Future Shop and futurist Trevor Haldenby fast forward to 2020 and identify top five career prospects

Future Shop asks: are students really back-to-school shopping, or are they future shopping?

Announcement Highlights:

1. Future Shop partners with prominent Canadian futurist Trevor Haldenby to reveal the careers of the future, including personal transmedia consultant and corporate game master
2. Future Shop guides students towards making the right technology decisions today in order to ensure success in tomorrow's world…and beyond
3. Future Shop has all of the hottest back-to-school products that will prepare students for the world that will be waiting for them after graduation

BURNABY, BC, July 28, 2014 /CNW/ - Back-to-school shopping is a bit of a misnomer when you think about it – it's really about moving forward. To a degree.  A cool job.  The next stage of life.  However, in today's ever-changing world where new jobs develop on a daily basis, it can be challenging for students to know what careers will exist once they graduate and what they can do now to develop the necessary skills.  Luckily, Future Shop, Canada's leading destinations for consumer electronics and lifestyle goods, and futurist Trevor Haldenby have joined forces to offer Canadians a glimpse into the potential future so they can navigate and adapt to the new global economy of 2020 – and beyond.  Say goodbye to back-to-school shopping and hello to future shopping.

"The career choices from the year 2020 (and beyond) amplify and explore trends already at play in the world of 2014," said Trevor Haldenby, futurist, designer and digital storyteller. "They invite us to think about how important it is for today's students and recent graduates to develop skills around digital design, storytelling and media literacy in a rapidly changing landscape. They also highlight how even in a world of enormous change, some things will always remain the same – people will remain hungry to learn and explore, and technology will continue to play an even greater role."

Careers of 2020
Careers of the future are likely to be defined by a focus on emerging technologies, the evolution of social media, design, the human experience and a shift toward a globalized workforce where entrepreneurs are the norm rather than the exception. To prepare for all of their future shopping needs, students should consider the top careers of the future, and the tech they need to get there:

Foodologist: The foodologist is a hybrid of a biologist, psychologist, farmer and chef. In 2020, humans will be looking for new, sustainable food options. This future job will combine science and art - whether it is finding flavourful new recipes for crickets and termites or mixing lab-created filet mignon. Foodologists can expect to find work in restaurants, self-driving food trucks, and green belts across Canada.  Students interested in this field of work should consider the Breville 5-speed blender, the new Microsoft Surface Pro 3 12" tablet and the Breville juice fountain.

Personal transmedia consultant: One part digital bodyguard and one part personal PR agent, these consultants will manage the increasingly exciting and dizzying array of social networks and big data. They make sure their clients' accounts have the sizzle of a spy movie, without the risk. Personal transmedia consultants can find work in cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, managing the social profiles for the trendiest youth – even hosting mixers and parties to boost their social influence. Students interested in this field of work should consider the Martian Notifier smartwatch, Canon EOS 70D 20.2MP digital SLR camera and the HTC One (M8) smartphone.

Star subscription teacher: Future Shop believes that learning will be a top priority for all in 2020. For a monthly subscription fee, students young and old can access live and recorded lectures from their favourite educators, including virtual hangouts and conversations. Star subscription teachers can be located anywhere on the planet. Students interested in this field of work should consider the Martian Passport smartwatch, WD TV Play media player and the Toshiba Satellite L50-B 15.6" laptop.

Virtual tour guide: VT – or Virtual Tourism – will draw tourists from far and wide for an unforgettable experience. By booking an exploration with a virtual tour guide, city slickers and adventure travellers alike could receive a personalized tour of a remote part of the planet courtesy of an eco-friendly drone or robot. Customers will be able to take and share their memorable moments in real time on social media. For an additional fee, customers can have exclusive access to a landscape for up to one year. Students interested in this field of work should consider Google Chromecast, Parrot Jumping Sumo drone and the GoPro HD Hero3+ waterproof high-definition sports & helmet camera.

Corporate game master: A creatively engaged workplace is a high-performance workplace. The corporate game master will make work fun by injecting elements of gaming, reward, and playful recognition. By studying how to play games in the arcade and how to design them, they will integrate these exciting elements into our everyday workplace realities. In 2020, they will find work across the country, often in small and medium-sized enterprises. Students interested in this field of work should consider the Anki Drive starter kit, Alienware 17 17.3" laptop and the Linksys wireless smart wi-fi router. 

"Today's students need to know that most everything exciting that we see in the world of consumer technology is only the tip of what is likely a much larger iceberg," said Elliott Chun, communications manager, Future Shop.  "To discover rewarding and successful careers in the year 2020 or 2025, students need to stay on the cusp of technological advancements and use the gadgets that are available today to their advantage."

About Future Shop
With more than 135 stores across the country and the nation's premier web store (www.futureshop.ca), Burnaby, BC-based Future Shop is Canada's largest retailer and e-tailer of consumer electronics. The company employs more than 10,000 technology enthusiasts, has enabled its website, Futureshop.ca, to deliver unparalleled content about the products it sells. Futureshop.ca also hosts an online community forum and tech blog called Tech Yeah for technology beginners and tech-savvy experts to exchange ideas, reviews, tips and other consumer electronics information (www.futureshop.ca/techyeah). As a proud corporate citizen, Future Shop has developed solutions to recycle used electronics and is committed to employee volunteerism and supporting non-profit organizations dedicated to transforming local youth into Future Leaders (see www.futureshop.ca/futuregeneration).

SOURCE: Future Shop