About 10 ways to future
10 ways to future — this guide from Big Wave Digital covers 10 ways to future in the Australian market. Read on for a practical, current view.
10 ways to future proof your digital marketing career
If there is one sector that is constantly evolving, it’s digital. I work with a lot of people in my job as a recruiter, often focussing on the immediate role at hand. I love working with people to talk about their future career plans and how one role might lead to another, and if it is inline with their career goals.
There has been a lot of of talk around how to future proof your career and what roles will be in strong demand in 2023 and beyond. Specialising in recruiting across all areas of digital, I get to witness just how fast technology and digital changes. Even from when I started recruiting here in Sydney to now, things have changed so much. From roles that no longer exist, to roles of the future – change is constant.
Future proofing your career can mean many things. I’d recommend mapping out your career path and identifying key roles to get you to your pinnacle – and be prepared that the top of your career path may change every 5 years or so! I know what I wanted 5 years ago is very different to what I see in my future now. Big world changes like Covid saw a lot of people gravitate away from big corporate careers into more lifestyle careers, and others onto completely different career paths.
You only have to look at emerging technologies to see the future of digital – look at tech like AI and it’s poster child Chat GPT – if you’re in digital and haven’t started exploring new tech like AI then I’d get started! I’ve used it to help write this article, and if you’re in the camp that thinks AI is a dirty word, then you should definitely read on!
Let me share 10 ways to help future proof your career in digital.
Keep learning: Stay current with new skills, knowledge, and technologies.
There are plenty of free online courses with platforms like LinkedIn and low cost options to keep up with the latest in digital technology. I use Google a lot to help learn about new technologies that pop up in the digital and tech space – almost with every role I work on I learn something new! Seek out mentors that can help too – and remember a mentor doesn’t have to be someone more experienced or “senior” to you – I love learning new technologies from younger generations who are incredibly savvy with all things digital. Stay curious to new things!
Network: Think 6 degrees of separation.
I think Sydney is probably 3 degrees of separation – everyone knows someone who knows someone who knows you, so if you shudder at the thought of having to network, chances are you find a familiar face or name. I go into most networking events well researched and prepared with talking points. I’d also recommend networking online – LinkedIn is a great place to start with commenting on people’s posts and connecting. If you still need an extra push to get out there and network, think about helping others – offering your advice and expertise to a bigger audience.
Be Adaptable: Open your arms wide around change and don’t be afraid of it.
The world moves at an ever increasing pace, especially in digital and technology. Being a continuous learner that stays current with new skills, knowledge and technologies helps to be adaptable to new challenges. Look towards start up founders and entrepreneurs to emulate their growth mindset – learning from failures and continuously improving. I’m a naturally proactive person and I find this helps me be more adaptable – I move towards challenges rather than away from them.
Be proactive: Take charge of your own career development, don’t wait for opportunities to come to you.
Being proactive goes arm in arm with being adaptable – people that I know who are great at embracing change are positive and proactive. They also invest in their futures, seeking out new projects and not waiting for opportunities to come to them – they create their own luck and opportunities.
“If you’re proactive, you focus on preparing. If you reactive, you end up focussing on repairing” – John C Maxwell
Be versatile: the more you know, the more technology you embrace, and the more you diversify your skills, the more you can future proof your career.
I like to think it’s a little like looking after your body and exercising. You can’t just do cardio, you need to do strength training as well. You can’t just work out one arm, you need to do both (and legs, back and core). A great place to start with being more versatile is to look towards your peers, both within the organisation and outside (see point 2 on networking!)
Embrace digital: Fair to say that if you are working in digital, you definitely already embracing digital, but it’s time to flex the muscles and give it a bigger hug.
Think of areas outside of your expertise – if you are a social media manager, how much do you know about paid search? If you are a solutions architect, how much do you know about performance marketing? If you are leading the CRM channel, how much do you know about website management or SEO? You get the picture.
Develop your soft skills: it’s not just about your technical knowledge, but your broader commercial acumen.
