Developing Adaptability Skills

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.

10 Proactive Steps That Make A Difference In Your Job Search: Most candidates do the same things: - Tweak a resume - Scroll job boards - Apply...and wait But the BEST candidates? They skip the waiting and take action instead. Here are 10 proactive steps you need to take to land an offer: 1. Get Ridiculously Clear On What You Want “I'm open to anything” is a momentum killer. Be specific about the role, industry, and type of company you want to work for. Yes, you limit options. But you massively increase focus and effectiveness. 2. Build A Target Company List Don't aim for volume. Aim for fit. Instead of applying aimlessly for every role that fits your criteria? Make a list of 15–20 companies that deeply align with your goals and values. Personalization wins in ultra competitive markets. 3. Find 10–15 Strategic Contacts At Each Company Look for hiring managers, teammates, or cross-functional peers. These are people who can provide insight or influence your chances. Search their LinkedIn, blogs, and interviews, and get context before reaching out. 4. Make The First Move (But Make It About Them) Don’t ask for a referral right away. Instead, start with their journey, their insights, and their work. Ask them questions about their background and if they have any advice. Show you care about building a relationship, not just getting a job. 5. Research Like An Insider Here's how: Follow their social media Get updated on the latest news Read Glassdoor reviews Use the product. Become fluent in the company’s language and goals. Recruiters can tell the difference. 6. Create Value Validation Projects Pick one problem the company faces. Map out a few ideas for solving it (in a short slide deck or doc). This builds trust and shows proactive thinking. It’s also way more memorable than a resume. 7. Revamp Your LinkedIn Profile For Impact Highlight real results and metrics. Add your Value Projects to the Featured section. Optimize your headline for your dream job (not just your current one). Make it impossible to ignore. 8. Share Insights Publicly Learning something new about your target industry? Write a short post sharing your takeaways. Post 2–3x a week. That visibility attracts recruiters and builds trust before the first conversation. 9. Follow Up More Than You're Comfortable With Most people stop after one email. But the reply often comes after the 3rd or 4th try. Use this template: “Hey, [Name], Just checking in to see if there are any updates on the [Job Title] role. 10. Track Everything It's hard to fix what you don't measure. Use a tracker to record who you’ve emailed, followed up with, and what they said/ You don’t need to do ALL 10 things perfectly. But showing up every day with intention? That’s what gets results.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐠. It’s actually a 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 requiring high availability and fault tolerance. I realized that choosing a specialization in tech—be it Cloud Architecture, DevOps, or Full Stack—follows the same heuristics we use for 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗗𝗲𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧. Here is the breakdown of the "𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞" protocol: 1. 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (Know What You Like): Just as we analyze logs to understand system behavior, analyze your history. What topics do you advocate for during lunch? What GitHub repos do you star? This is your baseline telemetry. 2. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 (Heatmaps): In the sketch, I drew a heatmap matching "Good At" vs. "Like." In engineering terms, this is finding the sweet spot between 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗽𝘂𝘁 (volume of work you can handle) and 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 (how much drag you feel doing it). 3. 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝘁 𝗔��𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 (The 'Yuck' Stuff): This is crucial. Just because you are efficient at cleaning up messy legacy code doesn't mean you should specialize in it. If a task has high proficiency but low satisfaction, it represents future burnout—essentially, 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒃𝒕. Deprecate these tasks early. 4. 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗣𝗜 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 (Ask the Big Kids): Don't rely on cached data. Poll external nodes (Seniors, Principals). Ask about their daily stack, their leadership exposure, and their context switching overhead. 5. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗔𝗣 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 (Pick 2 & Look Closer): You usually have three metrics: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗙𝘂𝗻, and 𝗣𝗮𝘆. It is rare to get strong consistency across all three immediately. Analyze your "Career Castles" (A vs. B) and decide which trade-off is acceptable for this specific epoch of your life. 6. 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (Start): Analysis paralysis is the enemy of uptime. If the metrics are close, deploy the instance that you are leaning toward. You can always rollback or re-architect later. Your career isn't a waterfall model; it's agile. Iterate often. Don't worry about a path not working out, you can always roll back :) #CareerPath #SystemDesign #SoftwareEngineering #TechCareers #Sketchnote

