Valuations are extraordinarily high, with an average acquisition payment of 11.3 times trailing sales. And while some industries are witnessing a soon-to-burst bubble, the high prices of 2021 may be reasonable given the increased demand.

Cybersecurity has historically been a major cost driver, with companies hoping to pay as little as possible. But as new attacks gain publicity and damage enterprises, the sector will grow, and companies may be willing to pay more to protect their data.

A decade or two ago, enterprises failed to understand the critical role of cybersecurity. The pandemic has moved us past that. It’s a huge growth area now. And the increased investments in cybersecurity still fall far short of what many companies actually need to do to protect themselves. So in the coming years, as companies realize that their investments are still inadequate, we may see M&A activity accelerate, as more companies invest in cybersecurity.

As with the rest of the sector, the companies that reap the greatest rewards will be those with clean books, recurring revenues, and low risk. Cybersecurity businesses that hope to cash out in the coming years can improve their prospects by getting the right team in place, reducing owner dependence, and consulting with an M&A team about strategies for increasing value and reducing risk. Preparing to sell is a process that takes time, but those wiling to invest in it can earn massive profits.

The San Diego Business Journal and Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE) are excited to announce the winners of the inaugural Cybersecurity Stewardship Awards. These awards celebrate companies, academic institutions, municipalities, government agencies, nonprofits, and the Cybersecurity Executive of the Year, going above and beyond to innovate new technologies and solutions, seed and diversify the talent pipeline, and create a more secure San Diego.

Cybersecurity is now everyone’s business. With the FBI reporting a 300% increase in cybercrimes across all industries during the pandemic and a global shortfall of 3.5 million cyber professionals, it’s more critical than ever to address this systemic risk. We are so proud to see the San Diego region heeding the call and working together to develop the next generation of cyber warriors, defenses, and innovations.

The Journeys Map team is proud to be recognized as the San Diego Business Journal’s 2021 Cybersecurity Stewardship Workforce Development Award. This award recognizes the work we have done over the past four years to help bring new life and interactivity to the NICE Framework. Our work has included presentations at multiple NIST Conferences, sitting on the NICE/NIST career pathways taskforce, and more recently being awarded CASCADE II and CADENCE grants to continue to build out the map. These grants have allowed us to bring on other schools or organizations, such as the East County EDC, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Syned, who have integrated the Cybersecurity map into their website and offerings.

“We are honored to receive this award and be recognized for the hard work and partnership that Journeys Map has built with many in the Cybersecurity community,” said Peter Sibley, CEO of Journeys Map. “With the growth of the industry only expected to increase at an even faster pace, it is our mission to help bridge the gap between individuals looking to get into the Cybersecurity industry, educators and industry.”

The Journeys Map team looks forward to not only continuing to build out within the Cybersecurity industry, but also helping to support all industries. Biotech, Healthcare, Engineering, FinTech and everything in-between. There is a growing need to map the skills needed by industry with the pathways individuals embark on to reach their professional goals. If you are interested in exploring how we can support your work, reach out to hi@journeysmap.com today! 

The Journeys Map team had been fans of the work Junior Achievement for a long time, so when we got the chance to partner with them, we were eager to jump on the opportunity. Read on to learn more about how we are working together close make career exploration fun and engaging!

What is Junior Achievement?

Junior Achievement has 104 local JA Areas across the nation, and together they are the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA’s programs—in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy—ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century. Junior Achievement’s purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

What about Junior Achievement San Diego?

Since 1950, Junior Achievement of San Diego County has provided life-changing programs to more than 1 million young people—in the classroom and after school—to foster an understanding of how the “real world” works. To ensure young people are prepared for their future, JA teaches them how to get a job, start a business and how to manage money. JA programs reach every ethnic and economic demographic. For many students, the JA experience is a major highlight of their academic year. More than 5,000 volunteers annually, including 40 board members and a staff of 21 help to impact over 35,000 students each year and empower them to become “real world ready.”

How are we working together?

Journeys Map and Junior Achievement San Diego have partnered together to bring our engaging career exploration tool to the students taking part in the JA Finance Park experience. JA Finance Park helps students build a foundation upon which they can make intelligent financial decisions that last a lifetime, including decisions related to income, expenses, savings, and credit. 

The JA Finance Park program is composed of 6 to 13 teacher-taught, in-class lessons. While completoing these in-class lessons the students are directed to a custom Journeys Map experience that has been built out for our partnership. It is during this experience that the students are able to complete a JA pre-test, receive both the RIASEC interest traits and skills matches as well as explore over 160 careers tied back to their specific skills and interests. It is during this process that each students selects a role to play while visiting Finance Park. By matching the student’s skills and interests and letting them self-select their role, engagement increases and they are motivated to dive deeper into their career exploration.

