How to Advance Your Career Beyond Technical Skills

The most valuable advice is the hardest to accept. Harsh Career Reality: The reason you got your last promotion becomes the reason you can’t get your next one. It’s tough to accept that strengths can become weaknesses. You work for years building expertise, and without warning, it sabotages you. There are two types of capabilities: transient and evergreen. Transient skills are rewarded the most in the first 10 years of your career. Then, it flips to evergreen capabilities. People spend years in a career plateau, feeling stuck. Communication skills are evergreen. They amplify any other capability and make a person more effective at any role. Data literacy, the ability to discover and curate high-value data, is an evergreen capability. However, you’ll be stuck with transient capabilities if you overemphasize the technical skills. It would be like defining your communication skills around the tools used. No one says expert in Slack and Outlook when they mean expert communicator. “Expert at SQL and Tableau to deliver dashboards” holds people back when they mean “Expert at discovering, curating, and communicating high-value data to improve business outcomes.” The biggest leaps forward come from letting go of what you built your career on. Transient capabilities aren’t a waste of time. They’re a gateway to developing more valuable evergreen capabilities. The sooner you see that transient serves evergreen, the better.

Stop climbing the career ladder. Build a career lattice instead. This is the future of work. Instead of climbing straight up like a ladder, you move sideways, diagonally, and up. You build skills across different areas, create multiple paths forward, and become valuable in ways that can't be replaced by one bad quarter or company restructure. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄. There aren't as many management levels to climb. The old "up or out" mentality doesn't work when there's nowhere to go up. 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿. The role you were hired for might not exist in 3 years. But if you've built skills across multiple areas, you adapt instead of getting left behind. 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀. Your ability to solve problems in marketing AND operations AND data analysis makes you more valuable than being "just" a marketing manager. 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆. When layoffs happen, people with diverse skills and internal networks survive. People stuck in one lane don't. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 - You Lifelong Employability Playbook 𝟭. 𝗠𝗮𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 • List what you're good at now • Identify what you want to learn • Find the connections between different areas    𝟮. 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 • Work with other departments • Offer to help with initiatives outside your job description • Learn how other parts of the business work    𝟯. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Connect with people in different departments • Attend company events and cross-team meetings • Help colleagues even when there's no direct benefit to you    𝟰. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 • If you're in sales, learn basic marketing and data analysis • If you're in HR, understand finance and operations • If you're technical, develop communication and business skills    𝟱. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻 "𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲" 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 • Volunteer to translate between departments • Become the person who understands both the technical and business side • Position yourself as a connector and problem-solver    In the new world of work, your career lattice becomes your competitive advantage. While others compete for the same narrow path up, you've built multiple ways forward. Ready to start building your lattice? Pick one skill outside your current role and start learning it this month. ♻️ Share this to help others build skills that matters Follow Adeline Tiah for content on future of work and leadership

Every single tech professional thinks: "My coding skills will speak for themselves." But here's the brutal reality I've seen coaching tech careers: Technical skills are your entry ticket. Soft skills are your upgrade path. I've watched brilliant engineers get passed over for promotions. I've seen top coders struggle in team dynamics. I've coached developers who couldn't articulate their project's value. Why? Because technical expertise isn't enough anymore. Modern workplaces demand: - Clear communication of complex technical concepts. - Collaborative problem-solving skills. - Emotional intelligence in high-pressure environments. - Ability to influence and persuade non-technical stakeholders. Your technical skills solve problems. Your soft skills create opportunities. Consider what top tech companies really want: - Engineers who can explain technical solutions. - Team members who build positive workplace cultures. - Professionals who can navigate complex interpersonal landscapes. But here's what drives me crazy: Most tech education ignores interpersonal development. Most engineers undervalue communication training. Most companies still prioritize technical skills over holistic capabilities. Stop treating soft skills as secondary. They're your career's real differentiator. Want to truly accelerate your tech career? Develop both technical and interpersonal capabilities. Because in today's workplace, your human skills are your most powerful algorithm. #TechCareer #Softskills #Employees #Careertips

If I were a Sales Engineer trying to elevate (and future-proof) my career… I wouldn’t double down on tech skills. Every week I talk to SEs who feel stuck in their careers. Most assume they need more tech skills to level up. Here's the truth: Tech skills are necessary, but they expire fast. And with AI writing increasingly capable code. That expiration date is speeding up. 🤖 If your career bets are only on your technical depth… you’re putting yourself on the path to being replaceable. Here’s what I would focus on: → 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻 Most SEs get stuck in the weeds. They know every technical detail but struggle to tie it back to business value. The best SEs don’t just demo features. They sell outcomes. They connect the dots from product to profit. That’s how you go from supporting demos to driving business. → 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 Customers don’t buy features. They buy a vision. A great SE doesn’t just explain WHAT and HOW. They inspire with WHY. Learn to turn dry product tours into engaging business stories. A compelling story is the difference between “Cool tech” and “We need this now to transform our business.” → 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 Your network will take you further in your career than any tech skill. Too many SEs only engage with their internal team. That’s a missed opportunity. 😔 Use communities and LinkedIn to connect with SEs, industry leaders, and tech professionals outside your company. The best opportunities come from people who know you, before you need them. __ The SE role is evolving. Keeping up with the rapid pace of technology is essential, but don’t let it be your sole focus. The skills that will set you apart aren't just technical. They’re the ones that will take your career further than any tech skills can.

