Here are 5 tips to future proof your career in 2016 - and beyond

What are your career plans for 2016? Will you change jobs, stay in your current role or change your career focus entirely?

I am always interested to read the CIPD Labour Market reports, as these quarterly outlooks provide a set of very insightful information which highlight UK employers’ recruitment, redundancy and pay intentions for the coming months and into 2016.

The latest CIPD survey for Autumn 2015 for example, has revealed that UK employers plan to continue to be able to recruit the workers they need, and that median basic pay rises of just 2% are predicted by many employers in the 12 months to September 2016. Overall, in a continuation of recent trends, the data suggests that the labour market will continue to strengthen in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The report also shows that near-term employment prospects remain well above the survey’s historic average, good news to hear. And some employers are raising starting salaries for low-skilled and high-skilled roles to address labour shortages. Very few employers (1%) expect to cut pay and a further 8% expect a pay freeze, which leaves 45% expecting a pay increase. (I recommend you read the report to see the full findings of the survey as I’ve just cherry-picked a few figures to use in this blog). 

However when you read it, and other reports similar to it that appear at this time of year, I’m sure you agree with me when I say how the “traditional” career, in many ways, is dead. Employees can no longer be complacent and sit back hoping their hard work and service will be rewarded with promotion. The rapid pace of change may mean those positions are no longer available for anyone, as they are no longer necessary.

As a result, you need to take a whole new approach to career planning if you’re to remain happy, productive and appropriately rewarded throughout your working life.

So with this in mind, here are 5 Top Tips to future proof your career in 2016 and beyond:-

1.       Analyse your skills

Just as we have different likes and dislikes, we all have different skills and abilities.

It makes sense to make play to your strengths as much as possible. Doing a ‘SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) which can help you to identify where you’re strong and where you may have gaps in your abilities.

It’s also important to get feedback from others as they may see strengths that you’re unaware of and give you a whole new perspective. You can then consider developing, increasing or adapting your skills and how best to do this.

2.       Monitor the environment

You need to remain aware of what is happening in your current profession, organisation or industry. Maybe your industry is in decline, or your profession is slowly becoming obsolete.

Alternatively, your organisation may be fulfilling a need where demand is rising. Even if the general outlook is positive, the chances are that the way you do your job will change. Even accountants and doctors do things different now to how they did 20 years ago.

As well as monitoring your immediate environment, be aware of more general trends in society, economics and technology that may affect what you do and how you do it.

Being prepared to adapt to change puts you in the driving seat of your career rather than being forced to adapt quickly when you may not be ready.

3.       Have a plan

Alice said to the proverbial Cheshire Cat:

“Would you tell me, please, which I ought to go from here?”

“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.

“I don’t much care where,” said Alice.

“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.

Have a career goal. No matter how loosely defined. Please don’t be like Alice! Revisit your goal regularly to make sure that you are always moving in the general direction that you want to go.

4.       Keep learning

The pace of change in our world is growing at an exponential rate. It is impossible to remain at the top of your game, or even relevant, if you never learn anything new.

Learning to learn is one of the most important skills in life. To future proof your career; make learning your top priority. Formal learning that leads to qualifications is great, but also try to embrace more casual and social learning.

Knowing ‘a little about a lot’ can be just as valuable as knowing a lot in a very specialised field. If you aren’t willing to learn, no one can help you. If you’re determined to learn, no one can stop you!

5.       Get help

If you’re serious about your career, you’ll be able to do it all by yourself.

But remember that people who have great careers have had a lot of people to help them along the way.

This may be a career coach or mentor, but help can come from a variety of sources in a variety of guises.

Networking, taking a genuine interest in others, attending night school and doing voluntary work can all help you to develop the knowledge, skills and attitude you will need for your future career.

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