 |
Long-term Career Management in a Short-term Employment Environment
Yes
When faced with mounting data and employment trends that predict you’ll switch careers several times throughout your working life, it can feel useless making any long-term career plans. But, consider this: how successful you’ll be in making transitions between careers can be improved with certain evergreen career management and planning techniques.
Despite the influential forces of evolving technology and sciences, market volatility, environmental concerns, and geopolitical issues on your career, you can navigate unpredictability and uncertainty in your career by using these techniques.
Avoid experience leading to insular thinking
We don’t mean that lack of experience is better—after all, experience develops perspective and wisdom (hopefully), but unduly relying on what you’ve known before can trip you up. You might miss new trends or opportunities for innovation. To avoid same-old thinking, seek out and follow leading developments in industries, companies, and people inside and beyond your immediate career focus.
Don’t coast on accomplishments
By all means, be proud of the work and accomplishments that got you to your current position, but don’t count on that same formula for success in the future. Staying competitive and relevant means proactively expanding your day-to-day role in your current job, updating your skills and experience, and looking for ways to be more productive and efficient. If there are any areas you haven’t focused on improving or updating lately, make them a priority. You never know when the opportunity will come to pursue a new career path that relies on that skill set!
Learn and unlearn certain skills
Advanced levels of digital skills are becoming a larger part of more and more job descriptions across most industries. Staying up to date on the latest platforms, software, and mobile technology in your field is a must. What can stand to be unlearned are management styles and processes rooted in the outmoded command-and-control leadership approach. Instead, learn methods of collaboration and flexible project management. Setting yourself up as a silo of knowledge and ability is one of the quickest ways to risk becoming obsolete.
Evolve your network
This should go without saying. If you decide to change career tracks, or even companies within the same field, you’ll want a network that can support that change or present the opportunity for change in the first place. Make sure your professional network and relationships reflect your interests and goals as they evolve.