I coach a lot of people as they head into interviews for their next digital marketing role and your career, and how you manage it, is not just about the technology you know or the technical skills you have learnt. Many of the points I have talked about lean more towards developing your soft skills, and include things like developing your leadership skills, how you problem solve, how you communicate and influence. Future proofing your career may include looking at developing more soft skills – it’s an area where I often get the most feedback on people in interviews!
Get feedback: Be open minded and generous with your time in seeking feedback.
Feedback from peers, managers and wider stakeholders. Make getting feedback a regular part of your routine. Get strategic in how you ask for feedback and what you do with it as well. Create a safe space for the feedback too – you need to be open to it and not judgemental of the person giving you the feedback. If it’s a manager, I’d recommend asking for support to improve as well.
Diversifying your income: I went to a networking event back in 2019 on the gig economy and how it will be a key “way of working” into the future.
I’m still seeing most companies operating under a Monday to Friday, 9-5 routine but what I am seeing is the rise of the side hustle. I wrote a blog last week that looked at how a side hustle can help with your job search and speaking to a lot of people that have gone from side hustle to serious business. Having a side hustle that complements what you do in your day to day can be a great way to future proof your career in digital, teaching you key skills from both a technology and business perspective.
Stay positive: I’ve long been described as a glass half full person and it’s helped me take steps to future proof my career.
I pivoted into recruiting in digital from a technology background, and pivoted into recruitment from a real estate career. Working with a lot of people now as they move into new roles and new careers, being positive stands out as an impressive trait amongst many – those that are actively embracing change, those that are always learning and constantly playing with new technologies, those that are building new networks and engaging with digital communities are those that I see set for future careers.
“For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.” – Michelle Obama
It’s not a definitive list, but one to help you get started. I love helping people find their next job and their identify their career path – recruiters are not just here to help companies find people for jobs! We offer market information, constructive feedback and strong networks.
How can we help you with your career in digital or tech today?
Here at Big Wave Digital, all of our consultants have niche areas they recruit it, making them experts at knowing what hiring managers are looking for, what questions to expect in interview, what CV’s work (and what don’t), how to negotiate salary (and keep your expectations reasonable too). You don’t have to be applying for a role to speak with a recruiter either – we welcome the chance to speak with you and work with people long before they are even ready to apply! We cover all areas of digital recruitment and tech recruitment, with an emerging space in blockchain, AI and ML recruitment.
Let us help you find a brilliant role in Digital, Data, and Technology.
Big Wave Digital are experts in Digital Recruitment Sydney, Data Recruitment Sydney, and Technical Recruitment Sydney
At Big Wave Digital , Sydney’s leading digital and technical recruitment agency, we have deep digital connections, experience and proven expertise, and the ability to achieve a win for all parties in the technical recruiting process. We can connect to highly coveted tech talent with the world’s best employers. To discover more, just give us a call at (02) 9380 4431.
Keiran Hathorn is the Head of Digital Recruitment for Big Wave Digital a Sydney-based niche Digital, Data & Technology recruitment company. Keiran is of Australia’s best-connected digital recruiters with access to the finest talent across the digital landscape. Assisting companies of all sizes to secure the best talent.
Big Wave Digital is a specialist Australian technology recruitment agency. If 10 ways to future is relevant to your hiring or career, our team can help — that is exactly what 10 ways to future work like this is about.
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When it comes to 10 ways to future, Big Wave Digital brings specialist Australian market knowledge. Getting 10 ways to future right is the difference between a good hire and a great one. Our team works on 10 ways to future every day across Sydney and the wider Australian tech market. If you are weighing up 10 ways to future, talk to a specialist who lives in 10 ways to future. Smart 10 ways to future decisions start with current, local data — exactly what this 10 ways to future guide gives you. When it comes to 10 ways to future, Big Wave Digital brings specialist Australian market knowledge. Getting 10 ways to future right is the difference between a good hire and a great one. Our team works on 10 ways to future every day across Sydney and the wider Australian tech market.
