CAREERS AND EDUCATION

How to manage your career in a ‘VUCA’ world

These small adjustments can make a difference!

The expression 'VUCA' was first introduced by the US military in the 80s. And it is as relevant today as it was when first introduced.

VUCA stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. This perfectly describes an unpredictable workplace characterized by constant flux and unknowns. We are going through unprecedented times and the world is truly VUCA now.

As we start to emerge from the pandemic, today’s workplace demands a different kind of VUCA career growth. One that’s Versatile, Uplifting, Choice-filled and Active. While this may sound daunting, it simply boils down to small adjustments that you can make on a dayto-day basis. Here are five ways to manage when navigating your career in a VUCA setting.

1. Strengthen your core values

Your values are your best guide when you decide the future course of your career. Things may keep changing but you must always adhere to your core beliefs.

This is the time to refine your career purpose and your North Star. This means, focusing on what kind of work gives meaning to your life. At all times, keep an open mind and listen to other people but always figure out what aligns with your core values.

2. Take time out to volunteer

Always be on the lookout for opportunities to volunteer. This will allow you to demonstrate initiative and gain valuable experience. Interpersonal skills are highly valued in jobs and volunteering is a great way to build these skills through quality interactions with peers.

Take on voluntary projects and keep polishing your transferable skills. Upgrading your skills also helps you gain experience, stand out from the crowd and thrive in any job environment.

3. Upgrade your tech skills

We can no longer afford to be static in our careers. Now’s the time to up your game and take it to the next level. Even before the pandemic, a majority of jobs required digital skills of some kind. The pandemic has certainly accelerated the need for enhanced tech skills to help you become more aligned with today’s myriad needs.

From students starting out on their career path to established CEOs, everyone has to get tech savvy now. Enhancing your digital knowledge will help catapult your profile above the rest.

4. Be flexible 5. Get creative

Creativity and innovation need not be necessarily associated with only a few professions – it is essential across every industry and sector. Now is the time to take an inventory of your skills and values to plan your way ahead.

You can now learn to creatively adapt to virtual communication. Investing in good lighting and desktop speakers is a good start. Refine your professional appearance on camera and off it. Update your online profile and resume regularly to highlight your achievements, as well as your personal values. And constantly match skills with needs.

And lastly, resilience is another key skill to tide through tough times. The strength to cope with ups and downs and bounce back strong will certainly help you sail through a VUCA environment.

Flexibility and adaptability are gaining more prominence day by day. Today, being flexible is also crucial to get on the radar of recruiters and hiring managers.

In the new normal, it is about having an open mindset, showing the ability to work well under pressure, adjusting to unexpected deadlines and taking on additional responsibilities.

Your EI (Emotional Intelligence) also takes a front seat. EI is simply the ability to be aware of and demonstrate empathy for others’ emotions and behaviours. This is crucial especially when people are feeling uneasy in the new environment.

Murali Murthy is an acclaimed public speaker, life coach and best-selling author of The ACE Principle, The ACE Awakening, The ACE Abundance and You Are HIRED!. He is also chairperson of CAMP Networking Canada. Learn how he can help unlock your magic at unleashyourwow.com.

Considering a post-secondary romance?

Evaluate the pros and cons and proceed cautiously

Part of the post-secondary experience is the people you meet. Your classmates may become your friends, your future colleagues or even your life partner. When romantic relationships are good, they can help support you and add even greater interest to postsecondary years. But when they are difficult and upsetting, they can rob you of time and your focus from doing your best academic work. If you are wondering if you should consider a little romance while you’re at school, be aware of the pros and cons.

The pros

The start of a new relationship can be very exciting and energizing. As you learn more about each other, you get to see the world through someone else’s eyes. A relationship can help you know yourself better and contribute to your emotional growth. It can give you someone to share your joy and successes with, and a shoulder to cry on during challenging times. Even the more difficult aspects of a relationship, such as possible heartache or jealousy, can help you learn to manage difficult emotions. As you learn to identify who is trustworthy, interesting and helpful, you can reap benefits in emotional support, good company and hopefully some fun. The cons

A wise person once said that it takes two weeks to get into a relationship and two years to get out of it. When a good relationship turns bad, it can be upsetting and trigger an emotional rollercoaster of feelings. The stress of a deteriorating relationship can rob you of time and concentration and lead to a loss of self-esteem as quarrels and heartache become more frequent. Tension and worries compete for mental space with academic work and sometimes, that can deteriorate. The pleasures and support once cherished can fade and be replaced with possible guilt and other negative emotions. It also is a learning experience, just not a very pleasant one.

Qualities that matter

Whether or not you are interested in a long-term relationship, you want to think about the qualities that are important in a partner. Your culture, family values, experiences, what you find attractive and other factors will play a part, but here are three qualities that we think will be helpful to consider.

A generous spirit is rather important. One of the ways to tell if you are dealing with a generous person is when you find they are interested in your happiness. An example is when, at a restaurant, you find your food is ordinary and theirs is much better, you find a portion of their food ends up on your plate.

The second is that they have an interest in something other than you, such as an interest in politics or a hobby – something to take the pressure off you to be endlessly interesting. As captivating as they may find you and as nice as it may feel to be admired, you know you can’t sustain that forever.

Third, it helps if they believe you are terrific. In that way, they focus on your positive attributes and may overlook some of your rougher edges and less desirable qualities.

Proceed cautiously

While being able to meet people from various cultures or with different values can enhance your academic and life experience, there may be a different understanding of how to initiate a romantic relationship. What one student means as friendly, another can interpret as flirting. Care must be taken in giving clear signals to avoid misunderstandings and discomfort. Respect for each other’s personal freedom, physical and emotional space are critical no matter the cultural differences.

Consent between partners before any physical contact occurs is a crucial aspect of a healthy relationship. Unwanted kissing or touching is considered a sexual assault in Canada, which is a criminal offense. Sexual violence is not uncommon in post-secondary institutions; be sure to educate yourself about what consent means. Counsellors at your school can talk to you about consent and how to increase your personal safety.

The bottom line is that it is prudent to exercise caution to avoid any negative fallouts from a relationship on your life and academics, and to make romance a positive experience.

Geneviève Beaupré and Susan Qadeer have extensive experience working in university and college settings, providing career, academic and personal counselling to international and immigrant students.