The term “Worksumer” stands for a new definition of young workers (roughly between 20 and 40 years old) and comes from the union of two words: „worker“ and „consumer“, i.e. someone who is delivering a service and buying another product or service at the same time. In other words he/she is a worker having consumption needs (consumer) related to his/her work. Such needs refer to space, time, contents, training, technology, tools, socializing (networking), wellbeing and food.
The crucial point for the worksumer is looking for social networking and flexibility at work, especially as far as space is concerned, solutions to compensate for lack of spare time due to the fact that the worksumer is always available thanks to technology, but also due to logistic problems (when you live in a big city).A Worksumer doesn’t simply work in an office, but in a place where the thin dividing line between professional and private life is more and more blurred. In a place where it is not just possible to work, but also have a conversation with other professionals, access food courts and gyms, or shops in general. A worksumer is an evolved and eclectic worker, whose strength consists in being able to exploit knowledge and tools acquired and implement them in different fields.
He/she is a new-generation worker, with great communication, design skills, a consultant between 30 and 40 years living mostly in big cities, where finding work-life balance is harder.
Having said that, interpreters and translators can be regarded as worksumers too: evolved – herm well, yeah… 😉 – eclectic, communication experts, linguistics, social media, and sometimes even IT-experts.
Interpreters are probably less likely to – if compared to translators – becoming worksumers, as they have to work in different places depending on the assignment (virtually a new place for each assignment) and therefore some key elements such as social network at the workplace (except for the colleague you work with for sim interpreting), being able to practice physical activity during the breaks (maybe the hotel gym when you have to stay overnight). The other elements are there, but the interpreter is a bit of a loner-worksumer, as if not alone, anyway he/she will not be with his/her social network – physically. An interpreter can be with his/her customer and possibly the customer’s social network, which is another story, though.
Translators are different, especially if working in an office or in a coworking space, ideal place to be a perfect worksumer.
S.