The program culminates with a hands-on experiential learning budgeting simulation at the JA campus in Mission Valley San Diego. Additional extension activities are available for each theme: Income, Savings Insurance and Risk Management, Credit and Debit, and Budgeting. Lesson differentiation includes traditional implementation, project-based learning (PBL) implementation, and simulation only options that can be utilized in a middle thru high school classrooms and afterschool settings.

“At Junior Achievement we prepare our young people for their economic success, connecting them to their futures and the endless possibilities that exist. Journeys maps has been the interactive tool for which we are able to provide students a better understanding of their strengths and interests and how those directly connect to successful career pathways. As both implementation and thought partners, Journeys Maps continues to support JA San Diego with resources that enhance our experiential learning opportunities. The Journeys Map platform not only provides our students with exposure to viable career pathways but shows them how to make their dreams a reality.” 

The Journeys Map team is proud to be able to collaborate with our local JA in San Diego. We look forward to expanding our programs together as well as supporting other JA locations nationwide and the 5M students that visit each year.

With 500,000 total Cybersecurity job openings and 1,000,000 employed nationwide, and growing rapidly, to say Cybersecurity represents a high growth industry would be an understatement. That’s why the Journeys Map team has been thrilled to have been working closely with Cybersecurity industry experts to identify pathways and close the skills gap in this vital industry.   

Background

In 2017 the Journeys Map team was lucky enough to partner with the San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE). CCOE is a non-profit that focuses on regional planning and program implementation in order to address cybersecurity workforce, economic development and infrastructure challenges through collaboration with industry, academia and government agencies. CCOE was created to support the growth of the cyber industry, promote cybersecurity in San Diego and provide a template to mobilize other regions. San Diego is a hub of Cybersecurity activity, with more than 150 firms focused on Cybersecurity that are being fed 3,200 students each year graduating from local universities and colleges in computer science and engineering fields. In addition, San Diego is home to the Navy’s Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR). NAVWAR directly employs nearly half of all the cyber security jobs in San Diego (>3,500) and its presence in San Diego is a major talent attraction and economic driver.

With that as the framework, the goal of our partnership was to launch a Cybersecurity focused version of Journeys Map that would map education, training and career pathways to the Cybersecurity industry.

“With the FBI reporting a 300% increase in cybercrime during the pandemic and a global shortfall of 3.5 million cyber professionals, it’s more critical than ever to address the cybersecurity workforce gap. CCOE and Journey’s Map are heading the call to help seed and diversify the talent pipeline for this high-paying industry!” said Lisa Easterly, San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence President & CEO. “In collaboration with the State of California, U.S. Department of Defense and cyber industry leaders, CCOE and Journeys Map created the Cyber Career Map based on the NICE Framework, where users can create FREE personalized career journeys catering to their skills and interests including education, certifications, work-based learning resources and so much more. Thank you Journeys Map for helping create such a powerful, yet easy-to-use tool to inspire the next generation of cyber warriors!”

Rapid Growth

From the time we launched the pilot version of the Cybersecurity map, which leverages the NICE Framework, both the Journeys Map and CCOE teams have been off and running. Our work together has included presentations at multiple NIST Conferences, sitting on the NICE/NIST career pathways taskforce, and more recently being awarded CASCADE II and CADENCE grants to continue to build out the map. These grants have allowed us to bring on other schools or organizations, such as the East County EDC, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Syned, who have integrated the Cybersecurity map into their website and offerings.

“East County EDC, as its contribution to the DoD-funded, State-led effort, partnered with CCOE — and contributors from industry, government, and education/workforce — to research, design, and implement an overlay on the Cyber Career Map to add the Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities that provide students and job seekers with hands-on experience that the Cyber industry demands.” said James Sly, CEO of the East County Economic Development Council. “Journeys Map seamlessly incorporated these Cyber WBL, the majority of which are evergreen, into the Career Map to augment an individual’s pursuit of a customized pathway to a rewarding cyber career. The Cyber Industry told us that future cyber warriors need both experience and education/training to be successful candidates for cyber jobs. Journeys Map made it possible to add these WBL opportunities and a simple and effective manner.”

How It Works

We start by leveraging the NICE Framework, allowing Journeys Map to integrate industry accepted career pathway data. Every career destination has multiple pathways and alternatives can be compared. Journeys Map works by translating career pathways, jobs, skills, experience, degrees, certifications and even concepts to GPS positions on a map that extends from

birth to retirement. Every career has a dashboard featuring relevant data on a real-time

Supporting All Industries

The Journeys Map team looks forward to not only continuing to build out within the Cybersecurity industry, but also helping to support all industries. Biotech, Healthcare, Engineering, FinTech and everything in-between. There is a growing need to map the skills needed by industry with the pathways individuals embark on to reach their professional goals. If you are interested in exploring how we can support your work, reach out to hi@journeysmap.com today!