As IT professionals, we often focus on honing our technical expertise, mastering new tools, and staying updated with the latest technologies. While these skills are crucial, it's equally important not to neglect soft skills like public speaking, presentation delivery, and understanding how your role impacts the business. The higher you aspire to take your career, the more you'll be required to communicate effectively with management and other stakeholders. When I was the Architect at American Airlines, I was fortunate enough to have them sponsor Public Speaking Training for me, which significantly improved my presentation skills and overall communication. Here are a few reasons why developing these skills is essential: 1. Improved Communication with Management: The ability to clearly and confidently present your ideas and projects can set you apart from your peers. It shows that you not only understand the technical aspects but also the business implications. 2. Enhanced Career Growth: Strong communication skills are often the key to unlocking higher-level positions. The ability to articulate your vision and strategy can lead to leadership opportunities. 3. Greater Impact: Understanding how your role impacts the business enables you to make more strategic decisions. It helps you align your technical work with the broader goals of the organization. 4. Building Relationships: Effective communication fosters better relationships with colleagues, management, and clients. It helps in building a network that can support your career growth. 5. Continuous Improvement: Never stop improving your skills. Whether it's technical or soft skills, continuous learning is the key to staying relevant and advancing in your career. Don't settle for being just an "IT Guy." Invest in yourself, develop your soft skills, and strive to make a broader impact within your organization. Let's elevate our careers together! Share your experiences or tips on improving soft skills in the comments below. #ITCareer #SoftSkills #PublicSpeaking #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #Leadership

When I started my career, I thought good work spoke for itself. I learned that it doesn’t … not unless you can prove the business case behind it. One of the most valuable skills you can develop is executive communication: Showing how your ideas drive the outcomes the business actually cares about. Good work alone isn’t enough. You need to prove how your effort drives revenue, growth, and clear strategic goals. That’s tough to do early in your career, particularly if you come from a creative or technical background, but the earlier you develop the skill, the faster you’ll grow. If I had to do it all over again, here’s what I would do to level up: 1. Work with data-driven managers and mentors Seek out the leaders who seem to always get the green light on their big ideas. Chances are they are the best at clearly connecting their work to measurable business outcomes. Learn how they communicate, justify priorities, and align teams. Practice their approach on a smaller scale, project by project.     2. Study product thinking Product sits at the intersection of user needs, business, and technology — and great PMs constantly balance trade-offs across those three dimensions. Even introductory product management frameworks can sharpen how you articulate value, impact, and strategy.     3. Build financial literacy Learn to read financial statements. Study your company’s forecasts and know how financial modeling and budgeting cycles work. The more fluent you are in finance, the easier it becomes to pitch your work, frame trade-offs, and earn buy-in. Once you learn the language of the business, your creative or technical expertise lands with 10× impact. It’s a skill I wish I’d built much earlier in my career.

𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐕𝐏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 In the dynamic world of finance, advancing your career to VP and Director roles requires more than just technical expertise. With over 30 years of experience in management and as the creator of the ACES Recruitment Method, I've guided many professionals on their journey to the top. Here’s what you need to focus on to reach those coveted leadership positions. 1. Develop Strong Leadership Skills: Technical skills are essential, but strong leadership abilities set you apart. Focus on developing your capacity to lead teams, manage projects, and drive organizational success. 2. Embrace Continuous Learning: The finance industry is constantly evolving. Stay ahead by continuously updating your knowledge and skills. Consider certifications, advanced degrees, and staying current with industry trends. 3. Build a Robust Professional Network: Networking is crucial for career advancement. Engage with industry professionals, join relevant associations, and participate in events. These connections can open doors to new opportunities and provide valuable insights. 4. Seek Out Mentorship: Find mentors who have successfully navigated their way to VP or Director roles. Their guidance and advice can be invaluable as you plot your career path. 5. Demonstrate Strategic Thinking: To move up, you need to show that you can think strategically. This means understanding the broader business context, making data-driven decisions, and contributing to long-term planning. 6. Cultivate a Personal Brand: Establish yourself as a thought leader in your field. Share your expertise through articles, speaking engagements, and active participation in industry discussions. A strong personal brand can significantly enhance your career prospects. 7. Gain Diverse Experience: Broaden your experience by taking on varied roles within the finance function. This diversity in experience will make you more versatile and better equipped to handle high-level responsibilities. 8. Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t be shy about your successes. Highlight your achievements and the impact you’ve made in your roles. Quantifiable results speak volumes to potential employers and decision-makers. 9. Foster Professional Empathy: Understanding the perspectives of your colleagues, subordinates, and superiors is key to effective leadership. Professional empathy helps in building strong, cohesive teams. 10. Leverage Human Judgment: In an AI-driven world, human judgment remains irreplaceable. Use your judgment, empathy, and understanding to navigate complex situations and make informed decisions. By focusing on these areas, you can position yourself for advancement to VP and Director roles in the finance sector. Ready to take the next step in your career? Let’s connect and explore how you can achieve your professional goals. #Finance #CareerAdvancement #Leadership #VP