🔄 Feeling stuck in your career but unsure how to pivot after years in one field? You’re not alone. Many professionals crave a new challenge but don’t know where to start. Here’s how to make a smooth transition: 1️⃣ Identify Transferable Skills Your experience is more valuable than you think. Even if your industry is different, your core skills—problem-solving, leadership, communication, project management—are universal. ✅ Action Step: Make a list of your key skills and match them to roles in your target industry. 💡 Example: If you’ve worked in finance but want to move into tech, your analytical skills and data interpretation experience are still highly relevant. 2️⃣ Reframe Your Experience for Your New Audience Hiring managers in a new industry won’t automatically connect the dots—you have to do it for them. ✅ Action Step: Rewrite your resume, LinkedIn profile, and elevator pitch to highlight how your background applies to the new field. 💡 Tip: Focus on outcomes, impact, and skills rather than job titles. Instead of: ❌ "10 years of experience in pharmaceutical sales." Try: ✅ "Experienced relationship builder skilled in consultative sales and market expansion." 3️⃣ Expand Your Network & Learn From Insiders Changing careers isn’t just about applying online—it’s about getting in front of the right people. ✅ Action Step: Connect with professionals in your target field and request informational interviews. 📩 Example message: "Hi [Name], I’m exploring a career transition into [Industry] and really admire your experience at [Company]. Would you be open to a quick chat about your journey and insights?" 4️⃣ Gain Targeted Experience (Without Starting Over) The biggest fear in career pivots? “Do I have to start from scratch?” The answer: No. ✅ Action Step: Look for ways to gain relevant experience while still in your current role: ✔️ Take on cross-functional projects ✔️ Volunteer for industry-related work ✔️ Freelance or take short-term contracts 💡 Example: If you’re transitioning into marketing, start by managing internal communications or social media for a nonprofit. 5️⃣ Be Ready to Tell Your Career Pivot Story Hiring managers will ask: “Why are you making this change?” You need a clear, compelling answer. ✅ Action Step: Craft a confident pivot story that focuses on why this shift makes sense and how your skills align. 📌 Formula: ➡ Past: What you’ve done so far ➡ Present: Why you’re making this change ➡ Future: How your skills translate & add value 💡 Example: "After years in operations, I realized my passion lies in product management—solving customer pain points and driving innovation. My experience in process optimization and stakeholder management gives me a strong foundation, and I’m excited to bring these skills to a product-focused role." Making a career pivot is challenging—but absolutely possible with the right approach. 💬 Have you ever pivoted careers? What worked best for you? Share your experience below! 👇

Choose growth over glory…just stop seeking external validation In the pursuit of excellence, it's easy to get caught up in the need to prove ourselves. We often find ourselves trying to demonstrate our worth, validate our abilities, and impress others. But what if we shifted our focus from proving to improving? What if, instead of trying to show the world how good we are, we focused on becoming even better? When we're fixated on proving ourselves, we can become mired in anxiety, self-doubt, and fear of failure. This pressure can be suffocating, making it hard to take risks, experiment, and innovate. In contrast, focusing on improvement is liberating. It's about embracing the process of growth, learning from our mistakes, and striving for progress. When we're focused on improving, we're not bound by the need for perfection or the fear of criticism. We're free to experiment, to try new things, and to push ourselves beyond our limits. Improvement is a iterative process. It's about making small, incremental changes that add up over time. When we shift our focus from proving to improving, we move from an ego-driven mindset to a growth-oriented one. We're no longer driven by the need for external validation; instead, we're motivated by a desire to learn, to grow, and to become the best version of ourselves. Focusing on improvement also allows us to embrace imperfection. We can acknowledge that we're works in progress, that we're still learning, and that it's okay to make mistakes. This mindset frees us to take risks, to experiment, and to innovate without fear of judgment. And as we continue to improve, we find that we're not just getting better – we're becoming the best version of ourselves.

Do You Have a Plan B? The Best Candidates Do. Most professionals put all their energy into chasing one opportunity, one role, or one career path—only to be left scrambling when things don’t go as planned. Star candidates think differently. They don’t just hope for the best; they prepare for multiple possibilities. They understand that career success isn’t about luck but strategy, adaptability, and foresight. Here’s what sets them apart: ✔ They build options. Instead of banking on a single job offer, they cultivate multiple opportunities through networking, skill-building, and staying visible. ✔ They stay ahead of change. They monitor industry trends and upskill accordingly, ensuring they remain competitive no matter what shifts occur. ✔ They position themselves proactively. They don’t wait until they need a new job to start job searching—they’re always preparing for their next move. A Plan B isn’t a sign of doubt; it’s a sign of strategic thinking. If your career took an unexpected turn tomorrow, would you be ready?

