Future-proofing is the way of making sure that your skills are still marketable in the upcoming decades. You’ll never know what exact type of in-demand skills, business processes, industry trends, gadgets will lay before your eyes in the next year, decade and century. Certain articles in the internet project some skills that could be rendered obsolete or partially replaced by artificial intelligence. Here we laid some tips on how to future proof your career and job.

Go tech-savvy

Being tech-savvy means learning the current tech tools used in your job or business. For example, if you’re a teacher, it can be beneficial for you to learn skype, power-point, spreadsheet and word-processing tools as they can help you produce lesson plans efficiently. Likewise, as an accountant, learn QuickBooks and the recent software used in accounting by firms so that in your next job application, you’ll be ready for interviews, tests and your first job. Numerous programs are available to give solutions to every industry such as in food & beverage, warehousing, logistics, healthcare, web development, and software development. 

Commit to life-long learning

Many people mistakenly believe that learning stops at graduation at college or university and therefore you should be content with your degree. But following that advice will only lead you to stagnant knowledge and skills. What you know yesterday could be irrelevant today. Some of the schools and colleges are using an outdated curriculum, teaching materials and textbooks and so if you graduated from those schools, you could graduate unprepared for the real world. 

And if you stay in the company, having the same skills and being ignorant of the latest tools of your trade, you could end up with the same salary and position. When the time comes that you apply for your next job, you’re unable to get the job that requires more tech skills in your industry. For example, if you’re an office worker, study and train on cloud-based word processors such as Google docs and Office 365.
 

Build a professional network

Connect and maintain communication to people within and outside of your job. A professional network could be your working colleagues, customers, relatives, former-classmates, alumni-members and teachers. You can rely on them as job leads, resource persons, advisors and trainers. To build a network you could: 

• Join industry associations
• Keep and update contacts
• Build integrity

Invest in creative skills that lead to future-proof jobs

Invest your time and money in creative skills that are irreplaceable by artificial intelligence and robots. The more skill requires human interaction and creativity, the more it’s near impossible to be replaced by automation. Here are examples:

Skills and jobs irreplaceable by AI

Skills

• Writing
• Planning
• Database administration
• Empathizing
• Negotiating
• Analysing computer systems
• Legal advising
• Counselling 
• Social advising
• Graphic designing

Jobs

• Lawyer
• Writer
• Computer engineer
• Social worker
• HR generalist

Jobs easy to be replaced by AI

• Fruit picker
• Assembly worker
• Burger flipper
• Janitorial worker
• Food preparation worker

Learn two or more skills

The saying “jack of all trades, master of none” is false according to some experts and internet resources. The correct saying is “jack of all trades master of some”. The derogatory cliche “jack of all trades, master of none” will go to the trash bin as learning isn’t a zero-sum game. When you learn at the maximum rate for just one skill, you’re losing an opportunity for a multi-disciplinary approach. What if “you” as an accountant, after 1 decade, a company suddenly replaced you for an AI?

You can learn skills related to your present ones. For example, if you’re a graphic artist, learn web development coding and wireframing tools that can equip you when you apply for a position needing those know-hows. You can also learn an extra skill such as statistics if you’re working as a copywriter. To work things for you as a polymath, pick 2 to 3 of different skills.

In other words, you can master at least one and be the jack of all trades. The pervasive idiom used as a quote is often used as an insult. The good news is it has been shattered as a fallacy. So go ahead and be a generalist rather than a specialist who can be in the danger of being relegated to back corner. In software development, a generalist has more fluid skills than specialists.

Read, read, read

Develop the habits of a good reader. Good reading refers to improved reading comprehension and fast reading. The internet is a great blessing and it offers you a vast resource that may take thousands of years to read. Reading improves your knowledge of trends, new technologies, economics, innovations and tools of the trade. Reading materials you can digest includes blogs, articles, graphs or statistics, and videos.

Save money

Padding your wallet and bank accounts can help you save money for productive activities such as learning online courses and enrolling on physical school. If you have enough savings, you’re safe from emergencies such as sudden unemployment and natural disasters. Having a financial fallback can help you adapt quickly through changing trends, economy and market.

Another reason to build fat finance is you can start your own business. If you’re a successful business owner, you no longer have to work for someone and sell your time and effort. You’re the employer.