Navigating Corporate Uncertainty: How to Stay Sought-After in Any Market
By Wendy Spalding
I’ve noted an increasing trend in recent weeks as I’ve worked with some really talented candidates who have been the collateral damage of corporate actions. All of them have either been retrenched, or are exiting the very careers where they have been developed and fast-tracked, due to corporate action beyond their control – shareholder issues, restructuring, new leadership, mergers and acquisitions.
All of them have professional qualifications. All of them are highly talented, high-performing people, of all colours. But the bottom has fallen out of their careers because of corporate actions completely beyond their control.
The best advice I can give to other people who have been developed and fast-tracked, and had their career shaped by their organisations, is firstly, don’t think it can’t happen to you – it’s happening to others just like you. And then I would work on the following seven items to ensure that if the worst does happen, you are still sought-after in the market.
1. Stay up to date with learning and skill development, from both technical skills to leadership skills.
2. Diversify your skill set – becoming overly specialised can work against you in the long run, so ensure you keep up with broader skills.
3. Build a strong professional network within and outside the company.
4. Be flexible and adaptable, and willing to embrace new challenges.
5. Keep working on your personal branding, showcasing your expertise and thought leadership on platforms like LinkedIn.
6. Stay informed and proactive when it comes to organisational changes, industry trends and market developments so you can anticipate potential changes and take proactive steps to mitigate risks to your career.
7. Maintain a positive attitude and work on your resilience so you can bounce back more easily from any setbacks.
By following these strategies, you can future-proof your career trajectory as much as possible, and position yourself for long-term success, even in the face of corporate uncertainty.
