5 things you need to know about the Future of Work

Everything we knew about work has changed massively in under a year. We are 6 months into battling the biggest healthcare crisis in decades, and the outlook still isn't as clear as we hoped it would be after all this time.

Reuters recently reported Australia’s unemployment rate hit a 19-year high of 7.1%, with a foreseeable decline in employment over the next few months. Some are forced to find new means to make ends meet, give up jobs they've had for long, or wait in limbo. Grim as it may seem, there is also a lot of opportunity for reinvention, pivot, and advancement in terms of careers as well if we choose to see them.

I've worked with a few high-flyers this year who needed to shift their focus - from doing what they've always done to adapting into this new environment by being and doing more. Here are 5 pieces of advice I'd like to share on what you need to know about the Future of Work that, just like my clients, will help you stay ahead regardless of uncontrollable circumstance

1.) Don’t outsource your success to your company or manager

There’s no better time than now to create a career that aligns with your values, interests and strengths. There’s also never been a more critical time to do so.

Studies show that we’ll have on average 5 careers and 17 different jobs in our professional life. We need to become more nimble and agile, able to use what we have, and rely less on a promotion or a decision-maker to push us into making the next step bigger and better.

Do more of what drives you

No one knows you better than yourself so you have to take charge of the course that will lead you where you want and think you should go. 

If you don't know what drives and motivates you, what you're naturally good at and also enjoy doing, you can't lead yourself to make these decisions or expect others to lead you to the right place. Since the FoW is also more fluid and fast-changing, you need to be able to apply your point of difference in multiple ways.

However, there's also advise number 2...

2. Simply being the best isn't good enough anymore and won't guarantee your career progression.

By now, you've probably mastered the art of collecting hobbies - but so has everyone else.

With more technology, the world has become more connected but also more competitive. Now, you're not just competing with local talents or the companies in your area. You're needing to compete with a global talent pool.

This is why taking the lead in your career goes hand in hand with building a Personal Brand. A Personal Brand helps you become distinct and to stand out, so you don't have to compete on being a commodity in the eye of a decision-maker.

I will be talking more about Personal Brand building on my next episode of the podcast, so make sure you are subscribed. Join in on all the learning here.

3. Doing more of what you did to get where you are before, won't get you where you want to be

50% of all tasks that we perform today already have the potential to be automated

If you'd like to progress, simply doing what you know just won't cut it. The technical skills that landed you in your current job and the ones that will be required of you on your next are no doubt still a priority, and you're still going to want to keep updating that. 

It will be worth your while to also focus on something that isn't as easily transferable as hard skills - building your library of soft skills. From how to communicate with clarity and confidence so that you get the buy-in from relevant parties, to learning what leadership is all about - getting the best out of people. Not the most.

You also need to keep up with what’s new in your industry, how to work smarter, how to tackle your weaknesses. The concept of relearning and upskilling is not new but you’ll be surprised how many professionals are actually practising it. Hint: It’s not much. 

4. Traditional education isn’t everything and so is adding another degree

Most professionals think the only way to upgrade a career is by getting a new degree, but in this era, you might not even need one.

Sure, a Harvard degree looks like gold. For most professions, however, abilities and your 'how' - the way you apply knowledge - is more important than a very expensive piece of paper. You can be the most qualified person in your field and still miss out because it comes down to your attitude, your willingness to show up, go above and beyond expectations, and having a passion for life-long learning.

Research shows us that on average, we'll need 101 days (yes- not hours but days) by 2022 to simply keep up with the fast-changing world of work. Going back to Uni isn't the answer most of the time.

From on-the-go, to on-the-job, to on-demand

It's about learning how to learn. Integrating learning in your everyday life and rethinking of ways to gain knowledge is a privilege our generation can enjoy. There is a vast amount of content available, it all comes down to the best and most personal way to consume it.

5. The real winners never go through the “front door”

No one gets extraordinary opportunities by taking the same approach as everyone else

It’s amazing to me how many people want to land their dream jobs, jobs that thousands of people are competing for, yet they expect to get them by simply submitting a resume online.

That’s not how it works anymore.

Did you know that approx 75% of jobs never even get advertised? If that's the case, there must be a backdoor. How do we unlock it? One effective way is through tapping into someone's network.

I always say, Your network is your net worth. But your diverse network is your next career opportunity.

You need to know how to build not just a network, but a diverse one if you are aiming to do extraordinary things with your career. Sometimes it might take a village.

The name of the game is noticing the ‘unspoken rules’ around you and giving people what they want before they have to ask you. It's about being proactive, consistent, curious, and providing value whenever you can.

What’s been your biggest take out?

It would mean the world to us if you could leave us a rating or review and tag me on Insta or LinkedIn DM (and of course- I’ll share your learning as a big THANK YOU!!

Which one of these 5 resonates to you the most?

Do you have your own Future of Work or pivot story to tell?

I'd love to hear it and continue the conversations, leave me a comment or send me a message.