Most of My Previous Jobs No Longer Exist… and That’s Ok

When I reflect back on my career to date, and think about my previous roles, I’ve realised that most of my previous jobs either don’t exist, or if they do the typical tasks have changed a lot!  And no, I’m not reaching retirement – I’m in my early 30’s.

Jobs always have, and always will change. So my advice is: don’t focus on what you want to do, focus on who you want to be.  If you have a clear idea of your strengths, a track record of kicking goals and a network, change can be an exciting opportunity.

So, how can you make sure you stay relevant?

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Always strive to do things better

Stay across best practice, pilot and experiment with new ways of doing things. What can you learn from other industries? Learn to be comfortable in the uncomfortable!

Continue learning

Make it your mission to never be the smartest person in the room. Listen, read, ask stupid questions, extend your network, or do a Lynda.com course (free to UTS students).

 Impress with your results 

Deliver! Ideas are easy; implementation is hard. Keep an achievement journal and record the awesome things you have done – it’s even better if you have stats to quantify your results.

 Reflect & develop your self-awareness 

Actively pursue feedback and act on it! Reflect on your actions and words, and most importantly take accountability for them. We all make mistakes, so acknowledge when you do and learn from the experience. No one is perfect, and a critical friend can sometimes help you identify when you’re being your own worst enemy.

Be approachable 

No matter how much you hate/resist change, most of the time it will still happen. Pay attention to the landscape, predict change and ask yourself ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’.  Being approachable can be the difference between being a change driver and a change blocker.

 Be a chameleon 

Yes, some industries require specialists, but we are in a time when being able to wear different hats is highly valued. Employers look for people who can adapt, are resilient, and understand that business needs change – so don’t take it personally.

 Broaden your perspective

Don’t filter your life so much that you lose a sense of what’s happening outside your bubble. Make an effort to mix with people very different to you and experience different cultures.

Finally, remember nothing is permanent!  If you are unhappy in your current role, or looking for a new experience, visit CareerHub for exclusive opportunities for UTS Students.

Featured image courtesy of Pexels.