How to future-proof your career in times of uncertainty

We spoke to a group of successful women to find out what it takes to safeguard one’s career in an increasingly unpredictable world

In a recent report, the International Labour Organization revealed that global unemployment is projected to stand at 207 million in 2022, surpassing its 2019 level by approximately 21 million. The same study also shared that women experience higher employment losses than other groups. These grim facts, however, aren’t the first of their kind. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, we’ve witnessed countless headlines which have made it clear that most of our careers are now shrouded in uncertainty. But there’s a way to reduce the anxiety around what we’re experiencing and it involves taking some steps that serve as bubble wrap for our professional lives–they soften the impact of sudden blows. We spoke to several strong women from varied fields and asked them to share some tried-and-tested techniques that have helped them future-proof their careers.

Short-term versus long-term goals

Many of us are prone to making professional decisions which yield instant results but may not always be sustainable in the long run. The first step towards future-proofing your career, according to designer Anjali Patel Mehta of fashion brand Verandah, is cultivating a big-picture mindset. “I started my career at Goldman Sachs in New York and we were made to read a book called The Culture of Success. One of the things it taught me was that I need to be long-term greedy in life. This means that if you start a journey, it should be a long one. Don’t think of short-term gains, think of the impact you want to create in the long run,” says Patel Mehta, who continues to keep this lesson close even after having made the switch to fashion.

New Delhi-based chef and author Anahita Dhondy Bhandari shares an example of this advice in action. “Don’t take the first few years of your career lightly. My internships were sacred to me. I put a lot of effort into them and I think it’s important to work hard during the initial phases because that’s what will give you the skills to do what you want to in the future,” she says, highlighting that while the early stages of many careers may not seem rewarding at first, they give you the relevant expertise, which can open many unexpected doors down the road.

The importance of originality

The skills you learn, most importantly, can be used to create something that’s unique to you alone because as cliché as it may sound, originality is what ultimately makes you indispensable. “With design, you can get influenced by many different things but it’s important to remember that fashion is a medium through which you express yourself. Be original, true to yourself and tell the story how you want it told rather than how other people think you should tell it,” says Patel Mehta, whose resort wear label is defined by a distinct aesthetic that has found success in destinations as diverse as Goa and New York.

Arpita Mehta, who is known for her breezy bridal silhouettes and meticulous mirror work, attests to this. “If I had to give a newcomer advice, it would be to put all your energy into loving what you do, being consistent, and having a very true, honest and individualistic voice,” she says.

Diversifying your skill set

However, carving out a niche and establishing yourself as an expert at something often involves placing all your eggs in one basket, something that we’ve frequently been cautioned against. “The only problem with being an expert at one thing is that you sometimes run the risk of becoming irrelevant. To avoid this, you need to be aware of what’s happening around you and keep upskilling. You don’t want to suddenly find that what you’re good at is no longer needed because a technology change has made that skill redundant,” explains Yashaswini Samat who worked with advertising giant Grey Group for nearly three decades and lists several leadership roles on her resume. In addition to updating your existing strengths, it’s also helpful to acquire additional skills. This is less about exploring a new career path but more about equipping yourself with tools that are an extension of your current abilities. “Finding skills that are connected to your main work is useful. For example, I can do the PR and marketing of books. I can also read contracts. Although these skills weren’t central to my role as an editor, they’ve helped me be a better publisher,” says Chiki Sarkar, founder and publisher of Juggernaut Books.

Sarkar’s strategy is also applicable to other professions. “I keep brushing up on my editing techniques. This makes me self-sufficient. I can edit my own work when I travel,” says Saachi Bhasin Daga, a fashion, lifestyle and beauty influencer with over 300,000 followers on Instagram. Dhondy Bhandari seconds this. “Running a restaurant might be my main focus but on the side, I make sure I’m doing multiple other things. I’m often looking into social media commitments, planning a wedding menu, writing a book–I’m currently working on my second one–or doing a workshop for an NGO,” she says.

Identifying other sources of income

Other than having more than one skill to fall back on, what makes uncertainty less intimidating is finding an additional source of income and there’s a fairly straightforward way to go about it. “The idea is not to make money by jumping from one distinct role to another–that’s not sustainable. Instead, it’s easier to identify a broad area that you want to focus on and figure out different ways to monetise it,” says Samat. Over the years, Bhasin Daga has done exactly that. “A great way to generate income is to hold tutorials in the area of your expertise. During the lockdown, I did a seven-day workshop for beginners,” she adds. Guntas Sethi, a chef who is loved for her easy yet indulgent recipes, also adopts a similar approach. “As an influencer, your content is your bread and butter. However, apart from that, what has worked for me is collaborating with brands for campaigns and curating menus. Additionally, I’ve studied patisserie, so selling baked goods and cheese platters has been a great side hustle,” she adds.

Building a support system

While learning new things and creating multiple streams of income sounds exciting, it can also be difficult to juggle, which is why a lot of successful women invest time in building a team of reliable resources. “You have to get the right people on board who can help you translate your vision,” says Dhondy Bhandari. Patel Mehta confirms this. “I have such a solid team and I’ve learnt that if you want to get there, you won’t get there without taking people up with you,” she says.

However, support systems can take many forms. “In order to be successful, you have to seek out mentors. I’ve never really had a godfather but I’ve had strong women that have opened up their office and have been welcoming enough to have a chat. It’s crucial to have people you’re not afraid to ask questions to,” says Patel Mehta. For Sethi, this sense of security comes from having created a robust online community. “Social media may look like it’s all about numbers but when you dig deeper, you’ll realise that it’s also about building relations, creating bonds and doing great work together as a community. That brings me stability,” she says, citing togetherness as a solid source of security.

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