Today, more than ever, is about tomorrow. In the business world, things are changing at a historically-unprecedented clip, and it’s imperative that you become increasingly forward-thinking in plotting a professional development plan to match. In effect, the rapid pace of change we’re facing in the modern era has serious implications for your career. For example: It wasn’t so long ago that specialization was key and a career at the same company doing the same thing over and over on the job would be rewarded over a longterm horizon. But in a fast-moving, highly-unpredictable business world, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the old model for professional advancement is broken, and a new model is being forged. Here are five things you need to know about how the working world has changed, and how to ensure continued career growth going forward.
- You’ve Got to Create Your Own Job Security – Good enough is no longer good enough. You must be essential. You must see opportunities others haven’t. You must solve problems most don’t realize exist. Look for crucial links (i.e. irreplaceable job roles) in the chain that hold your business together – ones that are fundamentally difficult and expensive to replicate. Then make it your mission to transform yourself into these links. Become essential by seeking out capabilities, insights, training, skills, experiences and contacts that are inherently rare and difficult to come by. The more uniquely value-adding you are, the more difficult you and the benefits you bring to the table are to be outsourced or replaced. For example: You might be your company’s go-to expert on resolving complex regulatory issues or most trusted IT security pro.
- Professional Development Must Be Constant and Ongoing – Anticipate change, and change in tune with it, by consistently prioritizing professional development, and proactively seeking out the talents, training and skills that will be in-demand tomorrow today. Doing so requires being purposeful about where you wish to be in your career, and seeking out specific opportunities that can help you acquire these assets. Consistently push yourself to learn, grow, and expand your comfort zone if you wish to expand your talents, insights and capabilities as well – volunteering for or assuming new roles and responsibilities can help you accelerate personal growth. Note that when pursuing unfamiliar tasks or goals, it may help to take small steps in new directions before attempting larger ones.
- Relevancy’s a Moving Target: You Must Change and Evolve As Well – Be proactive – if you can see change coming tomorrow (i.e. impending layoffs) and make your adjustments today (e.g. getting the skills and contacts you need to move forward in different directions), you’ll be ahead of the pack. Anticipate the future and figure out what changes are going to affect your role. Then, selectively target the resources, skills and connections you will need to thrive in the face of change. Hint: Rather than wait for career opportunities, actively seek them out. Instead of hoping for serendipity to strike, create your own luck by taking steps to put yourself in fortune’s sights more frequently. As an alternative to exercising the same job skills and talents day in and out, look for ways to pick up new skills, or put the skills and talents you already possess to new and novel purposes. Actively experiment with new business solutions, sign up for or volunteer to take part in projects that push your problem-solving or creative abilities, and partner with others to bring new ideas or implementations to life. The more opportunities you get to exercise your creativity, the more creative you’ll be.
- Always Be Learning – It’s great to master a given topic or skill, but what happens when that skill becomes irrelevant due to changing business environments or technological innovations? Have a professional escape path – or better yet, several – in mind and build them by making yourself an eternal student. Build your chances for sustained success embracing the unknown and gaining the knowledge and experience to make the right adaptations when necessary. It may help to consider where you can easily extend your skills into new areas. For example, if you’re a professional copywriter blessed with strong communications skills, perhaps it wouldn’t be hard to make the leap to becoming a content marketer, TV producer, or social media pro.
- Never Clock Out – Don’t clock out when the workday ends, and don’t stop learning when the classroom door closes. Put off-hours when others shut down to work towards your advantage by using them to pursue side-projects or interests that can help you build your experience, education, or business skills. Make your work portfolio your resume as well. That way, the next time an HR rep asks for your qualifications, instead of handing them a piece of paper that describes your experience, you can have something tangible you can point or link to and say “I did that.”
Inspired.
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