5 Smart Approaches For A Long-Term Career
There are few things straightforward when it comes to your career. Figuring out what you want to do and then obtaining a position in that field can, admittedly, be tough. And the process is complicated even further by the simple fact that people need to earn money just to survive — as such, people sometimes take the first job that comes along, just to make ends meet.
While this is fine in the short-term, it can lead to issues further on down the line. Even though it’s slightly more difficult, it’s best to think of your career in the long-term.
Below, we’ll take a look at a few smart approaches that’ll lead to long-term employment success.
Plan it Out
You can’t figure out which path to take if you don’t know where you’re going. When you begin thinking about your career, keep in mind where you want to eventually end up. It’ll help refine your thinking and prevent you from taking positions that you know won’t lead anywhere.
Sometimes, it’s better to take a lower-paying job with prospects, rather than a middle of the road job that pays well but you know won’t take you anywhere.
Choose the Right Career
The fact of the matter is that in the coming decades, many jobs are going to be lost through automation. It’s not just factory work, either — many white-collar, professional jobs will also be taken over by AI and robotics. As such, it’s always worth keeping in mind whether the job you want to do will even be around in twenty years. If you’re looking for a long-term career, then look at industries such as IT.
The digital revolution has begun but will become even more all-encompassing in the coming decades, which means those working in this field will always have plenty of work.
Back it Up
The standards of work are increasing all of the time. And that means that in order to get ahead of other prospective employees, you need to have qualifications under your belt. It’s not enough just to say — or even know yourself — that you can do the work; you need to prove it.
If you want to work in IT, a lifetime of working with computers in your home won’t suffice. You’ll need to look at IT courses online, and get qualified. Studies have shown that it’s always the workers who have additional qualifications that get ahead.
Find a Mentor
It takes a lifetime to build up the necessary experience to navigate an industry successfully. And if you’re just starting out, then this isn’t something you’re going to have. But there will be others who have this experience, so why not look at approaching one of them, and asking them to be your mentor? They’ll have invaluable advice and contacts, and could make all the difference to your career.
Stay Open to Opportunities
Finally, remember to stay open to new opportunities and ways of operating. It’s an ever-changing world, and it’ll be the people who are adaptable who survive the changes.
© New To HR
