Stay relevant in the changing job market

As the world experiences change in almost every field, the job environment is changing as well. The 2016 World Economic Forum Report on the future of jobs for example noted that “Disruptive changes to business models will have a profound impact on the employment landscape over the coming years. Many of the major drivers of transformation currently affecting global industries are expected to have a significant impact on jobs, ranging from significant job creation to job displacement…”
The report adds: “In many industries and countries, the most in-demand occupations or specialties did not exist 10 or even five years ago, and the pace of change is set to accelerate.
“By one popular estimate, 65 per cent of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new job types that don’t yet exist. In such a rapidly evolving employment landscape, the ability to anticipate and prepare for future skills requirements… is increasingly critical for businesses, governments and individuals in order to fully seize the opportunities presented by these trends—and to mitigate undesirable outcomes.”
Furthermore, the Institute for the Future, an independent nonprofit strategic research group, identified six big drivers that would create big disruptive shifts that are likely to reshape the future job/career landscape in their ‘Future Work Skills 2020’ research.

These include increasing global lifespans hence an aging population that needs to rearrange their approach to careers; a rise of smart machines and systems hence work place automation nudging human workers out; the growing computational world making the world a programmable system; the new media with its new communication tools that require new media literacy; super structured organisations, and a globally connected world that has increased global interconnectivity.
This, therefore, possess a versatile and challenging work landscape in which employees need to keep on tabs, and ready themselves to stay relevant in an already changing job market.

Staying relevant
With all these changes in play, remaining relevant may mean being able to ably execute more than one role, Peter Mugarura, a freelance career coach, notes. He further says: “We are in a time where one needs to be able to take up more than one role because employers are always looking for a way of cutting costs and maximising profits in a competitive market. Therefore, an employee with ability to execute multiple roles or work more than one job slot has a competitive advantage and is more likely to stay relevant even when roles shift or change.”
Though this may not necessarily apply to professions like medicine, one is better placed if they keep track of how their careers are changing, what the new trends are, and what skills one needs to acquire to enrich their relevance.

Constant learning
With emphasis to this, Mugarura calls for consistent learning, open mindedness and willingness to venture into other fields around one’s career. In some instances, some of these changes are unforeseen but need to be addressed when they come. Here, the best weapon at your disposal is adoptability, Mugarura notes, adding:
“You don’t want to be that rigid person that doesn’t change with the changes in your field – that is a dangerous position. Adapting to the changes in technology, in the way business is done, in production techniques, among others will give you leverage over your counterparts,” he says.
This, however, means moving faster, working harder at adapting to those changes by showing willingness to take learning opportunities, gaining experience and a willingness to execute duties, especially when your employer provides the platform. Mugarura says: “In other wards, always be on the move, and don’t get stuck in a comfort zone.”
Among drivers of change, is a globally connected world – largely enabled by the internet. Information and computer technologies have become so part of many professions and careers that in one way or another, one can’t avoid using these technologies.

New technology
“One doesn’t need to become a computer genius, but being able to work with a few simple softwares, applications, being able to find information on the internet, ability to maintain a blog or being able to communicate on social media platforms among other things comes in handy,” Disan Ssebingi, CEO Go Promotions, a digital marketing company says. Again, depending on your field of expertise, one should familiarise themselves with new and emerging technologies in their fields, Ssebingi says.

Multiple skills
In addition, developing as many skills both hands on and soft skills is a good strategy not only for remaining relevant in a changing job market but also for one’s survival.
Allen Birungi, a human resource manager at Right Care Schools advises. “Skills such as public speaking, teamwork, persuasiveness, a positive attitude, discipline, computer literacy and customer care among others are a way of ensuring your relevance at the job. Those, plus other skills related to one’s career are elements employers often look out for that every employee should be in possession of.
Birungi notes that the job environment today is cosmopolitan, necessitating social skills.
“Co-existence at the work place is important. Therefore, an employee should have the social skills to work in a wide range of environments, even foreign environments, but also with a diverse number of people of different races, cultures, religions, and ages among others.”
Therefore, staying oblivious to these changes may see you out of the game.