What are career moats and how do we start building them?
Sharing a few thoughts from @commoncog
#90DaysOfProse Day 21
Sharing a few thoughts from @commoncog
#90DaysOfProse Day 21
What is a career moat?
A career moat is a key competitive advantage that sets us apart from our competition in the field.
It is our ability to protect our employability and generate sufficient financial returns.
A career moat is a key competitive advantage that sets us apart from our competition in the field.
It is our ability to protect our employability and generate sufficient financial returns.
We have a career moat - when we lose our job, we don't lose our mind.
We are confident that we will find employment quickly with our career capital.
Job security is a myth. True job security is our ability to get our next job, and not keep our current one.
We are confident that we will find employment quickly with our career capital.
Job security is a myth. True job security is our ability to get our next job, and not keep our current one.
We live in a world of constant change.
What is valuable today may not be so tomorrow.
Roles might be outdated, which requires our skills to be updated.
What is valuable today may not be so tomorrow.
Roles might be outdated, which requires our skills to be updated.
Career moats are built with skills.
The best skills are so valuable and difficult to find that leaders are looking to recruit you.
A rough metric to know if you are on the right path - are you getting inbound offers?
The best skills are so valuable and difficult to find that leaders are looking to recruit you.
A rough metric to know if you are on the right path - are you getting inbound offers?
Qualities of a rare and valuable skillset
- It isn't clear how to build the skills. Ex: Writing
- It is unattractive or hard to acquire. Ex: Programming
- It is a niche now but might be the next big thing. Ex: AR/VR, AI, Crypto
- It isn't clear how to build the skills. Ex: Writing
- It is unattractive or hard to acquire. Ex: Programming
- It is a niche now but might be the next big thing. Ex: AR/VR, AI, Crypto
After picking up rare & valuable skills, we must strive to be the best in our field.
The best writers, artists, engineers and thinkers have the deepest moats.
Build a moat with skills and proof of competence - own and deliver metrics.
The best writers, artists, engineers and thinkers have the deepest moats.
Build a moat with skills and proof of competence - own and deliver metrics.
Getting paid to learn a rare and valuable skill set is even better.
While choosing a career move, keep an eye on the moat.
While choosing a career move, keep an eye on the moat.
Thoughts on a new career
- Will it teach us rare and valuable skills.
- How will we learn these skills?
- How this skill will help us become the best?
It is also good to think in terms of a unique combination - like programming+writing. strategy+tech etc.
- Will it teach us rare and valuable skills.
- How will we learn these skills?
- How this skill will help us become the best?
It is also good to think in terms of a unique combination - like programming+writing. strategy+tech etc.
As we build our moats, it is important to show our skills and deliver value to an audience.
The right networking can keep the doors open for our future careers.
The right networking can keep the doors open for our future careers.
I will be writing more thoughts on building careers for the next few days. Keep a look.
For more thoughts on career moats, refer to the article:
commoncog.com/blog/career-mo…
For more thoughts on career moats, refer to the article:
commoncog.com/blog/career-mo…
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