AFRICA’S YOUNG ACHIEVERS
Thogori Karago,is the LinkedIn ProFinder Senior Product Manager
technical topics. Lifelong learning will be essential for staying competitive and thriving in your career.
Thogori was recently recognised as one of the women changing culture, industry and the face of tech. She was among a prestigious panel of speakers and mentors at the 2018 Girlboss Rally.
By Thogori Karago We're living in a golden age of entrepreneurship. More individuals are aspiring to be their own boss and turning this dream into a reality by saying farewell to the traditional 9-5 job. And why wouldn't they? The numbers show there has never been a better time to strike out on your own. In fact, four out of every 10 working-age adults believe there are ample opportunities for starting a business in their area, according to the 2016/2017 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report. More than half of respondents to a recent LinkedIn ProFinder survey confirmed they'll never return to more traditional, full-time employment. And freelancers are expected to make up nearly half of the workforce by 2020, according to a study conducted by Intuit. With today being National Boss Day, it's the perfect time to dive into how you, too, can pursue the professional dream of being your own boss. Here are a few ways you can make it happen:
Always be learning. Being your own boss requires continual learning and professional development. According to LinkedIn data, the average shelf life of a professional skill is less than five years so, for many of us, the skills we learned in college don't cover the technology and in-demand skills of today. Consider registering for online courses offered by Skillshare, Udemy or LinkedIn Learning to learn a wide range of capabilities across business, creative and
MELLENIN MAG | ISSUE 2 2019
Photo credit Thogori Karago Facebook LinkedIn ProFinder Senior Product Manager
“Be in the know on the industries that are booming.” If you want to be your own boss, make sure you're privy to where customer demand exists. For instance, LinkedIn ProFinder found if you work in fields like marketing and branding, design and software, offering your services to small businesses is a good route to consider. Or, if resume writing, interview prep and leadership training are more your lines of expertise, keep in mind that career coaching is a hot growth area for independent professionals. With the world of work changing at an unprecedented rate, employees today are navigating ever more complex career paths and, as such, turn to career coaches and mentors to assist them with these sorts of jobs.
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