How do we make sure we “future-proof” our careers and can work well into our senior years, should we wish to do so? How do we make ourselves indispensable in the job market?
We asked VGP founder and MD, Viv Gordon to share her insights.
How has the job market changed over the past few years, and what are the salient features of this new job market?
Well of course the job market has changed with the fast and furious advent of Digital and now AI. But this is not new any longer. Traditional roles, albeit still around, are moving into the background as Digital roles, which provide measurable solutions, in terms of data and analytics, are taking the foreground.
A great combination is for employees to have come from a solid traditional background and moved into digital and garner strong technical digital skills, which very much incorporate the utilisation of Data and how to extrapolate this information into solutions for any marketing problems.
Gen Zs don’t come from a traditional background and even though they are digital natives, are at a disadvantage as they don’t have the wisdom garnered from the more traditional modalities.
What are some of the factors driving uncertainty in the workplace, and how does this affect job security?
I think the biggest factor is the global economic situation and, of course, the poor South African economic growth outlook is affecting job security. The political situation in conjunction with the stringent BEE regulations has made certain sectors of the demographic insecure about their future within the job market.
How do employees ensure they remain eminently employable and open to change (and what does this look like in practice)? How do we ‘future-proof’ our jobs/careers?
Aaah – this is where AI comes in and how it is affecting jobs for the future.
But hang on, the future is here, it is NOT IN THE FUTURE. It is here and now.
In conversation with top creative people in Europe who are deep in the AI revolution the insights are as follows:
“AI will raise the floor faster than it will attempt to raise the ceiling. Meaning, the bad stuff will get a lot better. The mediocre stuff will get a lot faster and cheaper. The really good stuff will continue to be really good, there’ll just be even less of it, as the cost of human labour just won’t be worth it to most businesses.”
James Yeats Smith – Head of Story at RGA (London/Amsterdam)
So, you must make sure that you are in the top 10% of your category, BE at the top of the pyramid.
You need to make sure you understand what AI is, what its advantages and disadvantages are with particular reference to your own category of skill set. This knowledge enables you to anticipate changes and be able to adapt accordingly.
Most importantly, you have to be curious and always want to be learning – this is a lifelong focus. Engage in online courses, workshops, and seminars related to AI in your field to stay ahead of the curve. You need to network and collaborate with industry leaders and mentors who can provide new perspectives on where AI is going and how it is affecting your industry.
From ChatGPT: While AI can outperform humans in tasks involving data processing and pattern recognition (as this is really what is all about), it lacks the ability to replicate the nuances of human emotion and social intelligence. Enhancing your emotional intelligence (EQ) — the ability to understand, use, and manage emotions in positive ways — can make you indispensable. Skills such as empathy, leadership, and teamwork become more valuable as AI takes on more cognitive tasks.
DATA AND HOW TO ANALYSE it is one of the King skills of AI. Understand that this is fact but learn to outdo AI with your creative, critical thinking and novel problem-solving skills. So, develop your HUMAN and EQ skills. Engage in activities that challenge you to think differently and approach problems from new angles.
People who can integrate their skills and blend both the technical and non-technical will be in high demand. For example, understanding coding and marketing will make you highly sought after from a data analysis and customer engagement strategy perspective.
Most importantly, you must ensure that, whatever role you have, and whatever category of business you are in, you are keeping ahead of the pack by continually learning and keeping abreast of global trends.
Embrace change!
Be open to change and be flexible to be able to pivot in your career path. This might mean transitioning into emerging roles that AI technology creates or adapt your current role to incorporate new AI technologies.
In conclusion, future-proofing your career in the age of AI requires a proactive approach centred around continuous learning, emotional intelligence, creativity, interdisciplinary skills, adaptability, and networking.
By embracing these strategies, you can not only safeguard your career against the challenges posed by AI but also seize the opportunities it presents for professional growth and innovation.
