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Take control and futureproof your career

Posted on • Career planning, Discover, Labour Market Information

A LEGO minifigure thinks about different careers.The world of work has always been subject to change, but in recent years it feels as though the pace of change has snowballed and this can make the future feel uncertain for many of us. The pandemic dramatically transformed the way a lot of people work. Remote and hybrid working is now part of everyday life, and companies and individuals have adapted their working practices and use of technology in a very short space of time.

Whether you find change exciting or overwhelming, there’s lots you can do to feel more confident about your future and help you plan and prepare for what’s to come.

  • Know your strengths and be ready to seize unexpected opportunities. Identify your existing skills and areas for development by downloading our career planning guide with lots of practical activities to guide you in this.
  • Keep track of what’s out there. Do your research into the labour market and future trends. Find out more about jobs and growth sectors in your area using this interactive labour market information tool.
  • Open up to possibilities you hadn’t considered. Learn to be adaptable and resilient with our short course develop your career resilience.

Read more about the workplace of the future through of eyes of five experts on Future Learn.

What is shaping the world of work?

There are a range of factors influencing the changing world of work. These include:

  • Demographic, social, and environmental – e.g. people are living longer, expectations of work are shifting, and climate change is posing new challenges.
  • The world is becoming increasingly interconnected, which shapes how and where people work.
  • Technological advances. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is accelerating innovation and changing the kinds of jobs that exist in the labour market.

How will this impact work in the future?

The impact of these factors will be felt in a variety of ways, including:

  • Changes in the way we work and where we work.
  • The creation of new job roles (and the extinction of others).
  • Different skills being prioritised by employers.
  • Employees needing to develop skills and learn new ones.

Whilst we can’t predict the future, we do know that change and technology will continue to be key features of life and work for us all. The OU’s Careers and Employability Services can help you make it work to your advantage.

Careers and Employability Services

An image of the authors, Chandni Bhana, Penny Beecroft and Fiona Munday.Chandni Bhana, Penny Beecroft and Fiona Munday are OU Careers and Employability Consultants. They help students achieve their ambitions and fulfil their potential through one-to-one appointments and by designing events and resources for the OU. Explore the rest of our blog for more articles from the Careers and Employability Services team.