Collaborative Post¦ Professional careers are things that can come and go more quickly than we realise. Hollywood is perhaps the best reminder of how uncertain a career can be. Some of the famous actors from the past now have had to resort to normal 9 to 5 jobs to make a living once their careers abruptly came to an end.
Charlie Korsmo, the child actor in Hook, turned away from Hollywood when roles dried up and embraced a law career. He is now a Law Professor. Al Green’s talent for soul music now goes into preaching the gospel at a church in Memphis, Tennessee. Child actor Angus T. Jones who featured in Two and a Half Men quit acting and joined the management side of a company in his 20s. Even one of the Jonas brothers fell out of fame and launched his own construction company in New Jersey, where he works as a contractor to make a living.
The bottom line: If even those who were once adored by the media can experience a sudden career collapse, chances are that you and I and other office workers could face a similar end. While for non-famous people, a career dry-up may not necessarily mean making a 180-degree turn and changing careers, it could affect your professional progression and earning abilities. So how do you protect your career effectively?
Maintain a professional attitude
It’s easy to cut loose a little, especially in the middle of a heat wave. But too many professionals find themselves accidentally crossing the line and affecting their reputation. While you may not notice any negative repercussions, it could still delay your promotion or even prevent it altogether.
What are the things that could put you at risk?
Something as simple as a poor taste joke on a social evening with co-workers could change their minds about you. Or perhaps, you choose to work from home, but your background constantly appears messy.
What can you do to stay professional and friendly?
If you have a home office, it can be a great idea to redecorate it to make it stylish and appealing.
If there is a social event with work, stay away from alcoholic drinks during the summer. You are more likely to consume more than you should to keep yourself cool and fresh, which could lead to nasty consequences! Besides, dehydration in summer can also accentuate the impact of alcohol; hence you could feel hungover the next day after only a drink.
When it comes to dress code in summer, most offices are open-minded unless you are in a client-facing position. Yet, you want to avoid things such as flip-flops, too tight clothes that could lead to sweat marks, and accidentally revealing outfits.
Keep updated on current trends and knowledge
Your role should constantly be evolving to adjust to the changes in demand on the market, technological advances, and the ongoing environmental and health requirements. When you think about it, an office clerk’s role has changed dramatically over the last 10 years to include digital media, SEO, and social media. What are the next 10 years going to look like? What is the next year going to be? Ensuring that you remain relevant means considering the future of work: upskilling & reskilling processes should be part of your career protection. From catching up with the latest trend in the industry to preempting the next business move, planning for tomorrow ensures you can stay relevant.
Granted, every company is also going to invest time and money in training their staff for the next work realities. However, professionals who already stay updated and prepared are more likely to receive preferential treatment when it comes to promotions.
Build a network
Social media is the best place to start your network. Being active on LinkedIn can help with your professional network. You can use LinkedIn for many different purposes:
- Connect with current and previous co-workers
- Connect with alumni
- Connect with clients and suppliers
- Join relevant groups
- Keep up with business news
But you can also ensure you are visible to your network by posting relevant content, sharing expert articles from popular and reputable sources, or even sharing your news, such as the latest work projects.
Other platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Tiktok are the perfect tool to gain the approval of your professional network:
- Share behind-the-scene videos or photos (without revealing confidential information)
- Share troubleshooting guides
- Explain complex concepts with simple videos
- Share an interaction with customers
- Show a normal day at work
Having a solid network to back you up can help you access roles and grow your career forward.
Where will your career take you tomorrow? There’s no saying! Fluctuations happen, and you may even get a sudden change of heart and decide to switch business or career. But, protecting your professional reputation through upskilling, networking, and professionalism can help you, regardless of where you choose to take your career next!
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.