It’s easy to buy into the hype that new and disruptive technologies — particularly, artificial intelligence (AI) — are job killers. But technology’s power to change the nature of work, and make some jobs obsolete in the process, is nothing new. Neither is the fact that technology can create new markets and career paths — and provide opportunities for workers to be even more productive and innovative. The IT and tech job market in Canada is evolving, and technology leaders also understand they must manage an array of complex priorities for their business and embrace digital transformation if they want to stay ahead.Of course, to take advantage of the future job trends that these tech advancements will help to create, professionals need to have relevant skills. But how can you know what skills and abilities you’ll need to be marketable in the future? What steps can you take now to “future-proof” your career and embrace the digital transformation disrupting the Canadian workforce?Robert Half’s new tech e-book for navigating the IT and Tech job market in Canada for 2024 titled, Building Future-Forward Tech Teams, offers insight for both job seekers and employers.The new e-book embraces digital transformation on all fronts including:The Never-Ending Challenge to Keep Pace with Rapid ChangeAt Risk? Technology Managers’ Top PrioritiesThe Urgent Need to Solve Skills Gaps Required for AI InitiativesPractical Strategies to Build a Future-Forward Tech TeamRetaining Talent – and Looking AheadAdditional Resources for Technology LeadersThe IT and tech hiring managers and experts surveyed for the e-book shared their thoughts on how workers can potentially future-proof their career — or at least be prepared to pivot in a new direction if needed. Here are some strategies that workers can use to help evolve their skills — and their mindset — so they can be prepared to take advantage of future job trends.In addition to the e-book, we’ve prepared a few strategies that you can leverage today in your career:1. Anticipate IT and tech changes in your workplaceOne key strategy to future-proof your career is to try to anticipate which technologies your organization is likely to adopt sooner than later.There are several ways you can do that, from keeping a close eye on technology trends in your industry to paying close attention to what leaders at your firm are saying about the company’s goals for embracing digital transformation. For example, there’s a good chance AI solutions are coming to your organization soon (if they aren’t already). According to Robert Half’s recent tech e-book, Building Future-Forward Tech Teams, 52 per cent of technology hiring managers in Canada stated the following skills gaps on their teams:AI and machine learning (52 per cent)Security, privacy and compliance (36 per cent)Cloud architecture and operation (32 per cent) The research reveals the key concerns that business leaders in the technology space face as they embrace digital transformation. What’s the next step after you identify some possible tech changes coming to your workplace? Employees should learn how to use at least two new technologies that are likely to become relevant to their profession. Adopting this proactive and entrepreneurial approach can help professionals evolve their career.If you’re worried about whether you can learn new skills, give yourself more credit. We can learn new things no matter what stage of our careers we are at.2. Put your career development on the front burnerSkills gaps in the tech workforce are only more obvious – and problematic – as companies of all sizes and across industries look to modernize their IT, accelerate digitalization, shift to the cloud, and use AI and other advanced technologies to function more efficiently and transform their operations. This also means teams will struggle to help other departments, from finance and accounting to HR and marketing, implement technology – like generative AI tools and advanced data analytics programs – that they need to meet their priorities.When businesses adopt new technologies and automate processes and tasks, they free their employees to perform other, more value-adding work. This is a great opportunity for professionals to shine, provided they’re ready to take more responsibility for directing their careers — and are working to future-proof them.However, many people don’t take a proactive approach to their career development and planning, and that could easily hurt them in the future. For employees, don’t lose track of your own professional development once you’re in the workforce. If you feel like you need to jump-start your career development, reach out for help. Talk about your career aspirations with your manager or supervisor, and valued contacts in your professional network, for a start. Participating in professional and industry organizations is another strategy for staying on top of technology and business trends that could impact your job or open doors to appealing new career paths.3. Elevate your emotional intelligenceIf you want to future-proof your career, you’ll have to balance embracing digital transformation and growing your soft skill abilities. Soft Skills such as empathy will top the list of vital skills that workers and business leaders will need in the future. And demonstrating other forms of emotional intelligence, such as compassion and the ability to understand nuance, is one area where human workers have their AI counterparts beat.The introduction of new technologies in the workplace can have the potential to drive up demand for strong soft skills. So, no matter what future job trends unfold, you can bet that employers will still value abilities and qualities such as critical thinking, active listening, problem-solving and, of course, adaptability.4. Nurture your inner leaderWork in the future will be self-driven to a large degree, and also project-driven and team-oriented. For professionals looking to embrace digital transformation and future-proof their careers, they will need solid leadership skills to direct themselves, their projects and others.Also, some workers may find they are tapped for leadership roles in their organization much sooner than they may have expected because workforce demographics are changing so rapidly. Investing in yourself always pays off in the long run so always look for opportunities to learn more.5. Be flexible and boldEmbracing flexibility is another key to success for professionals in the future workplace. As more organizations digitize and deploy advanced technologies like machine learning and AI to automate basic tasks, including some types of decision making, companies and workers will also start to look at jobs much differently.Work in the future has the potential go beyond the confines of your role description or job title. It could become based largely on people’s increased ability to apply their own unique set of skills, knowledge and talents to their work.One clear message for future professionals: you will need to focus on building a solid mix of hard and soft skills if you want to embrace digital transformation while also future-proofing your career. You’re probably doing that, as these skills are already in demand. Moving forward, you may want to focus on using your critical-thinking abilities to analyze how technology may change your workplace in the near term and spark future job trends. That includes examining how you perform your current work, and whether you could do those processes or tasks differently — and better — by applying new technology.Will disrupting your own job by embracing digital transformation help to future-proof your career? Quite possibly. You’ll be stepping up to learn valuable skills and experience that can help you anticipate and benefit from future job trends. At the very least, it could help you to avoid being disrupted by digital change unexpectedly.Get the information needed to help you navigate the ever-shifting tech landscape with our e-book, Building Future-Forward Tech Teams.
