Future-proof careers: advice on career management from IEEE members

STEM careers are built on constant discovery and innovation. There’s always a new breakthrough pushing technology in new directions. It’s exciting and challenging.

“It is hard to plan a career — at least it was for me — many years in advance,” said IEEE Fellow and Dean of NYU Tandon Jelena Kovacevic. “It’s not a straight line; more like a zig-zag. But I was attuned and careful to opportunities that would arise, and was willing to ‘jump into the deep end of the pool and learn how to swim’ several times during my career.”

The bottom line: continue to invest in skills and keep up with emerging tech, but don’t ignore soft skills that teach teamwork and communication.