The question that always comes into people’s minds is “What will happen if I lose my job tomorrow, will my skill set still be in demand?”

Everyday different job opportunities with specialised skills are being created so as an employee you need to adjust to changing times.

The Honours / Degree / Masters / Certificate you got 10 years ago might not be relevant anymore in today’s job market.

For example I studied Php in 2010 which is a server-side scripting language designed for web development but also used as a general-purpose programming language for building websites and programming.

In 2010 there was Php version 5.3.2 when I did my course and now 4 years

later there’s already version 5.6.3 meaning over 80+ versions have been released already and if one doesn’t improve or adjust with changing times they might be left behind.

The key is to find what excites you and begin to build a career around it that way there is far less risk of becoming redundant.

Here are some tips to help you stay relevant in the modern workplace:

Study further: Apply for online courses or become a part-time student; this is the best way to improve your skills and keep up with the latest trends.

Always be eager to learn:  You are never too old to learn something new. Read journals, articles and anything you can get your hands on related to your career and the industry you work in. Ask questions and dedicate some time in the day to learning a new skill.

Know the dynamics of your industry: Keep yourself abreast with the latest developments in your company and the industry you specialise in. This will place you in the best position to know if your own techniques are favourable or still relevant.

Network through social media: Yes, social media can be time consuming and it may seem like a waste of time but it also has its uses. We constantly hear that in today’s time “who” we know is as significant as “what” we know. So join and become active on online professional groups and use the latest forms of social media to stay on top of things.

Adapt to change: The only constant thing in the world is change, get used to it. You need to be able to adapt to the new ways of doing things without causing a scene. Whether it’s a change of management or the restructuring of your team you need to make sure that you are able to fit in to any new situation you may be placed in.