It used to be that you could go to work for a company when you graduated and retire from the same company forty years later. That is no longer the case, and some careers are becoming obsolete as technology takes over. Nobody really knows what the world of work is going to look like in ten or twenty years’ time but there are ways you can start future-proofing your job now. Here are the top ten.
Choose the Right Career
This is a tricky thing to get right but, if you are starting out on your career journey, choose a path that is likely to last for a while. Outside factors such as the coronavirus pandemic can interrupt industries but the ones that will last will bounce back eventually.
Accept Change
Changes happen in every industry. Make sure you are open to them rather than shying away from them otherwise you will find yourself being un-skilled as your industry moves on.
Get Tech Savvy
Tech has already taken over the workplace and, as it gets more sophisticated, you will need to keep abreast of it if you want to stay ahead. Tech is the most likely thing that will make your job obsolete so learn how to work with it rather than trying to resist it.
Know Your Industry Trends
Being able to look at the big picture and seeing what direction your industry is going in will be imperative to staying ahead. That way you will know what skills to perfect to be an industry leader of the future.
Professional Development
Take charge of your professional development by putting yourself forward for training days and new courses. The more you know, the more indispensable you will become.
Qualifications
Seek out opportunities to get some qualifications, whether this means you will have to go back to college part-time and get another degree or you can study for online courses that will help you advance. Get as many qualifications as you are able to, and your resume will look impressive.
Develop Your Soft Skills
Soft skills are always going to be useful, so work on your time management and leadership qualities as well as your professional qualifications if you want to future-proof your job.
Develop Your Personal Brand
Make sure your social media accounts, including your personal accounts, reflect the professional image you want to portray. Employers often look at these when making hiring decisions so make sure yours stands out.
Network
Get skilled at business networking. You never know when you will need to ask for a favour or a job.
Retrain
You are never too old to learn new skills. If you have worked in your industry for a long time and you can see that your job won’t be open for much longer, it may be worth retraining for a new job entirely. Who knows, you may even prefer it.
Follow these tips and they will help you to future-proof your job.
