Cloud Worker – a new career path for a networked world
Janet Clarey at Brandon Hall research posted on the new term used for information worker. The Cloud Worker term was created by Venkatesh Rao at his blog Ribbonfarm.com. Vankatesh works at the Xerox Innovation Group, where he leads technology projects that aim to invent the future of documents and information work. I like this term a lot. It has a bit of the mystical or even an aboriginal theme within it yet it is far more dynamic than “information worker”. The Internet is dynamic, fluid, messy, disruptive and layered every which way with networks so information worker just doesn’t do this new field of work justice. I’ve been looking at job descriptions a bit more closely lately as I take on new projects with organizations interested in using social media tools. This title is the best by far. You can read the full description of the Cloud Workers creed at Venkatesh’s blog.
The cloudworker is the prototypical information worker of tomorrow. He overachieves or coasts remotely, collaborates or backstabs virtually, and delivers his gold or garbage to a shifting long-tail micro-market defined only by his own talents or lack thereof. The cloudworker manages personal microbrand equity and network social capital rather than a career. Over a lifetime, through recessions and bubbles, he navigates fluidly back and forth between traditional paycheck employment, slash-work and full, untethered-to-health-insurance free agency.
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Very interesting post that I picked up in my google alert on knowledge workers and “study or research or report or statistics.” I love the cloud worker concept. I’ve been doing this for about 10 years after 20 years in companies, organizations, etc.
Looks like you’re a blog that *I* want to follow!
Snow is a nice touch too.
Laurie Webster
Thanks for your comment Laurie,
I’m taking the big leap into social media consulting after putting in my 20 plus years with non profit organizations. It’s exciting and a bit daunting however the transition is going fairly well. I’m so taken with the power, utility and fun of these tools. One comment I saw regarding the cloud worker term suggested another label – cloud walker.. that’s a bit of stretch I’d say but it does have it’s own appeal.
thanks again for commenting,
Brent