A young IT manager asked me last year: "How do I get to where you are?" I told him the honest answer — not the polished one. The honest answer is that the technical skills got me in the room. But they were never what kept me there. Here's what actually moved my career forward: 1. I stopped trying to sound smart and started trying to be understood. Technical depth only has value if the person across the table can act on it. 2. I built relationships outside of IT before I needed them. When you only talk to the business during incidents, they only think of you during incidents. 3. I learned to say "I don't know, but I'll find out" more than I said anything else. Executives who pretend to know everything lose credibility fast. The ones who are honest about gaps and relentless about filling them earn trust that lasts. 4. I asked to be in rooms I hadn't been invited to yet. The CFO conversation, the board prep, the M&A due diligence. I asked to observe before I was asked to lead. 5. I made my boss's priorities my priorities. Not because I was a yes-person. Because understanding what success looks like at the next level is how you prepare to operate at the next level. The path from IT leader to business executive isn't a promotion. It's a translation. What would you add to this list?

We still ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, as if one answer should define a lifetime. As if careers move in straight lines. As if belonging means fitting into one tidy box. But that’s not how work happens anymore. Lately, I’ve noticed something beautiful. People are mixing worlds that once felt miles apart. - Leaders learning AI tools to work smarter. - Professionals leading narratives through storytelling. - Designers diving into data analytics. It’s not distraction. It’s evolution. People thriving today aren’t the ones staying in a single lane. They’re the ones connecting dots across them. They see patterns where others see chaos. They translate between disciplines. They build bridges no one else thought to build. That is becoming the real edge. We've been taught that focus means narrowing ourselves down to one label, one expertise, one identity. But true focus is about showing up fully. Using every skill, insight, and experience we've gathered along the way. - Marketing instincts that make you a better communicator. - Psychology reading that deepens your leadership. - Creative hobby that sharpens your problem-solving. - Blogging that helps in content creation. We’re not meant to live in career boxes. We’re meant to keep evolving, integrating, experimenting, and creating. So here’s a question for you: What is one skill outside your job/work that has made you better at it? Own it. Celebrate it. Keep building from it. #LinkedInnewsAustralia

I was a Food Scientist for many years. On paper, it looked great: good pay, supportive teams, and predictable projects. Some may even call such a technical career path as a “safe” choice. But deep down, I knew comfort wasn’t enough. I wanted growth. I wanted a challenge. I wanted my career to excite me, not just sustain me. I wanted to bring my full personality to the roles I pursued. Here's what helped me navigate that 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐩𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐭: → 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲. I started looking into various industries, roles, and perspectives. I did a lot of reading, joined webinars on certain topics, and connected with people whose careers sounded inspiring to me. Curiosity brought clarity for me; it helped me find out what excites me and what I want to pursue. → 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐬. Skills I'd built over years, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and leadership weren't limited to the current role. I learned how my experiences could open up doors that I perhaps had not considered. → 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥. I began with side projects, volunteering, and cross-functional opportunities. Each step was low-risk yet high-impact. The experiences gave me confidence, tested my interests, and created momentum toward bigger changes. → 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. I did targeted learning, advanced education, and sought mentorship. Every skill added, every connection nurtured, was a deliberate investment in my future self. And preparation reduced fear and made the leap seem possible. → 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 "𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞" 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬. Comfort isn't growth. True safety is being prepared for change, having the confidence to navigate uncertainty, and trusting one's ability to enter new opportunities. Your "safe" role can be a springboard. Growth starts at the edge of your comfort zone. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲: identify one new skill to learn, one new person to connect with, or one small project to try outside of your current role. Momentum starts with action. 🗣 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 “𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵” 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴? I’d love to hear your experiences. ✨ 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠? ♻️ 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭. #CareerGrowth #CareerPivot #CareerAdvice #LifeLongLearning #TakeTheLeap ___________________________________ Hi, I’m Tamanna, a former food scientist turned business strategist and career coach. I help high achieving Millennial women thrive in corporate careers.