How To Stay Relevant in Your Field
My top 5 tips for a better game plan
I went to public schools my whole life. It was easy, accessible, and convenient. For the most part, I loved it there, except when you asked the teachers something new.
Don’t get me wrong.
We Indians have one of the best teachers and guides. But when it comes to updating new knowledge and data, some of them have an almost dismissive attitude. A lack of curiosity. A stump to new knowledge.
For most of us, this attitude costs us our job, financial stability, and better work-life balance.
So here I’m sharing my top tips to stay relevant and competitive in your field, no matter if you’re an intern, back-to-work mama, at a career switch, or a seasoned professional.
1. Up-skill
Upskilling means learning additional skills to support your course. As a writer, for me, this is to learn the latest SEO content trends, and new writing software, integrate AI without losing my integrity, connect with the community for niche-related news, and so on.
It can look like gaining new certification to impress your potential clients, including additional services to your package, etc.
In 2024, with competition and inflation over the roof, upskilling is a great way to arm up.
2. Practice Your Craft
Practicing and honing your skillset is the key to your craft. Nobody wants amateurs on classified jobs.
Quantity creates quality.
Create more pieces, not for anyone, but for you. For every hour you learn practice for 4, or 10, or even better. Make sure the tools start to mold to your fingertips, anywhere, anytime.
A great place to start is to imitate. Imitation is where we all began. Gather the fine works of others, organize them into a folder, and create an imitation piece in your style.
It helps you learn the flow and analyze the structure better than if you’re just observing.
Remember, practice makes better content.
3. Show Your Work.
Unlike old times, you don’t have to hide your pieces until editors approve.
In the brief book, Show Your Work, Austin Kleon says “In order to be found, you have to be findable”. Each of the 10 chapters elaborates on the importance of showing our work in public, accepting feedback — the good and the bad- and being a better storyteller, and having an active media presence (which doesn’t mean doomscrolling).
As a creative and professional, be shameless to market yourself, insert yourself into relevant conversations, start new ones, clear doubts, and provide solutions as well as you can.
But first, show your work.
Have a link to your arsenal a.k.a your portfolio.
Insert it where anyone — your clients and community- can find it.
Refer to it, mention it to people who inspired it, engage, and learn.
Sell yourself without being salesy.
That’s the recipe.
4. Connect With Communities.
I spent quite a lot of time on LinkedIn.
As a professional platform, it helps me to connect with other writers, see the trends and conversations around it and actively participate in it without intimidation.
More often than not these conversations ignite better ideas for me to stay updated and create better content to aid my visibility and attract potential work.
Online niche communities have a better understanding of the work you engage in and produce. It also helps you to connect with industry experts and their work.
Some of my favorite platforms include Quora, X, Reddit, and Behance.
It is not just about the number of platforms, but about how you insert yourself into them.
5. Embrace Feedback
I used to hate negative comments on my work. It ruins my mood and sometimes the whole day. I spend hours wallowing and sulking over the unkind take on my precious work.
Tbh, I still do. But here’s the twist.
I stopped taking it personally.
During my undergrad days, I came across Formalism. It lists that any [literary] work ultimately is detached and independent from its creator. The reader (audience in this case) determines the quality with their personal experience and prejudices.
Embrace the feedback, and learn where you lost/re-gained them.
Be open to new perspectives and accept to evolve rather than fight the flow.
Feedback is the most honest review of your work in that context/platform/audience.
Make sure you hit the right audience and learn from their suggestion.
And in time, it helps you create better content.
So there you go, my top 5 tips to stay relevant in your field. They have helped me stay alive and competitive in my path as a writer.
A lot of time, our attitude is what makes a difference.
Do not lose hope at slow times. Use them to strengthen your skillset, network better, and stay consistent in your craft.
So that’s it!
What is your favorite tactic to hold the fort? Have I got it here? I bet you have a better idea lying around. Drop a comment and share it with us.
Hi, I’m Anjala Kader
I write about SaaS digital marketing, mental health & wellness, and freelance lifestyle.
