Career Path Exploration

The most dangerous career strategy in 2025: Following a path that worked for everyone before you. Over the last few weeks, my inbox has been flooded with messages of strife and anxiety from brilliant people blindsided by layoffs. To be honest, there is very little I can say to many. Most played the game of life perfectly. They went to great schools, got good grades, landed prestigious jobs, and worked hard. Their stories raises a critical question: What if it's not just specific jobs disappearing, but a fundamental flaw in how we've viewed careers and success? The linear world we've grown accustomed to is abruptly being disrupted. The ladders that guaranteed safety and success no longer hold their promise. For decades, we've operated under the belief that: → Business success comes from perfect execution → Career paths follow logical progression → Expertise can reliably predict the future My friend Gaetan recently said: "What if success was always more random than we wanted to believe? What if strategic planning was always more about the illusion of control than actual causality?" Navigating uncertainty now requires us to: → Judge the quality of our decisions not just results → Embrace uncertainty over false certainty → Recognize success as probabilistic For individuals navigating this shift: → Build skill portfolios, not linear paths → Combine skills uniquely; avoid single specialties → Design for uncertainty, not control → Test multiple career options → Adapt quickly; don’t chase perfection → Diversify income streams Following these principles won't just help you withstand career shocks, it makes you antifragile, allowing you to grow stronger from volatility and stress. The human cost of layoffs extends beyond financial insecurity; it's the painful realization that playing by the rules perfectly was never a guaranteed protection. Yet within this destabilizing reality lies a massive opportunity: to redefine success itself. Success shouldn't be a singular path to follow, but the freedom to create multiple paths of your own design. The true cost of clinging to old models isn't just stalling your career; it's missing the chance to discover who you might become when you stop following and start creating.

After spending three decades in the aerospace industry, I’ve seen firsthand how crucial it is for different sectors to learn from each other. We no longer can afford to stay stuck in our own bubbles. Take the aerospace industry, for example. They’ve been looking at how car manufacturers automate their factories to improve their own processes. And those racing teams? Their ability to prototype quickly and develop at a breakneck pace is something we can all learn from to speed up our product development. It’s all about breaking down those silos and embracing new ideas from wherever we can find them. When I was leading the Scorpion Jet program, our rapid development – less than two years to develop a new aircraft – caught the attention of a company known for razors and electric shavers. They reached out to us, intrigued by our ability to iterate so quickly, telling me "you developed a new jet faster than we can develop new razors..." They wanted to learn how we managed to streamline our processes. It was quite an unexpected and fascinating experience that underscored the value of looking beyond one’s own industry can lead to significant improvements and efficiencies, even in fields as seemingly unrelated as aerospace and consumer electronics. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s more important than ever for industries to break out of their silos and look to other sectors for fresh ideas and processes. This kind of cross-industry learning not only fosters innovation but also helps stay competitive in a rapidly changing market. For instance, the aerospace industry has been taking cues from car manufacturers to improve factory automation. And the automotive companies are adopting aerospace processes for systems engineering. Meanwhile, both sectors are picking up tips from tech giants like Apple and Google to boost their electronics and software development. And at Siemens, we partner with racing teams. Why? Because their knack for rapid prototyping and fast-paced development is something we can all learn from to speed up our product development cycles. This cross-pollination of ideas is crucial as industries evolve and integrate more advanced technologies. By exploring best practices from other industries, companies can find innovative new ways to improve their processes and products. After all, how can someone think outside the box, if they are only looking in the box? If you are interested in learning more, I suggest checking out this article by my colleagues Todd Tuthill and Nand Kochhar where they take a closer look at how cross-industry learning are key to developing advanced air mobility solutions. https://lnkd.in/dK3U6pJf

Almost every time I speak with juniors or college students, I get asked the same question: “I’m not sure what field I want to work in. How do I decide what to do?” It’s a completely normal feeling — and honestly, I’ve been there too. When I first entered college, I had no clue what specialization to take or what career path to pursue. But here’s the truth: You don’t need to have it all figured out right away. What you need is a plan to explore and narrow it down. Here’s what I tell anyone who asks: 📍 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 — 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 List a few things you genuinely enjoy or find intriguing — like writing, data analysis, designing, or public speaking. Don’t worry about how they translate into a career just yet Action Step: Write down your interests without worrying about how they translate into a career. The point is to recognize your natural inclinations. 📍 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 Try out your interests through short-term activities like joining a club, taking a beginner’s course, or volunteering for a project. Give it 2–4 weeks and see if you enjoy the process Action Step: Try something for 2–4 weeks and assess: Did you enjoy the process? Did it feel meaningful? 📍 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘁 Reach out to people working in fields you’re curious about. Ask about their day-to-day work, the skills they use, and what they enjoy or dislike about their roles Action Step: Message 3 professionals on LinkedIn and politely ask for a 15-minute chat. Most people are willing to help if you’re genuinely curious and respectful of their time. 📍 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 Identify the skills you want to develop rather than getting stuck on job titles. Whether it’s data analysis, storytelling, or management, skills are transferable and will shape your career regardless of the role Action Step: Pick one skill you’re curious about and spend an hour a week learning or practicing it. 📍 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 Your first choice doesn’t have to be your final choice. Reflect every few months to see if you’re still enjoying your current path. It’s okay to change directions as you learn more Action Step: Set a reminder to reflect every 3 months: Are you still enjoying your current path? If not, what’s next? The Bottom Line: You don’t have to know your exact career path at 20. Just focus on exploring, learning, and building foundational skills — the clarity will follow. To everyone feeling overwhelmed — take it one step at a time. And remember, not having it all figured out is okay — it’s part of the journey. What’s one career option you’re currently exploring? Share below — I’d love to hear your thoughts!👇 #CareerAdvice #CollegeTips #FindingYourPath #SkillBuilding #CareerExploration #EarlyCareerInsights