Career pivots at the senior executive level require more than experience—they demand the ability to translate your leadership skills into new industries or roles. If you're navigating this transition, here’s how to position yourself for success: 🔍 Identify Transferable Skills Start by isolating the core leadership skills you've mastered. Strategic thinking, operational excellence, change management, and stakeholder engagement are valuable across industries. Align these strengths with what your target industry prioritizes. 🗣️ Bridge the Language Gap Every industry has its own language. Research how your target sector talks about challenges and success. Replace industry-specific jargon with universal leadership terms that resonate in your new field. ⚡ Highlight Adaptability and Learning Agility Senior roles in new industries often require quick learning and adaptability. Share examples where you led through market shifts, integrated new technologies, or managed cross-functional teams—proving your capacity to thrive in unfamiliar environments. 🏆 Showcase Relevant Achievements Select accomplishments that demonstrate impact aligned with your new goals. Led digital transformation? That’s relevant to tech-driven industries. Scaled operations globally? That’s valuable in any growth-focused sector. Frame your results in a way that speaks to future employers’ pain points. 🚀 Craft a Forward-Looking Narrative Your story should connect past success with future potential. Communicate how your experience equips you to solve challenges in this new space. Phrases like, “My experience driving operational excellence positions me to...” help bridge the gap. A successful pivot isn’t about starting over—it’s about leveraging your leadership in new and meaningful ways. For those who’ve made a successful transition, what worked for you? Let’s share insights below! 👇 #careers #executivecareers #jobsearch

You think career success means narrowing your focus. Peter B. Williams proves the opposite. Global finance executive at Citi in Hong Kong. Author and podcast host. Nonprofit board member. His secret isn't specialization. It's range. And that range compounds over time. Here's how to build career leverage by widening, not narrowing: 1. Use Geography as Your Learning Engine Most people see relocation as disruption. Peter treats it as development. Australia. London. Singapore for nearly a decade. Now Hong Kong. Each move = new perspective on markets and culture. People warned him "not to talk about interests outside my day job because it will seem like I have too much time on my hands and make me a target for redundancy." He widened anyway. Geographically mobile graduates have higher job placement rates and secure more full-time positions. Movement creates opportunity. 2. Turn Personal Experience into Shared Contribution After family tragedy, Peter compiled book and podcast "Missing Niamh" (pronounced Neeve). Not planned as professional project. Just personal healing. It expanded his network. Led to roles with Music For Life International and Resolve Foundation. Your deepest experiences become your greatest contributions. 3. Let Your Roles Reinforce Each Other Peter writes, speaks, podcasts, leads inside a major financial institution. He brings his "entire set of interests to work, by volunteering to run various projects." Each lane strengthens the next. Nobel Prize study (Li et al., 2021): 49.5% of medicine winners had multidisciplinary backgrounds. 69% didn't even major in medicine. Breadth builds breakthrough thinking. 4. Optimize for Match Quality, Not Speed Don't rush to specialize. Explore first. Berkeley research: Students given 2-year exploration periods achieved higher "match quality" between their skills and work. They caught up on knowledge later. Applied it more effectively. Find your fit. Then go deep. Range isn't scattered focus. It's strategic breadth that compounds into career leverage. ♻️ Share this with someone ready to expand their possibilities 🔔 Follow Kabir Sehgal for more

When I was co-delivering a career coaching program with one of Australia’s top executive recruiters, we used a model that's stayed with me ever since: 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡. It explains why some career moves are straightforward and others aren't, and crucially, which moves a recruiter can help with and which they can't. The Four Quadrants map out your options along two axes: staying in the same role or shifting to a new one, and staying in the same industry or moving to a new one. 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝟏: 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲  is the easiest move because you're just changing employers. Recruiters are very helpful here: their role is to know who’s hiring in your industry and to match you quickly with opportunities that fit your track record. 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝟐: 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 is also fairly straightforward if you can tell the right story about why your skills and experience are transferable. Recruiters may support you if the industry shift isn’t too radical and your functional expertise is strong. An example would be a CFO moving from manufacturing to logistics or CHRO moving from education to healthcare. 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝟑: 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 is trickier. Recruiters are less likely to put you forward because they are often briefed to find candidates with direct experience in a similar role. This move is best made within your current organisation, because they already know your capabilities and are more likely to support the move if it means they retain a valued employee. They may even be willing to support further study or training to make the transition more successful. But 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝟒: 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 means changing both role and industry at the same time and this move is notoriously tough. Success here almost never comes from advertised roles, because on paper, you won’t be the match an employer is seeking. So recruiters rarely play a role in helping you make this move. It’s true some headhunters are willing to put forward a left field candidate, but companies rarely choose an outlier. Recruiters are used to de-risk the process of hiring and it’s hard for them to sell a risky choice, even when they truly believe in you. Quadrant 4 requires a different playbook altogether. Applying for advertised roles and hoping you can make your case in a detailed cover letter does NOT have a high success rate. Transitioning into Board roles – and into a portfolio career generally – is often a Quadrant 4 career move and it can explain your lack of success in getting interviews for advertised roles. It’s because you're seeking a different role and potentially you're looking outside your current sector. There’s an element of 𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 that you must embrace, to successfully transition.