Future proofing your career: Why every young woman needs a plan
Find out how you can future-proof your career (and life) with the right planning – and what kind of things to consider in your 20s, 30s and 40s.
I have a mantra “Make a plan, plan can change.“ It requires some explanation. If you have a plan, whether it’s for making dinner or moving continents it is more likely that some version of that plan will take shape.
If you do not plan for it you will end up with a random takeaway or still living with your mum. I exaggerate, my point being that if you do not set out your intention, it becomes more likely that precisely nothing will happen. the idea behind this mantra is to really communicate “do something”, just don’t do nothing.
Workplace career planning might feel pointless today; the future feels uncertain, technology is continually impacting the status quo, the nature of work and the workplace. There will be jobs in the future that we are unaware of today… social media executive anyone? That role did not exist 20 years ago.
More specifically, as women we have a lot less certainty about our careers and work than men because despite medical advances, the last I heard we are still the incubators for the next generation. Pregnancy and raising children take up a large proportion of our working lives if we choose.
Many are now choosing a child free life, and some are unable to bear children. It no longer defines us, and we should be very grateful for that. But whether you embrace motherhood our biological and genetic role as nurturers and carers means that we will at some point be faced with responsibilities outside or alongside our careers.
Make sure you are financially independent
Despite the momentary resurgence of trad wives (not a trend I embrace), I would counsel any woman to avoid sole dependency on another for their economic health. The guiding principle of your plan should be financial independence. This will future proof your well-being.
Have a pot of money that is yours, a “just in case “fund. This is nothing to do with your relationship status. I can say with absolute certainty that one day you will call upon it. you really do not know when you set out as a young adult what life has in store.
Not working or developing any skills that can be exchanged for financial reward will not serve you over the course of your life which is most likely to be at least 80 years long! It is worth thinking about the kind of life you want to live and most importantly the work you want to do and are suited for.
Spend a little bit of time on that plan. It can just be in heavy pencil, it can be lofty, ambitious or dreamy, but without a plan or a dream it is difficult to head in any kind of direction.
Making plans in your 20s
If you are in your 20s, you should (hopefully!) enjoy a long and healthy life. It’s the time to experiment and explore, be curious and gain experience, especially if you are uncertain about what jobs and careers are available to you. What floats your boat and motivates your mojo? Build foundational skills, communications, tech competence, organising and executing tasks.
Just get working! At least you will learn what does not appeal or work for you. Your 20’s is the time to explore your options and try stuff out. You have the freedom to pursue your interests and explore the opportunities that present themselves, do not waste this time even if you travel, try and combine it with something useful, volunteering, blogging, researching and working abroad if you are able to get the appropriate visas.
You will make new friends, meet new people, learn from others, and build the foundations of your network. Be the person who follows up and stays in touch. It will serve you well and sustain a long and successful working life.
Making plans in your 30s
By now you should have a good sense of yourself. Time to consolidate and climb Position yourself for leadership. Develop your
self- awareness…. who are you ? What motivates you? What are your strengths ? Do you like to work alone or in a team? Do you need a structured environment, or do you prefer the chaos of creativity?
The better you know yourself the more informed your choices Do you want to climb the corporate ladder or develop life as a freelancer or working in small businesses for founders? Maybe you even want to set up your own business. Many will be putting down roots in a place or relationship or both. A regular income is now important, and financial security is something you should consider.
Most important you have some solid skills at this point, being aware of your strengths and building on them is essential, clarity about how and where you do your best work and are most effective is key. Gather feedback in the workplace and develop key relationships with those of influence. Avoid conflict if things do not work, move on.
Review the plan, how does it look? Are you even close to where you thought you might be. For many women this will be the beginning of their squiggly career as they take time out, pause and reconsider what they want to do… foot on or off the accelerator? You choose, there is still a long road ahead and plenty of capacity to learn and change
Making plans in your 40s
By now, you should have arrived at a destination that mostly works for you, if it doesn’t, it’s time to review and re-set the dial. Reflect, review and reinvent if necessary. Think about where you are in life and work as you head towards the halfway mark. How did you get here so soon?!
Now is the time to think about part two. As you head towards 50, the inevitable impacts of the menopause, ageing parents, health issues, family dramas and sundry other elephant traps will rain down on you.
If you have learnt and built on your workplace experience building strong foundational relationships along the way, you’ve been flexible and resourceful when required and added to your skills as you’ve built your career and bagged some success stories along the way , you will be well set for part two and whatever your legacy plan has in store be it pivot or persevere !
Your 50s are often challenging, it is a time to embrace change, to potentially shed and move on and be open to new things. This will fuel and feed the next chapter. It can be confusing, but experience should help you be clear that it will turn out well if you’ve put in the work along the way.
Jackie Naghten is a business growth consultant , executive coach and longevity economy expert she works with brands and individuals to scale their business and brand offer , often to support a fund raise .
With more than 30 years’ experience in executive-level roles at consumer-facing businesses including Arcadia, Debenhams and M&S, Jackie consults on brand strategy, leadership and personal growth.