Back in 2020, being a Data Analyst often meant being a generalist — handling everything from reporting to modeling, sometimes even engineering tasks. But fast forward to 2025, and the landscape looks very different. Now, we’re seeing a growing demand for specialized roles like: ✔️ Product Analyst ✔️ Marketing Analyst ✔️ Risk Analyst ✔️ Power BI Developer ✔️ Healthcare Analyst …and many more. This shift reflects the increasing complexity of data challenges and the need for deeper domain expertise. As someone navigating the data field, I find it both exciting and essential to keep sharpening skills in specific areas while staying curious about the bigger picture. 💡 Tip: Whether you’re just starting out or already in the field — focus on a niche, but learn to collaborate across roles. That’s where real impact happens. 👉 Which of these roles are you working toward or exploring? I’d love to hear your path. #DataAnalytics #CareerGrowth #DataAnalyst2025 #PowerBI #SQL #ProductAnalytics #Specialization #LinkedInLearning

Europe is striving for a 2050 net zero emissions target – but is the workforce ready? As the COP29 summit takes place, new LinkedIn data reveals that demand for green-skilled workers in Europe rose by an average of 5% annually from 2021 to 2024. Leading the way with the highest demand are the UK (13%), Ireland (12.4%), and Norway (11.6%). However, growth is not consistent across the continent. Finland (-43.8%), the Netherlands (-20.1%), Belgium (-18.6%), and Greece (-17.7%) have all seen a drop in demand for green talent over the past year. Despite an increase in the supply of green talent, it still trails behind demand. The global supply grew by 5.6% from 2023 to 2024, but LinkedIn data scientists indicate that the green talent pool must double – at a bare minimum – by 2050 to keep pace. If you're thinking about upskilling or transitioning to a greener career, there's never been a better time. LinkedIn identifies 12 categories of green skills, including pollution prevention, renewable energy generation and sustainability research. But it’s not just sustainability-focused sectors that need workers with green skills – traditionally polluting industries such as oil, gas and mining are key employers. Watch the video below for more insights and share your thoughts in the comments. What are you doing to develop your green skills? What career trends are you seeing in the sustainability space? #GreenerTogether Read the whole report here: https://lnkd.in/dJ9gdbXh ✍️ Jennifer Ryan 📊 Akash Kaura (LinkedIn Economic Graph)

Energy transition has taken center stage in the Indian power sector, with a major focus on sustainability. To ensure sustainability, utilities are embracing new technologies, digital solutions, innovations, and more. Delivering and operating these solutions requires a significant amount of skilled manpower, which is currently lacking in the sector. I frequently meet industry experts, organizational heads, and CXOs of system integrators to discuss this issue. The common challenge I have identified is the availability of a skilled workforce capable of delivering such solutions. In my view, the government should appoint an agency as a nodal body to run skill development programs in the sector at the Diploma and ITI levels. Drawing inspiration from the UK's apprenticeship program, where Utilita Energy and Cheshire College South and West have launched a new-style smart metering apprenticeship, we can develop a similar initiative in India. In the UK program, apprentices receive classroom-based learning at the 11,000-student college and gain hands-on experience within the on-site ‘Sustainable House.’ This facility allows students to work in a real-life setting without being in a real home. Sponsored by Utilita, the Sustainable House is equipped with the latest sustainable technologies, such as ground source heat pumps and photovoltaic solar panels. The academy can upskill thousands of engineers from any organization each year to address the green skills gap. In India, we have very limited training centers for power sector apprenticeships, and they are often inadequately equipped with new technologies or digital interventions. We need to move quickly in this area, and every discom should take ownership of developing one or two advanced training centers to nurture a future-ready workforce.

