When it comes to Career Management things will Never be the same.

Not only is the traditional career path a thing of the past, it is almost impossible to find someone who has worked at the same company their entire career, but also career opportunities are no longer tied to geographic location. With leading employers like Shopify going remote permanently, work from home is the new normal.  But what does that actually mean for employees? 

Until as recently as 10 years ago, a desirable career trajectory was the path of least resistance. This often meant staying as long as you could at the same company and rewarding yourself with an impressive retirement package. Today, the end goal is different, the marketplace has changed and there is now no such thing as one linear career path.

Daily fulfillment vs. salary maximization

Designing a career that is satisfying, filled with diverse experiences and daily freedom, as opposed to freedom from retirement, is becoming the new norm. The traditional signs of success (high salary, big office and impressive title) are no longer top job incentives. Flexibility, unlimited vacation, equity, training programs allowance, CSR initiatives and ability to work remotely are the new working currency.

These new values and attitudes towards work are part of the reason why career moves like freelancing, job sharing, starting a business and combining two different jobs to create full-time work are also popular choices.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint

Not only are people looking to build a career worth having, but they also realize that moving up the corporate ladder and fast-tracking their career isn’t always the smartest move. 

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg believes that a career ‘jungle gym’ is much better than a career ladder. The problem with bee-lining it straight to the top, is the risk of missing out on important skill-building lessons and being left unqualified to succeed in a promotion. 

Many are focusing less on “title-growth” and more on “career-growth.” Taking positions that ignite their passions, produce something meaningful and teach them valuable skills along the way. 

Freedom to work anywhere

There is also more freedom and availability of positions in the global marketplace. Pre-covid, companies were slowly warming up to the idea that people can work from anywhere and still be productive. Now, the proof is in the pudding; we are all working remotely and productivity is still there. This is leading companies to question more traditional work environments of the past and look more favourably at remote hiring. For employees, this means the ability to apply and work for companies that previously weren’t accessible before due to their HQ location.  

The importance of staying relevant

With companies now demanding that candidates possess diverse skill sets, and with the rapid pace of changing technology, the most important career goal is to stay relevant. 

Remaining in the same profession, let alone the same company, could lead your career down a dead-end. It’s important to realize that if you don’t expose yourself to different work experiences or keep up with the latest advances in your profession, your skills will become out-of-date quickly.

While your career path will most likely not take a linear one, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t plan your next steps. Thinking about what your next career move will be is crucial to ensuring you are investing in yourself and staying ahead of the job market. Not making the right career move at the right time is one of the biggest career mistakes that you could make. 

Stay ahead of the game and watch out for these 10 warning signs that it’s time to make your next career move.