How to Create Your Own Career Strategy: A Simple Framework to Unlock New Possibilities

By | Abhijit Bhaduri |Keynote speaker, Author and Columnist

Hi, thank you for reading my weekly newsletter on Dreamers and Unicorns. Today, I want to share with you a simple but powerful framework that can help you unlock new possibilities for your career. Whether you are a student, a young professional, or an experienced worker, this framework can help you navigate the changing world of work and find your unique path to success.

The framework is based on three factors that shape career opportunities: work, worker, and workplace. Let me explain what each of these factors means and how they can help you create your own career strategy.

Factor 1: Changes in the way work gets done.

The first factor is work, which refers to the changes in the way work gets done due to technological innovation, social trends, and environmental challenges. For example, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming many industries and professions, such as education, health care, finance, and law. AI can automate some of the routine tasks that humans used to do, such as grading papers, diagnosing diseases, processing transactions, or reviewing contracts. AI can also augment human capabilities by providing insights, recommendations, or predictions based on data analysis.

How does this affect your career choices? Well, it means that you need to ask yourself how AI will change the way work gets done in your field of interest. For example, if you are a teacher in a school, you need to think about how you can leverage AI to teach more effectively, create personalized lesson plans, evaluate student progress, or provide feedback. You also need to think about what skills and competencies you need to develop to complement AI and add value to your work. For example, you may need to enhance your creativity, communication, collaboration, or emotional intelligence skills.

By understanding how work gets done in your field of interest, you can identify the gaps and opportunities that exist for you to pursue your career goals. You can also anticipate the future trends and demands that will shape your industry and profession.

Factor 2: Which skills will become valuable.

The second factor is worker, which refers to the skills and competencies that will become valuable in the future of work. As I mentioned earlier, some of the skills that are expected to be in high demand include technological skills (such as data analysis, AI, or cloud computing), soft skills (such as creativity, problem-solving, or communication), and social skills (such as empathy, collaboration, or leadership).

How does this affect your career choices? Well, it means that you need to assess your own strengths and weaknesses in relation to these skills. You need to identify which skills you already have and which skills you need to acquire or improve. You also need to find out which skills are relevant and applicable for your field of interest. For example, if you are interested in cybersecurity, you need to have strong technical skills in areas such as encryption, network security, or malware analysis. You also need to have soft skills such as critical thinking, ethical reasoning, or risk management.

By assessing your own skills and competencies, you can determine your competitive advantage and differentiation in the market. You can also plan your learning and development strategy to acquire the skills that will make you more employable and successful.

Factor 3: The ecosystem in which the skills will get monetized

The third factor is workplace, which refers to the types and forms of organizations that you can join or create. There are several business models and organizational structures that are being created. Thinking about the ecosystem where one’s skills will be monetized is the third factor that to consider. There are platform-based models (such as Uber or Airbnb), ecosystem-based models (such as Amazon or Alibaba), and network-based models (such as GitHub or Upwork). Or maybe you want to be an entrepreneur and build your own ecosystem.

How does this affect your career choices? Well, it means that you have more options and flexibility in choosing where you want to work and how you want to work. You can join a large global corporation or a small local enterprise. You can join a startup or create your own venture. You can join a community or create your own network. You can also choose to work remotely or onsite.

By exploring different types of workplaces, you can find the one that best suits your personal preferences, lifestyle, or family needs. You can also find the one that aligns with your values, passions, or interests.

How to use this framework

Now that you know the three factors that shape career opportunities: work (changes in the way work gets done), worker (which skills will become valuable), and workplace (a workplace is an ecosystem in which the skills will get applied), how can you use this framework to create your own career strategy?

Here are three practical ways:

• Use it as a self-assessment tool: You can use this framework to evaluate your current situation and identify your strengths and weaknesses. You can also use it to set your short-term and long-term goals and track your progress.
• Use it as a research tool: You can use this framework to gather information about different fields of interest and potential employers. You can also use it to network with people who have similar or different backgrounds and experiences.
• Use it as a decision-making tool: You can use this framework to compare and contrast different options and opportunities that are available to you. You can also use it to weigh the pros and cons of each option and make informed and intentional choices.

I hope you find this framework useful and helpful for your career journey. Remember, the future of careers is not predetermined or fixed. It is shaped by the choices that you make in response to the changes in the world of work. By using this framework, you can create fulfilling and meaningful careers that contribute to your own well-being and the well-being of society.

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and colleagues. And don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more insights and tips on the future of careers.

If you have questions, pl email me at abhijitbhaduri@live.com

I will provide some questions you can use to get started on your self-assessment. I will share some sources you can use to do your research and some tools to facilitate the decision-making process. Subscribe to this newsletter so that you don’t miss out on that list.

Republished with permission and originally published at Abhijit Bhaduri’s LinkedIn