For a very long time, some professionals were taught that the best ways to land a job were to have years of experience and dedication.
Be there long enough. Build tenure. The years are added. And it would all fit together in the end.
Still, a lot of people don’t realise how dramatically the world has changed.
Years of expertise are no longer enough to save your career. In fact, relying solely on timeliness may really put you at risk.
The Hard Reality Ignored by Many Professionals
After 10, fifteen, or even twenty years of employment, some professionals experience difficulties as soon as they quit their jobs.
It’s because their value hasn’t grown over time, not because they’re lazy or incompetent.
A number of roles are getting weaker these days:
- Easily automated
- Easily outsourced
- Easily replaced by cheaper talent
- Or even outperformed by those with far less years of experience but better talents.
Time served, rather than impact made, is sometimes the only thing keeping some people in their jobs.
And it’s dangerous to be in that situation.
Experience and Value Are Not the Same
Let’s be clear about that.
Experience is the result of being there.
Value is the capacity to produce outcomes.
Experience is not active.
Value is active.
Employers don’t really pay you for your term of service, they pay for:
- Problems you can fix
- Revenue you can increase or safeguard
- Efficiency you can produce
- Knowledge that can be applied or transferred
If experience doesn’t lead to any of these, it becomes weak.
Why the Market No Longer Reward Time
The job market of today is not sentimental; it is merciless.
It doesn’t compensate:
- Simply Loyalty
- The amount of time spent in one role
- Job titles devoid of substance
It rewards:
- Significance
- Adaptability
- Skills that are transferable
- Individuals who can provide value not only in the past but also in the present
Layoffs shock people because of this.
Resignations might so occasionally lead to regret.
For this reason, many professionals experience anxiety when they must “start over.”
Some Careers Are Increasingly Risky Without Being Noticed
This is an uncomfortable but necessary aspect.
Even though they were once robust, certain vocations are no longer.
Furthermore, this fact cannot be changed by acting otherwise.
A weak career is one in which:
- Growth is restricted or slow
- Skills are not transferable
- Opportunities substantially decrease after leaving your current position.
- You have trouble expressing your value to those outside of your present company.
Years might go by quickly in such roles. When you finally go out, the market reaction may also be unforgiving.
The good news is that there is still time.
If you’re in your 30s, 40s, or even older, pay close attention to this:
You can still add value.
But rather than waiting for time to reward you, you must begin actively bettering yourself.
Value could look like this:
- Learning a highly desired skill
- Applying your expertise to latest tools and technology
- Mastering a certain problem-solving technique
- Making a difference outside of your job
Values that are intentionally built, compounds.
Questions You Need to Ask Yourself
Think honestly if you’re not sure where you stand:
- What would I be compensated for tomorrow if I lost my job today?
- What issue can I handle without bringing up my job title?
- What skill am I actively working on this year?
- Am I relying on relevance or years?
Your responses will reveal everything.
Job titles come to an end
Job changes.
Organisation’s restructure.
But value follows you around.
The future will belong to those who prioritise development, education, and relevance over remaining in vulnerable roles.
Now is the time to begin creating value.
Over to you:
Do you actively create value, or have you ever depended on years of experience?
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