The world of work today is increasingly polarized into winners and losers in terms of employability.
And the near future will not be more friendly: 7 million jobs will be lost worldwide between 2015 and 2020 according to the Davos Forum and more than half of the existing jobs in a few years are unknown today.
They are the immediate effects of the unstoppable 4th industrial revolution. A change that, on the other hand, opens a new and great work and business opportunities for those who know how to take advantage of them.
What are the critical elements for successful employment and a strong employability?
As you might think, the key factors are not related to age, training or previous professional successes, but rather to a mix of classic and emerging aspects such as the 10 that I detail below.
1. Self-knowledge: What are your 3-4 key skills in which you are good, the ones you have obtained testable results, the ones you enjoy or the ones with open positions? We all have blind spots and knowing oneself in depth is unusual. Achieving a realistic vision of your strengths and areas of development will already generate a competitive advantage. And look for mentors who give you good advice to never stop growing or being out of the game.
2. Authenticity: Be yourself. It is inefficient and it is a burden to go through life with a mask. In the same way, being authentic, with your lights and shadows, is a sign of self-confidence that naturally generates more confidence in others.
3. Networking: The paradigm of the professional with a great value has changed. From “information is power” we have passed to “so much you share, so much you worth”. I know, therefore, be visible and generous. Prepare your storytelling and communicate sustainably and honestly who you are on a multi-channel level (face-to-face and digital). Social networks are the key tools and Linkedin makes the difference. However, a good professional use of Facebook, Twitter or Instagram can also bring you great benefits.
4. Learning agility: Adapt and learn exponentially (how the current market evolves) is fundamental. “Every day I dedicate at least 30 minutes to training” said Rosa García (President of Siemens Spain) recently in a forum. Be open to changes XXI century involves continuous and exponential transformation.
5. Honesty: Avoid if it is possible to work in organizations where your values do not fit. Be consistent with yourself and others because the opposite will surely be bread for today and hunger for tomorrow. Eg I think Pep Guardiola probably would not have triumphed at Real Madrid and not because of lack of knowledge, experience or good potential as a football coach.
6. Resilience: Success and good results are usually not achieved at first, fast and effortlessly. Sometimes it is difficult and it takes time to know what is your professional vocation or the type of work that attracts you. And sometimes your best job opportunity is not the first option that seems interesting and appears in your way.
7. Optimism: The current world is very competitive and complex. Enjoying life, maintaining a positive attitude despite setbacks and focusing on the opportunities generated by crises makes it easier to achieve your professional goals.
8. Healthy habits: An athlete of high competition does not usually perform more than 10-15 years at the highest level. A professional with a healthy ambition for a powerful career must perform at the highest level 40 years of professional career. And this is increasingly difficult without healthy routines that provide a great level of physical energy every day.
9. Differentiation: Your personal brand must have character and a style of its own. Identify the elements that can distinguish you from other colleagues.
10. Proactivity: Think about managing your professional career as if you were running your own company. Development depends above all on yourself. ‘You are the CEO of your future work’.
Many of the most reputable professionals and digital influencers I know were just strangers only 5 years ago. And in some cases they even had a compromised work situation.
It is a good example that shows that employability is available to everyone. And that has to do fundamentally with attitude, focus, (knowing what you’re really good at), hard work, humility and generosity to continuously contribute value to others.
The great Peridis expresses it well in this video:
As a conclusion, a change of era that has “democratized” and multiplied the options of job success for those who embrace continuous learning and collaboration.
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David Reyero Trapiello – Senior HR Business Partner – Sanofi Iberia
e-mail: David.reyero@sanofi.com / Twitter: @davidreyero73 / Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/davidreyerotrapiello/
Great post, David! The first three points especially resonate with me: self-knowledge (man is the only animal who keeps making the same mistakes over and over again) + authenticity (dare to be yourself) + networking (thanks for the approach on sharing knowledge, this is where networking starts).