How to future-proof your career
Stacey Duguid’s story hit the headlines and rightly so.
Based on the thousands of women being told that an abundance of skills and years of experience seemingly no longer count for much, the system is clearly broken.
Rather than wade in on the discussion I would like to provide some practical tips on how to navigate this time of life if a career pivot is something you have been considering.
Because I suspect that if you have been hesitating up until now, Stacey’s experience may have really spooked you. And that is understandable - it would be more unusual if you hadn’t been affected by it in some way.
Before I get going, I think we need to start with some honesty because we all need to face reality.
First of all, careers are not what they used to be when we all started out. A ‘job for life’ rarely exists nowadays, so we need to stop thinking about one career with a final destination.
Secondly, AI is here to stay. Like it or loathe it we need to accept that it will most likely play a part in any job that we do. So whilst you do not need to become an expert, you do need to understand what it is and have some familiarity with it.
And before you bury your head under a pillow and wish things would just go back to how they used to be - have a read of all the things that I share with you because I promise you the future is definitely not all doom and gloom. On the contrary - there are so many opportunities out there if you are ready to embrace them.
Here goes:
Do not think of your next job as the final destination. Your career is a series of roles that you have throughout your working life. Some are big and some are small - but none of them are the destination in and of themselves. They are simply stations along a railway line taking you in the general direction of travel.
Not every career move has to be a big one. If you are unhappy in your current role, it could be that moving to a different team or role in the same company would be better. Or the same role but in a different company within the same industry. A ‘small’ move like this could be all you need right now, rather than a massive change of direction.
No job will be perfect. If you find a job ticks most of the boxes you are doing well - there needs to be some compromise. And remember you have years still ahead of you so this move will unlikely be your last - knowing that will also take some of the pressure off finding the ‘perfect role’. Look at it as just one of the smaller stations on the line - it is getting you closer to where you want to be.
If your hesitation around pivoting centres around loss of the investment you have made in your current job, think again. I can guarantee that whatever your new job entails, you will be using skills and experience from before.
Unfortunately, rejection is a part of the process, and while I will give you tools next week to help you mitigate it, it is still an inevitable part of job hunting. So create a process for dealing with it. Rejection is hard so allow yourself some time to feel it. Reflect on what happened and anything you learnt that could be useful in future applications. If this is possible, I would always try and get feedback from the interviewer/recruiter and ask if your skills might be suited to a slightly different role in the company. Most importantly - move on. Easier said than done - but the sooner you can put it behind you the better.
Considering a new career path is a creative process. When you are stressed or under pressure, your brain is flooded with cortisol and adrenaline, which literally shuts down your ability to think creatively. If you can either go for a walk and let your head clear and allow your thoughts to wander freely and explore your thinking.
Alternatively, find a coffee shop, grab a drink and sit with a pen and paper and just write down everything that comes to mind and see where it takes you. You won’t get there in one go, but ideas and opportunities will appear when you are in a more relaxed state.
You will never be 100% ready. So stop waiting to be ready because it will never come. You are evolving, opportunities are evolving and there will never be a right time. You don’t want to look back in 5 years and wish you had made a move. So do something now, however small, but do it.
You are not alone and you don’t need to do this alone. So many are going through this with you. Find your people. Find those who can support you and help you through this transition.
Here are some practical tools so that you can take meaningful steps forwards.
What we are doing is building a bridge from where you are now to where you want to be and ensuring that you have as many things in place as possible ready for a change.
Preparation is key so here are some of the things I would recommend.
Learn about AI, the popular platforms, what they do and how they work. Try and get comfortable with using them.
Create a file of your experience so that you have it to hand. Actual skills with examples, real life issues that you have dealt with, where you have made real impact, the things colleagues come to you for. Get recommendations from past colleagues, testimonials - as much evidence as you can. And keep it up to date with as much recent, relevant data that you have.
Have something visible to show that you are current - a short course that you completed, a book on the subject, a talk, some research that you came across. Evidence that you are up to date on current thinking.
Next we need to look at where you are headed.
Are you looking to be employed? Do you want to start your own business? Would you consider a portfolio career? A portfolio career could be as an employee or as a business owner or combinations of the two. You might take two part time jobs, or be employed part time and do something of your own as well.
Which of those is right for you? You know yourself best but also don’t rule out an alternative just because you have never done it before. All roads are worth exploring before you rule them out.
Build connections.
It is likely that over the years you have built up a network of friends and colleagues. They are your starting point for exploring alternative careers because if they aren’t doing the job themselves, they may know or be connected to someone who is. Don’t be afraid to reach out and connect with complete strangers who work in your desired field.
People are generally more than happy to help and share their experiences with you. Start a conversation and see if you can arrange a coffee Zoom. Ask them what their job actually entails, what skills are needed etc. I have done this myself and been overwhelmed by people’s generosity and the opportunities that have come from them.
What is your runway?
From a financial perspective you need to know in real terms what buffer you need to make a move. From there you can build a runway plan. How many months do you have to play with and at what point do you need to reassess. Knowing this up front will reduce the anxiety and enable you to plan for different eventualities.
Keep a record of your progress - write down your weekly wins, conversations, connections. It is important to feel you are making progress whatever that looks like. It will also help you to process your thoughts and help you with your focus for the next week. Moving forwards is key for your confidence and motivation. Cadence.
Remember that few jobs will tick all the boxes, so be clear on the non-negotiables and flexible on the rest. This will give you more agility.
And finally - one step at a time. Manageable chunks. If you make it too complicated or overwhelming it won’t happen. So break it down and get started.
I believe that the winners in this time of uncertainty are those who are open minded, adaptable and prepared. There is a world of opportunity out there - you just might not have discovered it yet. Now is your chance.