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Every professional faces cycles consisting of booms, busts, restructurings, and reinventions. The difference between those who endure and those who fade isnt luck or timing; its adaptability. In volatile economies, careers built on curiosity and agility thrive long after others stall. No market cycle lasts forever. Careers, like economies, move through expansions and contractions. Its vital to continue upskilling, remain flexible, and adapt to market cycles. They are not always predictable, but the leaders who adapt, always learn, network, reflect, and rebalance will outperform the cycles. Adaptability Is the New Alpha In finance and beyond, resilience has become the defining metric of leadership. According to a 2024 McKinsey report, only 16% of global employers actively invest in adaptability and continuous learning programs. Yet among 10,000 employees surveyed worldwide, 26% ranked adaptability as their top skill need, particularly among frontline and early-career workers. The market rewards those who evolve. A career that endures market cycles is one built to adapt. Think of your skills like an investment portfolio; diversify, rebalance, and hedge against obsolescence. Continuous Learning Beats Tenure Experience used to equal expertise. Today, its learning velocity that wins. Experience once defined expertise. Today, its the speed of learning that sets leaders apart. According to a 2023 World Economic Forum Report, 44% of a workers skills will need updating by 2027. Staying relevant now requires continuous reinvestment through certifications, side projects, or stretch roles that broaden your capabilities. Build optionality into your career so when markets shift, youre already ahead of the curve. Networking Compounds Like Capital Strong relationships grow exponentially, much like capital. A 2020 Forbes Publication states 80% of jobs are secured through networking, yet only 24% of professionals network consistently. Focus on building authentic connections before you need them. People remember collaboration and genuine engagement far more than acts of desperation. Reflect and Rebalance Every few years, pause and audit your professional portfolio. What are your strongest performing assets: skills, relationships, projects? Which ones are underperforming? The leaders who survive downturns are the ones who treat their careers like living systems: dynamic, data-informed, and purpose-driven. Its a Marathon Build for the Long Run A career that survives market cycles is not built on luck. Its built on adaptability, continuous learning, networking, and reflecting. Like an investor who thrives in volatility, the resilient professional knows; downturns reveal true value. A resilient career isnt built in bull markets; its forged in the storms. The goal isnt to predict every wave but to learn how to surf.
Category:
E-Commerce
The job market is rough right now. Mass layoffs have people desperately clinging to their current positions. The Great Flattening has more and more workers competing for a dwindling number of roles as entry-level roles dry up and AI potentially rendering entire career paths obsolete. Long-term unemployment is at a post-pandemic high, with more than one in four workers without jobs unemployed for at least half a year. Which makes it a nerve-wracking time to be moving through any sort of career upheaval. If you do find yourself unmoored in the current market, whether or not by choice, it could be a good time to recalibrate and get clear on your next steps. The team of career experts at U.K. jobs site targetjobs suggest one way to find direction amidst the chaos. Its called the GPS Method. Whether youre just entering the workforce (Im so sorry), considering a career pivot, or plotting your next move, this method can help you decide where you want to go and how youre going to get there in small, actionable steps. G: Ground Yourself The first step is all about grounding. Before you update your LinkedIn and start firing out job applications, take a deep breath and look inward. Ask yourself, what actually are my interests, strengths and values and how do they fit into work? This doesnt necessarily have to be your lifes passion. In fact, many workers are no longer interested in sexy job titles, instead saving their real passions and ambitions for off the clock. Rather its about recognizing what gives energy and what drains it. Perhaps, you recognize you work best when bouncing ideas off people in the office. Or youre most productive in a remote setting away from any distractions. Think about the impact you want to have in your next role. Does a fast-paced environment at the forefront of innovation excite you, or do you feel the pull to help others in a meaningful way? P: Plot Your Path Once youve done the inner work, its time to start putting a plan together. Rather than spray and pray Easy Apply applications to every job posting you can find, conduct meaningful research and use the job spec to tailor your CV to the role. (Yes, many hiring managers can tell when youve used AI.) Remember, one considered job application is worth a thousand half-baked ones. Think in experiences, not commitments. If you can, take on a few freelance projects to test out a new career path before you dive head first. Network at events or reach out to connections in the industry for advice. Look at it as collecting data and trying out different techniques to find what fits you best. S: Steer and Stay the Course The traditional career ladder is dead. A lattice (or jungle gym) career approach has taken their place, but requires a little more adjustment as you go. Make sure not to fall asleep at the wheel; continue to set short-term goals and reflect on what is working and what isnt so you can course correct as needed. The stay the course part? It means be patient. Bumps in the road are normal. In fact, they are a great time to circle back and repeat the process, and any rejection is only redirection.
Category:
E-Commerce
What if I told you the single most important tool for growing your business is free? It doesnt require fancy business cards, a corner office, or the latest app that tracks every data point in real time. Its networking. Networking fuels growth, builds relationships, and keeps your business thriving. We live in a world moving at the speed of AI, where everything is changing all at once. As we streamline every aspect of life to be faster and more efficient, it only makes sense to modernize how we network. Before you overhaul your networking style, its important to remember the fundamentals, then build on them with new skills. Networking is everywhere, all the time Every person you meet knows someone or something you dont. Get to know people on a human level, and if you admire what they do, find ways to support them. Be open to casual conversations in unexpected places, especially when you travel. Ive booked speeches, made friends, and discovered opportunities simply by chatting with a seatmate on a plane. I try to wait until after I take off to put my earbuds in, just in case my seatmate wants to have a quick chat before the plane takes off. Create your own opportunities If invitations arent rolling in (yet), integrate yourself into spaces that genuinely interest you. Love museums? Join a volunteer docent group or a young patrons group. Love chess? Find a club. Run? Running groups are natural community builders, with a side of health built in. Shared passions create connections that naturally expand your network. The best networking happens when work and life intertwine. Seek real human connection In a digital-first world, people crave authenticity. Host a networking breakfast with a friend, and both of you bring three new people. Expanding your network often starts within the circles of people you already know. If you like your friend, theres a good chance youll like their friends, too. It also makes holiday parties more fun when you walk in and know half the room. Do your homework If youve asked for a meeting, be sure to show up prepared. Ask thoughtful questions that interest you, not questions you have Googled or asked ChatGPT. Always come armed with a few interesting talking points or stories that make you memorable. If you can find a few commonalities between the person you are meeting and yourself, be sure to bring those up: I “grew up in the same state,” “noticed that you have the same number of kids in your family,” or “love the same sport/sports team” are always good ways to connect and make an impression. Use technology to stay top of mind Keep your network updated on what youre doing and where youre headed. I send a monthly newsletter about my work, speaking engagements, auctions, ShopMy finds, favorite hotels, and travel tips using Mailchimp. When I meet new people, I immediately add them to my newsletter list so they are aware of everything I am working on. Dont underestimate the power of giving people the script to sell you when youre not in the room. Give back Networking isnt just about what you can getits also about what you can give. As you advance in your career, mentor those coming up behind you. Youll gain insights across generations, and often, someone you once helped will reappear later in your professional journey. A strong network grows both up and down. In the words of my dad: “Network or die.” Maybe not literally, but your business might if you dont. And dont forget to have fun.
Category:
E-Commerce
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