Last week I wrote about my thoughts on careers in 2025 and beyond. Following on from this, I want to talk about creating Career Experiments. For those who want to be prepared, the best way to be ready for the future of work, is to test out some ideas with small tests or experiments.
Creating career experiments since 1999
Back in 1999 when I sensed that online marketing and personal branding were the future, I got a friend to help me whip up a simple website for myself as I prepared to head for Australia on a one-year visa. My collaboration paid off handsomely when I got offered a 4 year visa due to my simple, yet innovative personal website.
At all stages of my career, I identified skills I thought would be valuable and figured out who had those skills already. I either learned them on the job, or I created a learning project to practice them at home so they later would become my job.
Shaan Puri - conorlyn.ch
You are your own HR Manager
I am probably not alone when the only ‘professional’ career advisors I had were my school’s Career Guidance Counselor at school, the Career Office at University, some recruiters pushing me into jobs, and HR. These people, although well-meaning, didn’t tell me what I am telling you today.
With your career, in case you didn't realise it, you are on your own. No one cares about your long-term career prospects except you. You are your own HR Manager. Do you have a 3-5 year career plan written down and followed religiously? You should.
With the walls closing in on workers, and robots waiting to take your jobs, it is long past time the average person takes control of their career and starts creating new options for themselves. Create your own Personal Development Plan and set aside time to study each week. Create Career Experiments. Take action. Design your own career. Don't know how? Don't worry, I will write about Career Design, a loveable lovechild of Design Thinking soon.
Don’t wait to do a course on your desired career area, and don’t wait for someone to give you a juicy project at work. Just start. Look at trends and create a learning project today that positions you for future career success. Remember more than ever, ‘your experience is your qualifications’.
Create your own career experiments
Career experiments are indispensable activities in the journey of professional development. They offer a structured method for individuals to explore potential career paths, address skill gaps, and nurture personal growth. Career experiments serve as vital tools for individuals to try new ideas in their professional development. They offer a structured approach to exploring potential career paths, filling skill gaps, and fostering personal growth. These experiments typically involve defining specific career goals, planning activities, and analysing the results.
Through career experiments, individuals gain valuable insights into their aspirations, skill development needs, and strategic paths. They provide a methodical framework for formulating and validating hypotheses about one's career trajectory, helping individuals assess the alignment between their desired roles and personal potential.
Furthermore, these initiatives offer a chance to stand out in competitive markets, connect with influential decision-makers, and develop relevant skills essential for career success. Ultimately, career experiments empower individuals to make informed decisions, navigate professional complexities, and pursue rewarding and impactful careers.
conorlyn.ch - Multi-Me
Test out career prototypes
Career prototyping, drawing from Design Thinking and product development, emphasises experimentation and iteration for crafting a fulfilling career. It involves creating small-scale models of different career paths to explore roles, industries, and preferences.
By treating conversations and experiences like internships and interviews as prototypes, individuals gain immersive learning and firsthand insights. This approach mitigates risk and uncertainty by allowing the testing of pathways on a smaller scale, informing future decisions. It fosters a mindset of continuous learning, crucial in today's dynamic job market.
Additionally, career prototyping promotes resilience and flexibility, preparing individuals to adapt to unexpected transitions and challenges. By embracing curiosity and open-mindedness, individuals can design a career path that aligns with their passions and values, promoting self-discovery and fulfillment in their professional journey
So you want to run some experiments and prototype some ideas?
Ok cool, here are some questions to get you started on picking the subject matter for your experiments:
Where are there current or emerging opportunities?
What do you like learning about?
How can you position yourself as a person of influence?
What is the smallest test you can run to test and learn?
What is the timeline for this experiment, starting today?
________________________
CAREER LAB EVENTS
Last summer I started another career experiment. It was running meetups in Dublin under the name Career Lab. At the most recent event at the ned of 2024, there were 80 people in attendance.
The focus is to help guests meet like-minded people who care enough about their careers to abandon the couch for an evening and meet some peers in a casual environment.
So why not come along to my next free Career Lab event on 6th February at 6.30pm?
I would also appreciate any feedback on my newsletters.
Have a great week and see you next time.
Yours,
Conor
Conor Lynch - The Career Multipler Effect is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
