How to future-proof your own career in Careers

By Caroline Green

They say doctors make the worst patients, and likewise careers professionals are often so busy supporting clients with their careers, they neglect their own. But in a year that has seen careers sector stalwarts, including Adviza, sadly go into administration, not to mention the uncertainty of a new government, now has never been a better time to think about your own career. Data from both The CDI’s #Biglisten survey and Career England’s ‘Workforce Recruitment and Retention in the Career Sector’ report does not paint a pretty picture of staffing in the sector either. With many feeling they’re undervalued and inappropriately renumerated, it’s perhaps no surprise we have a higher-than-average turnover. With this in mind, how do you futureproof your own career?

If you’re feeling frustrated in your role, or perhaps feeling it is on shaky ground, rather than leaving the sector altogether, have you considered simply moving into a different role within it? Although this might seem like an obvious choice, it can be hard knowing what opportunities there even are. Work is being done to address this, and in the meantime, there are some useful tactics you can employ to discover your next career move.

Research possible roles

As we know from our work with clients, you can’t be what you can’t see, so doing research is vital. Looking at what others do across the sector and beyond is a great place to start.

• Look at case studies. Reach out to your network or view the case studies on the careers in careers website to get some further inspiration.
• Whilst we don’t yet have a sector-wide career path framework detailing the different roles in the sector and levels, qualifications and skills needed, AGCAS does have information on professional pathways, specifically within HE
• Professional bodies such as The CDI and CIPD (the professional body for HR and Learning and Development) can be useful places to do further research into different roles, and receive guidance on the skills and qualifications you might need.
• There are also lots of other linked organisations and sectors which may be useful to look into, including the British Psychological Society and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council.

Think outside the box

Remember that in addition to more traditional guidance roles, there is an increasing number of other avenues. Technology is fast becoming a huge part of the sector as we try to do more with less, including using AI, and this is creating an abundance of tech roles. Likewise, content creators, with everything from podcasters to writers and video production crews, are all vital cogs in the careers sector machine, often coming with higher earning potential. Even if you don’t see your future career in these areas, it is important to think about what skills the future work market will require, including how we use technology, to futureproof your career.

Alternatively, there is huge crossover between the worlds of Careers and HR, particularly in Learning and Development or Talent Management roles. There can be higher earning potential in these, particularly with the opportunity to work in more corporate settings. These roles can cover anything from supporting those early in their career, to helping individuals with career transitions or training staff in leadership and management skills. If you like the idea of this but don’t want to work for someone else, there are many self-employed professionals in this area too, many of whom use their skills for outplacement work. This is when an organisation provides careers support for members of staff whose roles are being made redundant. Outplacement services can cover anything from career coaching to simple job hunting advice or CV writing support. Organisations such as LHH Penna are well known in outplacement and hire freelancers to support their clients.

Networking

Whatever area you move into, the old adage ‘it’s not what you know but who’, is very apt here. Whilst working in careers can be a solitary role, building a network around you is still possible and increasingly vital. Not only is it a great opportunity to share the highs and lows of your current working situation, but it’s also another research opportunity. Different roles in the sector are not always obvious, so by networking you can discover more and get the perspective of someone actually doing the role.

These perspectives can introduce entirely new roles, or even a different angle on something already known. You may be a trained Careers Adviser employed by a school and considering moving into self-employment. Making this sideways move will enable you to continue working as a Careers Adviser but with the flexibility to develop in other areas as well, such as working with adults or even CV writing. This can be daunting, but our friendly sector full of self-employed professionals is willing to help with advice and support. Whatever your next steps are, being part of a careers community will provide a plethora of advice and support.

Transferable skills and personal brand

Whether you are looking to make a move or stay right where you are, having an understanding of your (transferable) skills and how you set out your personal brand is crucial. This can make all the difference when it comes to redundancy situations or when you’re looking to make a sideways move. 

If you’re struggling to list your skills, think about all the resources you use with your clients and how you could apply them to your own self-evaluation. This could include psychometric profiling, or perhaps this fantastic special edition CDP card from ‘What’s Your Strength?’ can give you some ideas.

Once you have a clearer picture, you can cross-reference your skills and strengths and map them against other possible roles inside or outside the sector. This could be part of a job hunting process, or simply part of your development planning for now and the future. And on the topic of development, one of the strongest ways you can futureproof your career is to carry out regular CPD, so your knowledge is relevant, up to date and varied.

Once you have all these things in place, working on your personal brand and how you sell yourself to others will ensure your career is fit for now and the future. And maybe next time you’re supporting a client, listen to your own advice and apply it to your own situation.