The job market is evolving at a rapid pace and employees no longer have the same degree of job security that was once typical and expected. It’s not all bad news though. Although our jobs may change more frequently, we can still actively cultivate successful careers. Here are five tips on this.
- Be adaptable
In these times of fast-paced technological advancements and evolving industries, it’s important to be adaptable. Future-proofing your career starts with taking the extra initiative to prepare for a changing workforce. The first step is to be informed about developments in your industry so that you can be prepared.
For instance, if you work in the energy, manufacturing and resources sector, it’s important to be across the new Albanese Labor Government’s strong renewable energy agenda. Labor have identified they wish to transform our electricity transmission system and believe that Australia should be a renewable energy superpower. - Invest in yourself
Developing your skills is more important than ever. Very often the job you trained for and started out doing will evolve. You need to educate yourself on the new technologies, skills and processes required.
Fortunately, there are numerous ways to develop our skills. Oftentimes companies will offer free skills and development courses, or there are readily accessible online courses one can take. Furthermore, it’s a great idea to expand and diversify your skills so that you have more career options available to you.
Building your so called ‘soft skills’ should also be a priority. These skills are known as the interpersonal skills that contribute to your career success. For example: teamwork, problem solving and communication. - Be prepared to change jobs
Many of us will have seen our parents stay in the same job or industry for decades (my mum has worked 25 years at the same company!). However, this is far less likely to occur now. Being open-minded and aware of other opportunities is an important element for cultivating and future-proofing your career. - Build your brand and network
Many of us baulk at terms such as ‘personal brand’ and ‘networking’, however the reality is that there can be enormous benefits to your career if you take the time to work on this. For instance, taking the time to create a LinkedIn profile that is professional, up to date, well-connected and informative can be hugely beneficial. - Reflect on your career goals
Life is busy, fun and sometimes stressful. It’s also filled with a huge array of distractions and as a result we can easily neglect really taking the time to think about what’s most important to us.
The average person will spend one third of their lives at work, so it’s vital to strive for job satisfaction. If you’re unmotivated and unhappy at work this not only unsatisfying for you but it can stagnate career progression. If you enjoy what you do and embrace growth and development, you are far more likely to cultivate a successful career.