Disruption in the tech and engineering sectors has become a way of life. The 2020s witnessed wave after wave of change. The COVID-19 pandemic forever modified workplaces and the way we work. Remote and hybrid work arrangements shifted how we manage teamwork, collaboration, and our personal work/life balance. Rapid hiring as companies scaled to meet increased online demand across all sectors was quickly followed by months of sustained mass layoffs. Skills related to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning skyrocketed in importance for those employed in the tech sector. For those outside of tech, AI is transforming workflows and redefining job expectations.
Additionally, the world is facing widespread challenges. Global economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability, a growing cybersecurity crisis, and changes to immigration policies directly impact business. Those impacts affect the way businesses plan, including their hiring and retention strategies.
There’s no question that there is more disruption on the horizon. Rather than living in fear of what’s to come, it’s important to build resilience. That way, you can adapt to change as it unfolds. There are several things that you can do to prepare for future disruption, including:
- Completing a career audit;
- Honing your transferable skills;
- Committing to continuous learning;
- Maintaining your professional network and personal advisory board;
- Bolstering your career visibility;
- Preparing for financial uncertainty; and
- Working with a specialized recruitment agency.
You don’t need a crystal ball to prepare for the future. Instead, a focus on building a strong and adaptable career foundation can help you navigate the coming shifts.
Why Tech And Engineering Professionals Are Especially Vulnerable
Because technology is advancing at an increasingly rapid pace, the tech and engineering sectors are especially vulnerable to disruption. Companies must pivot to adapt and survive. That means that the professionals who work for those companies must do the same.
In most other sectors, accumulated experience has considerable value. Experience usually indicates competence and, in the case of long tenures, it usually signals excellence. However, in tech and engineering, a long tenure may actually work against you. If you’ve remained committed to the same role for a decade or longer, the skills you’ve honed may have depreciated in the face of advancing tech and/or automation.
The mass layoffs in 2023 and 2024 impacted many professionals who thought their tenure and skill sets would protect them in that volatile job market. Getting laid off was a rude surprise for many. Even more surprising for some was the discovery that their skills were no longer relevant or transferable; their professional networks no longer had the same influence; and the job market had shifted in directions they hadn’t anticipated.
Unfortunately, future disruptions – which are fully expected – will leave some tech and engineering professionals vulnerable once again. The best way to prepare is to establish resilience in advance.
Complete A Career Audit
A professional self-audit is recommended to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and determine which skills gaps need to be addressed. It includes assessing your skills (both hard and soft), evaluating your achievements, seeking feedback, and developing a plan to address any gaps.
Self-audits are a valuable way to adjust to your current role, developing the skills and knowledge needed for improved job performance and positioning yourself for internal advancement opportunities.
However, self-audits can – and should! – be applied to your entire career path. Juxtaposing your current skill inventory against open job postings can shed immense clarity on your ability to pivot into a new position or niche if needed. Think about it this way: If you entered the job market today, how competitive would you be with your existing skill sets and knowledge? What can you do to improve your value as a candidate? Which skills and knowledge can you take with you to a new role, and which would be considered institutional knowledge?
Hone Your Transferable Skills
Many of the most transferable and widely applicable skills are soft skills. Technical skills will always be important in the tech and engineering sectors, but those skills don’t transfer from job to job as easily as soft skills do – particularly in today’s job market. Also of note: technical skills are often easier to learn and update than many soft skills.
Soft, transferable skills that can improve your ability to navigate disruption include:
- Problem solving;
- Communication;
- Adaptability;
- Leadership;
- Empathy;
- Collaboration; and
- Critical thinking.
These skills have always had value in the workplace, but as AI advances, their importance is increasing. While technical tasks can be automated, human-centered skills can’t be replicated by AI. Employees who can make strategic decisions, build relationships, mentor others, and creatively solve problems will be in high demand, making it easier for you to pivot into a different role, a new niche, or a whole other industry.
As we’ve discussed in another blog piece at 180 Engineering, one reason why soft skills hold so much value is that they’re more difficult to learn than hard technical skills. For example:
Some soft skills are innate, such as empathy and adaptability. These can be difficult to teach or learn but can be developed with practice. Others – such as conflict resolution – are skills that we pick up as we progress through life and gain more experience in the workplace. Established professionals usually have better-developed soft skills than their younger peers who are just entering the workforce.
