Can You Really “Future Proof” Your Career? (Yes! By Using the Most Human of Strategies)
I am utterly fascinated by futurists - professionals who study the future and make evidence-based predictions about what will happen. It’s kind of like peering into a crystal ball that’s super powered by data instead of magic. (Two of my top CliftonStrengths are Futuristic and Strategic; I guess this was inevitable!) So, I can’t tell you how much I nerded out a few days ago when I came across a Fast Company article written by journalist Stephanie Vozza called “How to Future Proof Your Career By Thinking Like a Futurist.” Here’s what’s valuable and what I would add.
Vozza highlights recent survey data that shows that, “sixty percent of Americans are worried that automation is putting jobs at risk, and 39% think their own job will be obsolete within five years.” (A brief scroll through my daily LinkedIn feed reinforces this argument: everyone’s workplace anxiety is clearly through the roof right now.) She turns to well-known futurist Scott Steinberg for insight into the evolving workforce situation and his recommended strategies for navigating them. According to Steinberg, there’s much we still don’t know about how the economy is evolving. In fact, “the only thing we can predict is the unpredictable…Things tend to move fast and change from week to week at this point.” He suggests the following strategies for “future proofing” in an age of AI:
Prioritize upskilling, staying regularly on top of the most in-demand skills in your industry
Clearly demonstrate and articulate your value
Emphasize the human parts of your job that aren’t easily handled by technology
I don’t disagree with any of these ideas - they’re solid - but I think the article neglects perhaps the most powerful strategy that anyone navigating workforce change can marshal: people.
More so than ever, successful job searches and careers are powered by the connections that you make with other human beings.
It pains me deeply when I hear job seekers talk wearily about the hundreds of resumes they’ve auto-sent through LinkedIn without any response. Complete waste of time. Instead, it’s much more effective to target specific companies and build connections with people who work there. It gives you inside information about what the company is looking for, increases the number of people who can potentially advocate in your favor, and helps you stand out amongst the piles of resumes that flood HR offices.
Networking - more so than any other professional practice - strikes fear in the hearts of many professionals. Add that anxiety on top of anxiety about the future and it can be really hard to stay focused productively on your career transition plan. Working with a supportive, knowledgeable career coach can help you traverse this is in a variety of ways. For example:
Role playing how to initiate effective professional conversations
Using evidence-based mindfulness and strengths techniques to become more resilient
Staying on top of what is really going on in the economy as it continues to shift
Want to learn more about how to use the most effective 21st century strategies for securing a job, and more? Schedule a free consultation today!
