4 Tips to Future-Proof Your Career | The Way We Work, a TED series
TED
4 min, 19 sec
Dr. Michelle Weise discusses strategies for individuals to adapt to a future where frequent career transitions will be the norm.
Summary
- People historically have had around 12 jobs, but future predictions suggest 20-30 or more, many of which don't yet exist.
- To navigate career changes, individuals should highlight human skills, become skills translators, learn from discomfort, and choose supportive employers.
- Human skills are crucial and transferable; they include adaptability, collaboration, judgment, and mediating tense situations.
- Skills should be translated to the language of prospective employers and discomfort at work can signal areas for skill development.
- Choosing an employer that invests in talent development and provides clear advancement pathways is important for long-term career success.
Chapter 1
Introducing the concept that individuals will experience numerous job changes throughout their career, many in fields that do not yet exist.
- The number of jobs one can expect to hold is increasing, with future estimates predicting 20 to 30 jobs or more.
- This shift in the job market can seem overwhelming, considering the current outdated job search mechanisms like resumes and job postings.
Chapter 2
Dr. Michelle Weise introduces herself and sets the stage for her advice on navigating career changes.
- Dr. Michelle Weise, an advisor to companies and educational institutions, discusses preparing for successful and longer careers.
- She aims to help individuals understand how to approach their next job change and the subsequent ones.
Chapter 3
Dr. Weise emphasizes the importance of human skills and how to identify and present them to prospective employers.
- Human skills such as adaptability, collaboration, and judgment are as important as hard skills and should be prominently featured.
- Creating a timeline of experiences helps identify patterns in skill development, including transferable human skills gained from personal and professional experiences.
Chapter 4
Dr. Weise advises on the need to translate one's skills to align with the language and needs of the target industry.
- It is important to research the target industry and translate skills to match the employer's context and language.
- The same skill may be interpreted differently across industries, such as communication skills in marketing versus behavioral health.
Chapter 5
Dr. Weise encourages using discomfort as a tool to identify and address skill gaps for career advancement.
- Discomfort at work can be a useful indicator of where one needs to improve or acquire new skills.
- By recognizing and acting on these areas of discomfort, individuals can turn them into opportunities for growth.
Chapter 6
Dr. Weise stresses the importance of selecting an employer that supports skill development and offers advancement opportunities.
- Job seekers should look for employers that are committed to developing their talent and have clear pathways for internal career advancement.
- Companies should recognize and cultivate human skills and talent, helping employees to develop professionally within the organization.
Chapter 7
Dr. Weise summarizes the strategies for individuals to take charge of their career trajectories in a rapidly changing job market.
- Individuals can exercise control over their career paths by identifying hidden skills, translating strengths, and addressing skill gaps.
- By presenting their skills effectively and choosing supportive employers, job changes can become less intimidating and more exciting.
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