What does it mean to future-proof your career? Simply put, future-proofing your profession is going above and above to get yourself ready for a workforce that will change and largely depend on technology. So instead of waiting for technology to replace your labour, you’ll take proactive steps to position yourself so that potential employers can’t afford to pass you up.
Thinking globally: Geographical limitations are becoming less important in several industries. Because of this, it is likely that your clients, co-workers, and stakeholders will come from different countries in the future. Dealing with individuals from various linguistic, cultural, and racial origins is a requirement of a global workforce. By accepting jobs that demand international travel and learning a new language, you can develop the skills necessary to succeed in the global workforce. Learning about different cultures and expanding your knowledge of how people operate abroad can make it easier for you to find employment in the global economy.
Adopting a “change is inevitable” mindset: This could go a long way in ensuring that you aren’t threatened by automation and anything the future might hold. For starters, you can plan as you do today and be prepared to modify your route at any time. Additionally, as your surroundings begins to change, keep an open mind about what this transition may bring – and be ready to face it full on – rather than resisting it and falling back into old habits.
Learning New Digital skill: This is one of the best methods to gain the self-assurance required for this new technology-driven environment. One ought to be tech-savvy rather than tech-averse. It pays to brush up on your project management skills as well because project management is another field where robots won’t be able to compete as the human touch is still required. Asking yourself how you can use technology to increase your productivity is another way to look at this. If you’re a marketer, for instance, this can involve becoming aware of crucial technologies that can speed up the analysis of your work and performance tracking. But it might also result from setting up automation that simplifies the path of your customers. The philosophy underlying those procedures is all human-powered, even though the robotics of automation can be set up and performed by a machine.
Expanding Existing Skillset: You may have already noticed that having a college degree no longer distinguishes you from other candidates. The secret, then, is to never stop learning. Continue to learn new things on your own and pick up new talents, especially in-demand ones like web or app development and cyber security. Professionals can do this most effectively by registering for online courses. Your career will be set up for future success thanks to these new skills, which will help you stand out to employers.
As you keep your technical skills fresh and aim to add a few new ones to your digital toolkit, you shouldn’t overlook your soft skills. The technical aspects of your job might be automated by a robot, but soft skills like leadership, collaboration, communication, and time management still require human expertise. These soft skills are in great demand and will remain so if technology does not advance to the point where robots can demonstrate the same emotional intelligence as people.
Building a Digital Portfolio: Even though most individuals don’t frequently Google themselves, you should make it a practice to do so occasionally to discover what information your digital footprint contains. It’s time to build a stronger digital portfolio to replace these older, less professional versions of yourself if your Google search still throws up some unflattering links to your college years. These are some actions you can do to leave a better digital trail for your professional life. Create an online portfolio to display all your awards, participate professionally on sites like LinkedIn and Twitter or others well-known in your sector or niche, and write material showcasing your professional experience.
Each of these actions will simultaneously assist you in future-proofing your career. Finally, keep in mind that opportunities and beneficial advances are just as likely to come in the future as our upheaval and uncertainty. You may look to the future with hope and enthusiasm if you act right away to future-proof your job.
