Never before have people been as responsible for keeping themselves skilled and employable as they are today. In short, for those who don’t keep a focused eye on their abilities to adapt and grow with the changing workplace, a day could come when it becomes tough to find a ‘good job’. Meanwhile, there are people who always manage to be employed and on track for continued success. There are four keys to always having a job.

1. Keep your definition of a ‘good job’ reasonable

As we progress professionally, we acquire skills and experiences that often afford us greater opportunities in terms of salary and benefits. The problem lies in making the assumption that once we are offered a larger compensation package that it becomes the benchmark for any job in the future. Smart workers know each job opportunity provides criteria that must be weighed differently against our wants and needs. Staying employable means simplifying our list and planning for the day when we don’t have the same level or type of perks. This keeps job options more plentiful and movement to new positions easier.

2. The 3x3x3 rule

You can identify how you plan to stay employable by following the ‘3x3x3 rule’ for skill development:

A. Choose three skills you want to enhance.

B. Identify three ways in which you could learn and grow each skill.

C. Articulate three examples of how you can demonstrate your enhanced skills in this area to your employer.

By taking professional development into your own hands, you remain focused and in control of your employability.

3. Be the ‘go-to’ person

Employees use the early part of their career to develop skills and accumulate professional wealth. Mid-life brings about changes in how one wants to allocate his/her time. Smart employees know this doesn’t have to diminish the quality of the time they put into their careers. To stay employable, focus on being the ‘go-to’ person for a particular problem, task or technique. Building expertise in a specific area that is in demand within the workplace will create a personal insurance policy that ensures you’ll always be the “go-to” employee who’s in demand.

4. Create a board of advisors

In an age where employees are in essence a company-of-one responsible for keeping the services they deliver in demand — doesn’t it make sense to seek the counsel from those who can help you make the best career decisions? Smart employees solicit the advice of individuals they feel approach career success in a manner they admire. Whether it’s a relative, co-worker, former manager, seeking advice from those who know more than you will give you the perspective needed to be proactive and successful at staying employable.

Career paths are full of twists and turns, so to avoid roadblocks use the four tips above. — Agenciesk