That said, soft skills can be developed through deliberate practice, self-reflection, and some learning opportunities. If your career audit pinpoints a gap in your soft skills, it’s well worth working to strengthen those.
Commit To Continuous Learning
The tech and engineering sectors are ever-evolving, requiring professionals to acquire new knowledge and/or skills. However, sometimes professionals approach learning retroactively, to find a solution to a current problem. Instead, it’s critical to pursue continuous learning as part of your overall career strategy.
Learning doesn’t have to be done through formal channels. There’s no need for another degree. Instead, engage in learning by:
- Pursuing certifications;
- Completing online courses;
- Attending online or in-person workshops, conferences, or bootcamps;
- Engaging in open-source projects;
- Seeking out mentorship opportunities; and/or
- Leaning into self-directed learning.
Don’t worry about becoming deeply specialized. Instead, focus on developing a broader skill set that can provide a basis for adaptability and resilience.
Maintain Your Professional Network And Personal Advisory Board
During periods of disruption, your professional network and personal advisory board are more important than ever.
Your Professional Network
Networking is about building relationships; it takes time. It’s important to view networking as a career-long endeavor rather than something to do only while looking for a new role.
While your network can be instrumental in connecting you with new job opportunities, it can also provide insight into industry trends and help you develop your professional knowledge and skills. Your network is a valuable resource not just for navigating disruption but for being prepared for disruption, so that you can quickly adapt to any changes required.
Your Personal Advisory Board
A personal advisory board has a different purpose from your network. These are individuals whom you can turn to for personal support and advice. Rather than providing industry-specific insights like your network, your personal advisory board should focus more on personal development (such as assisting you in developing your soft skills) or general workplace advice (such as managing office politics or optimizing your work/life balance). These folks essentially act as cheerleaders, helping to boost your confidence and resilience, which are critical while navigating disruption.
Being prepared for disruption is half the battle. If you wait until your job is in jeopardy, it will be too late to build and nourish a supportive network and personal advisory board to help you navigate the changes ahead.
Bolster Your Career Visibility
The idea of showcasing your knowledge and career achievements may seem like self-aggrandizement to some. But it’s important to keep your career visible, both within and outside your current organization. Increasing your career visibility can help you ride out periods of disruption.
Professionals who actively chart their career path and/or are in the job market often use personal branding as a job search tool. Building a personal brand is a terrific way to increase your career visibility. And, if you treat it as an ongoing exercise, rather than a way to retroactively increase your competitiveness in a volatile job market, an established personal brand can help you ride out disruption.
There are several ways to build your personal brand and shine a light on your capabilities and expertise. Consider doing the following:
- Building your online presence through a personal website, blog, and/or portfolio where you can share your expertise;
- Contributing to online forums, communities, and chat spaces that are focused on your industry or niche;
- Working on open-source projects;
- Optimizing your LinkedIn profile and establishing a presence on that platform through thoughtful posts, comments, and shares;
- Attending and/or speaking at in-person conferences, industry events, and events held by professional organizations that you belong to; and
- Mentoring and assisting others in navigating their career paths.
Bolstering your career visibility can help you retain your job through internal pivots and restructuring. It can also better position you for internal mobility and external recruitment, ultimately strengthening your resilience in times of disruption.
Prepare For Financial Uncertainty
Increasing your resilience can go a long way toward creating a stable career path, even during disruptions. However, if the worst comes to worst, it’s best to create financial stability that can support you through times of layoff, contract cancellation, hiring freezes, or economic downturns.
In addition to building an emergency fund and not overextending yourself financially, you may want to consider diversifying your income streams. Consulting, freelance work, teaching, and other side projects can help provide financial padding when necessary – and can also lead to other, more stable career opportunities.
Work With A Specialized Recruitment Agency
Working with a recruitment agency that specializes in your industry and/or niche can go a long way toward building your career resilience. These firms stay current with industry trends to provide advice and guidance throughout your career. They also have access to hiring managers and unposted roles, making them a valuable asset if you need to undertake an unexpected job search.
Get Comfortable With Change
The bottom line is this: Disruption is going to happen. Getting comfortable with change is necessary to navigate that. Change isn’t only about big shifts like transitioning into a new niche or looking for work after a layoff. Embracing small changes – like honing your soft skills or making it a habit to share one post daily on LinkedIn – can strengthen your resilience and help you ride out periods of disruption.