As Australia and New Zealand aggressively pursue a 2050 net zero emissions target and strive to improve each nation’s sustainability scorecard, one question keeps emerging — is our workforce keeping up? As world leaders gather for the COP29 summit, new LinkedIn data reveals that between 2021 and 2024, demand for workers with green skills globally rose by 5.9%. But, while the supply of green talent has also grown, it lags demand. This means there’s a great opportunity for workers in Australia and New Zealand to upskill or perhaps consider a career change to a greener role. What does the data define as green skills? LinkedIn classifies 12 categories including pollution and waste prevention, renewable energy generation, ecosystem management and sustainability research. We've also looked at the fastest-growing green skills on LinkedIn. In both Australia and New Zealand, environmental policy and environmental auditing rank highest, with sustainable finance and sustainable auditing also popular. Watch the video below for more insights, and tell us in the comments: What career trends are you seeing in the sustainability space? What’s your advice for others looking to upskill to a greener role? Read the whole report here: https://lnkd.in/dJ9gdbXh ✍️ Cathy Anderson 📊 Akash Kaura (LinkedIn's Economic Graph) #ESG #sustainability #ClimateChange #GreenerTogether #COP29

Are you really happy in your career, or are you just stuck in a path because it’s comfortable? Our priorities shift, and so should our careers. It’s not weak to change direction—it’s smart. It’s a sign of growth and a willingness to align what you do with who you’ve become. 9 Steps to Changing Your Career Path: 1. Reevaluate your priorities ↳ Does your current job align with what matters to you now? 2. Identify your core values ↳ What do you stand for today? Does your career reflect that? 3. Understand the financial impact ↳ What’s the real cost of switching? How will it affect your lifestyle? 4. Leverage your existing skills ↳ How can you apply what you already know in a new industry? 5. Network with those in the field ↳ Learn from people who are already doing what you want to do. 6. Test the waters ↳ Take on side projects or freelance work to get a feel for the change. 7. Update your personal brand ↳ Revamp your LinkedIn and resume to reflect your new direction. 8. Set clear goals and timelines ↳ Make the transition with purpose and action. 9. Let go of the past ↳ Release limiting beliefs about your career and identity. The best time to pivot is when you feel that discomfort—it’s a sign of something better ahead. When was the last time you thought about changing your career?

Feeling Stuck in Your Career? It Could Be a Competency Gap! 🚀 A few years ago, I worked with a team member, who was frustrated about being stuck in his role. He was technically skilled but couldn't figure out why promotions were passing him by. 💥That’s when we turned to competency mapping. 🔍 Together, we identified the key skills his position and future roles required—things like communication, leadership, and strategic thinking—which are critical competencies for growth. While he excelled in technical work, his communication skills needed refinement to step into leadership. By aligning his personal development with these competencies, we created a clear roadmap for his growth. Within a year, he sharpened his communication skills and was promoted to Team Lead. Competencies aren't just about what you’re good at now, but what you need to master for future success. Think of them as the blueprint for your career development. 💡 Key Competencies You Should Focus On: 💢Technical Expertise: Mastering the core skills required for your current role. 💢Communication: Expressing ideas clearly and collaborating with teams. 💢Leadership: Guiding teams and driving performance. 💢Strategic Thinking: Seeing the big picture and aligning with long-term goals. 💢Collaboration: Problem-solving and creating synergy within teams. 🔑 Key Action Points: 🖊️Identify the competencies needed for your next career step. 🖊️Compare your current skills with those required competencies. 🖊️Develop a plan to close any gaps through learning and experience. Feeling blocked in your career? It might be time to assess your competencies and create a growth plan. 📝 Start mapping your competencies today and take the first step toward unlocking your potential! #CareerGrowth #Leadership #CompetencyMapping #PersonalDevelopment #LifelongLearning #SkillDevelopment #LeadershipSkills #CommunicationSkills #ProfessionalGrowth

The most important skills today and in the next years will be human capabilities: critical and analytic thinking, resilience, leadership and influence, overlaid with technological literacy and AI skills to amplify these human capacities. World Economic Forum's new Future of Jobs Report provides a deep and broad analysis of the drivers of labour market transformation, the outlook for jobs and skills, and workforce strategies across industries and nations. It's a really worthwhile deep dive if you're interested in the topic (link in comments). Here are some of the highlights from the Skills section, which to my mind is at the heart of it. 🧠 Analytical Thinking Leads Core Skills. Skills like analytical thinking (70%), resilience (66%), and creative thinking (64%) top the list of core abilities for 2025. By 2030, the emphasis shifts even more towards AI and big data proficiency (85%), technological literacy (76%), and curiosity-driven lifelong learning (79%). This shift underscores the critical role of technology and adaptability in future workplaces. 📉 Skill Stability Declines but at a Slower Rate. Employers predict that 39% of workers' core skills will change by 2030, slightly lower than 44% in 2023. This reflects a stabilization in the pace of skill disruption due to increased emphasis on upskilling and reskilling programs. Half of the workforce now engages in training as part of long-term learning strategies compared to 41% in 2023, showcasing the growing adaptation to technological changes . 🌍 Economic Disparities in Skill Disruption. Middle-income economies anticipate higher skill disruption compared to high-income ones. This disparity highlights the uneven challenges of transitioning labor forces across global regions, particularly in economies still grappling with structural changes. 🚀 Tech-Savvy Skills in High Demand. The adoption of frontier technologies, including generative AI and machine learning, is increasing the demand for skills like big data analysis, cybersecurity, and technological literacy. These trends indicate that businesses are aligning workforce strategies to integrate these advancements effectively. 📚 Upskilling Is the Norm, Not the Exception. By 2030, 73% of organizations aim to prioritize workforce upskilling as a response to ongoing disruptions. This reflects a shift in corporate investment priorities towards human capital enhancement to maintain competitiveness.