How can you future-proof your career as you walk forward in the business world? By knowing yourself well, asking the right questions to the right people (such as mentors and coaches), and embracing life-long learning, you will stay ahead of industry trends, which will also ensure that your salary increases in line with your worth. I’m Genevieve and ready to explore this with you right now - are you ready?
What is future-proof?
I’ll start with what (& where) it isn’t! The phrase will probably not feature in your upcoming appraisal, nor will it appear as a term your employer will necessarily use. It will not be on your CV anywhere and neither will it appear (well doubtful!) in a job description. However, it IS something to be aware of in all of your career-based decisions.
I have a question for you and bear with me as this might sound tough to hear…Are you making career decisions with your long-term goals in mind?
Your number one goal, even in front of money and impact, will be the sustainability of your career, especially finding one that you enjoy, are passionate about, and fulfill your purpose.
But it is sure to change. According to recent statistics, referenced by the University of Queensland (UQ) from various external sources, millennials could expect to have as many as 17 jobs and up to seven careers throughout their working lives. (ABC 2023).
And, for the long-term pay cheques, your career mind, or career vision, requires your aspirations to unfold year by year expanding and growing.
Do you have your vision for the next 5- 10 years mapped out? Don’t worry if that seems too far ahead as I am about to help you begin a process that will enable you to stay focussed on every single career decision that you make. And, drum roll please, will get you back on track should a ‘train carriage' become derailed and you find yourself temporarily in territory that doesn’t align with your vision!
How this showed up for me
Personal Development
Investing in development, both professionally and personally, is what I’ve done my whole life. I'm constantly thinking about what's next for me and then asking how do I get there? Then I start the research process, seeking advice from people in the know such as mentors and coaches I respect and trust.
I remember, sometime in my late 20s, when the time had come to level up my career as I was approaching 30, and I wasn’t where I wanted to be. I felt unfulfilled, and bored and knew I had more to offer, I just wasn’t living up to my potential. Upon discussing it with my mentor, I decided to study for a Master's Degree in Education. A significant investment in both money, energy, and commitment. Yet it was uniquely right for me at the time and opened a lot of doors - some of which I couldn’t even have known about at the time.
Career Coach
Shortly afterward, I signed up with a career coach who helped me think about my skills, the kind of job best suited to me, my strengths, and my values. That resulted in an upgraded resume and then the perfect job followed as a Leadership Trainer for university students. That work was based on the ‘Social Change Model of Leadership Development’, which I fell in love with, and have since used in many leadership programs which leads me to you and I meeting together now in this blog!
I’ve qualified in many other different certifications and qualifications since (like becoming a Coach) to ensure that I’m consistently delivering the absolute best for my students and they are then able to step out in the world inspired to make changes.
And so if I were to summarise my process, I've always thought, okay, what's next? What do I want? How do I do that? And who do I know that can help me? I don’t just sit around, I proactively seek the career I want.
Then, by investing in myself, growing and developing new skills and competencies, and learning more about myself and others, I gain the confidence needed to take the next step upwards. In short, my career has been guided and aligned with my values … and I keep myself future-proof.
Looking to the future for you
Let me ask you some questions:
What is something you enjoy doing and could become better at? (for example, I loved working with people, and building connections and rapport, but wanted to become better at supporting my students to grow themselves, so I studied to become a Coach).
What current pathways, and options do you have to help you get to the next step in your career (eg: do you need to find a mentor or coach to help you think of possibilities? Are there any programs/courses you could invest in to grow yourself and support you in your development?
Do you have a long-term goal, but unsure how to get there? (try working backward to consider the next possible steps before the end goal, or ask someone you know and trust how they got to where they are!).
Play around in your mind with where you see yourself physically working next year and then expand it to how a working day will look. Spend some time with this as it will be a golden part of your career vision as you not only expand your career but stay ahead of trends within your industry. By taking your vision even further than one year, and into the next 5 or 10 or so, you will begin to train your brain to be aware of the skills and expertise requiring development to, not only stay ahead of the competition but to keep you in the role of CEO of your career.
To help you gain further clarity, I have a free virtual 3-part masterclass ‘How to Maximise your Professional Potential (and gain a salary increase)’. If you are interested to find out more please contact me.
Wishing you every success!
Genevieve
PS - If you know a young professional woman who is a hugely ambitious game changer and could benefit from leadership coaching to create an impact in this world - please invite them to get in touch :)
Comments