The job opportunities are many

The other day, at table, my five-year-old daughter turned to me and out of the blue asked me what I think she will become when she grows up. To be honest she blew me away. Had she already grown up or had she heard it from school? Either way, I found it difficult to answer for reasons I find are entrenched in our mentality and custom.

I guess that had my sister asked my mother the same question 30 years ago she would most definitely have told her that she would be a wife and a mother. With a bit of luck, she may have suggested becoming a teacher or a nurse. For boys it was different. Mothers looked to the legal or medical profession, which was always a sign of prestige for any family or, better still, joining a religious order, a blessing for any family and an honour within our small society.

Times have changed and will keep on changing. In truth, the choice of career is so open today that any answer to my daughter's question would be futile. Stopping short of choosing for her I just answered that she would become whatever she wanted as long as she was happy doing it. She also hinted that she might become the mayor of our locality! For the time being, she seems satisfied with this answer; next time I may have a harder time.

The reality of our country today is just this: Opportunities have never been so great. Our children can become whatever they want to and even then the opportunities to change career mid-way and move on to something new are available. One need only look at the Employment and Training Corporation's website to take note of the mini-revolution that has occurred in employment opportunities.

From job vacancies to training opportunities, to a personalised plan for your career, you name it, this website caters for it. And, smack in the middle of the site, is an opportunity that makes entering politics all the more satisfying. Finally, we are part of Europe and all its opportunities. Up to 800,000 jobs are available for foreigners around Europe and this includes the Maltese. The windows of opportunity are endless and the European Employment Services Careers Fair held in Malta a few days ago showcased them.

In conversation with high officials of the ETC, I had once remarked how important Europe was to our economic renewal. Admittedly, we have lost many good people to Europe but one should never be short-sighted. Many will come back as better skilled and trained workers and others who may never return will connect with our country from their places of work. The Maltese network is expanding and in a short space of five years we can boast of many of our own working in top-notch companies across the continent.

Ten years ago, in most cases you would only find Maltese doctors in top positions overseas. Today, the EU has changed this; finding a job in the EU is as easy as doing so at home. Our workforce has always boasted a high degree of training and preparedness. The ETC ensures that this happens across the board and not just for specific groups of people. The corporation ensures that there is no real answer to my daughter's question but it is more a case of what will be, will be.

The opportunities are too many. The excuses too few. Log onto www.etc.gov.mt and see for yourself.

The author is government whip and Parliamentary Assistant at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.