80% of employers prefer multi-skilled professionals from diverse roles over those with a traditional skillset from a singular career-path.
A recent poll from leading talent solutions firm Robert Walters Ireland has revealed that ‘squiggly careers’ – an approach whereby professionals better understand their potential and career goals through gaining varied experience and skills across different fields – may be the key to market resilience.
Suzanne Feeney, Country Manager of Robert Walters Ireland comments: “The current reality of economic uncertainty, skills gaps and tightening budgets requires professionals to take initiative in steering their own career development, prioritising continuous skills development, varied roles and experience.
“Those open to taking sideways instead of exclusively upwards career moves are harnessing the flexibility that will ensure they remain a valued resource in the market.”
Employer investment
Despite four-fifths of Irish employers stating their preference for professionals with varied experience and skills, only half (49%) of professionals say their current employer supports sideways moves within their organisation.
27% of professionals say their employer doesn’t offer any sideways moves, whilst a fifth do so only for certain roles.
Suzanne comments: “Employers must lay the foundations for professionals to hone diverse skills and experience by encouraging sideways moves and reskilling initiatives across their organisations – this upfront investment from employers is crucial in futureproofing the workforce with those desirable qualities they are looking for.”
Continuous learning and experience-gaining
Professionals themselves are already increasingly considering sideways career moves, with just over two-fifths (42%) doing so to gain entry to a new industry or company, whilst an almost equal amount (38%) are considering them to expand or vary their current skillset, and a further 18% due to their current career growth being stalled.
Suzanne comments: “With cost of living crunches, the rise of generative AI and evolving tech causing additional disruption, there is a newfound pressure on professionals to ‘move with the times’ – this means arming themselves with in-demand skills and transferable experience.”
Passion lacking
The poll also found that only just over a third of Irish professionals are currently in a role or field they are passionate about.
A quarter feel they are in the right industry but the wrong role, a further 16% think the reverse – they are in right role but within the wrong industry.
Only recently Gallup’s State of the Global Workforce report found that only 10% of professionals in Ireland are currently actively engaged in their work – placing it 31st in 38 EU countries in terms of levels of engagement.
Suzanne comments: “Whilst true career passion can be harder to come by, professionals that don’t at least feel motivated in their role or align with their company’s mission, can quickly spell trouble for productivity and engagement levels – whereas a squiggly approach can help professionals sidestep into a role, company or team that aligns better with their abilities and expectations.”
What’s important to professionals?
The Robert Walters poll also asked professionals, what was (after salary) the most important deciding factor to them when considering a new position – two-fifths (41%) said the team or company, followed by the skills and experience it offers (35%) and its remit/scope (17%).
Only a minority (7%) believed the job title or its positioning within the company org chart was important.
Suzanne comments: “Companies and teams play a pivotal role in a professional’s access to personal development – such as upskilling opportunities and interesting projects as well as visibility to promotion opportunities and progression routes.”
What’s the solution?
When asked about their ideal career approach, more than twice the amount of professionals opted for exploring multiple industries (35%) rather than climbing the ranks in one specific field or industry (13%). However, over half (52%) opted for a combination of both approaches.
Suzanne comments: “A ‘jack-of-all-trades’ career trajectory isn’t necessarily a lifetime obligation; many professionals may find a career path they want to remain in along the way.
“However, the nature of today’s dynamic job market demands professionals actively seek out opportunities to develop new skills and experience – embracing a squiggly approach to career progression now can fortify professionals’ careers for years to come.”