When we talk about foolproofing our future, the first few things that come into our minds are investments and life insurance. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people are taking steps to secure their future by getting health insurance or a financial plan. These include bancassurance products built around securing your future and giving a better life to you and your family.

But apart from health and financial goals, it's also worth looking at how we prepare for the future of our employability. In this article, we'll talk about ways to future-proof your career.

Be a Lifelong Learner

Learning doesn't stop after getting your college degree. You cannot rely on what you've learned in uni alone to advance to the next level of your career. Long-term professional success lies in continued career development.

Becoming a lifelong learner means ensuring your skills and knowledge remain relevant in your industry. Employers are always after individuals who never stop learning and are willing to step out of their comfort zone. These individuals take time to learn other skills beyond their current role to prove themselves they're capable of doing other things apart from what they're paid to do.

What you learn in college may not be enough to fulfill your career path or the industry you're working in. If there are new, in-demand skills in the job market and your current skills are no longer required, you should take the initiative to reeducate yourself and keep up with new technology, so you remain marketable for bigger and higher-salary positions. You'll never know if the latest tech tool is capable of replacing your job, so it never hurts to learn other skills you can take with you throughout your career.

Evaluate your skill set and explore other soft skills to boost your long-term employability. For example, suppose you're good at team collaboration and coming up with creative ideas. In that case, you can work on your communication and leadership skills, which you may find useful if you're looking to get promoted. After you've identified areas of improvement, create a learning plan for how you will strengthen those skills.

Expand Your Professional Network

As the corporate landscape continues to evolve, your professional network will always stay the same. Developing professional relationships with people within and outside your industry can help you secure a long and successful career. But how?

Many overlook the power of their personal connections to their employability. The truth is that your network can provide invaluable support as your business landscape changes. Although networking isn't considered a technical skill, it can be a gateway to collaborate and learn new knowledge and skills outside the industry you're working in, which can help add credibility to your résumé. Plus, you can use it as an opportunity to hone your people skills and business communication. Networking also helps in improving commercial awareness or your ability to keep up with the changing trends and understand what makes an organization or business successful.

If you're new to networking, you can start joining online professional groups, such as LinkedIn, which offers access to industry-leading content, training courses, and tools to check in with former colleagues.

Being Flexible to New Opportunities

Being flexible can help you future-proof your career and increase your chances of professional success in the future. As modern technology expands its abilities, employers will start to look at jobs differently. As a result, these changes can limit your career options in the job market in the long run. Embracing flexibility and adaptability will help you become prepared to grab opportunities that come along.

But being flexible isn't just about being open to alternative career options. The COVID-19 pandemic has made a significant impact on the future of work. To keep up with the changing work landscape, you have to demonstrate your ability to engage and deliver in a virtual team or the hybrid workplace.

The future of work won't stay confined to your job title or current role. It's all about people's strong ability to incorporate their unique set of talents, skills, and knowledge into their roles. Throughout your employment, you'll likely encounter numerous opportunities like event invitations, mentoring possibilities, and job offers. Your boss will also ask you to do volunteer work, create presentations, and perform jobs outside your job description. In this case, being adaptable and open will help you acquire new skills and be more employable.

If your current experience or skill set is falling behind, it's about time to look for ways to future-proof your career. The strategies above can help you gain a head start which you can apply before your career hits the "dead end."In the end, it's all about taking a proactive approach to driving your career to new heights.