What is ‘wildflowering’ at work? A guide to nonlinear career growth
The proverbial career ladder hasn’t gotten harder to climb per se: It’s transformed and molded into a tree, with multiple branches and paths to the top (or wherever you want to go).
That’s the concept behind wildflowering.
You may have heard the term already in a dating context, but in the workplace, wildflowering refers to expanding a career sideways, with skills and project-based experience, before moving up or growing.
And in today’s rapidly changing tech and hiring landscape, it may be a new way to progress in your career.
Challenges in sourcing skills
Businesses today are facing some key challenges when it comes to hiring: a growing use of AI, leading to an increase in extremely similar resumes, and persistent skills gaps across a variety of industries.
In fact, 53 per cent of business leaders say that it’s more challenging to find talent now than a year ago, and 64 per cent specifically cited AI-generated applications as a contributing factor in that challenge.
The use of AI when creating or polishing resumes is a double-edged sword. While it can reduce grammatical errors and improve flow, it can also lead to every resume sounding the same.
In a similar vein, 48 per cent face gaps in candidates with technical or specialized skills, while 47 per cent felt there were gaps in industry knowledge or experience.
Skills on the rise
So, what skills are today’s employers looking for, and what steps can candidates — both those looking for a job and those already in one — take to develop them?
The skills in demand vary by industry. Finance and accounting hiring managers may be on the lookout for experience with CRM platforms such as Salesforce, while HR leaders might be more inclined to hire candidates with experience using HRIS software.
But there is one high-demand skill set that appears across industries: soft skills.
As AI becomes more prolific across fields and the workplace becomes more digital, skills such as critical thinking, creativity and problem solving become increasingly important. These skills are less easily replicated by AI and can help employees bring value beyond their technical expertise.
And now, as more businesses bring back in-office requirements, these skills that may have become rusty during the COVID-19 pandemic are once again in demand.
How to grow your skill set
So, how can prospective and current employees alike grow their skill sets and stand out?
E-learning programs
E-learning platforms, such as LinkedIn Learning or Coursera, are accessible and relatively low-cost ways of upskilling through digital, self-guided courses. They offer courses covering a wide variety of topics, from marketing and creative programs to leadership and organizational strategies. These courses are typically divided into manageable sections that can be completed on your own time.
There are some downsides, however. If they’re not disciplined and self-directed, many people who sign up for these courses may find it challenging to establish a routine and actually complete the lessons. Additionally, certificates obtained from these courses may not hold as much weight as certificates or degrees from accredited colleges or universities.
Mentorship
Finding a mentor at work is a practical way to develop new skills, build relationships and learn more about the organization you’re in.
Many workplaces now offer mentoring programs, where newer or junior employees can be matched with more senior colleagues to learn from their experience and grow.
Mentorship offers two key benefits. First, it can put the mentee in a position to become involved in projects or initiatives they might not typically work on. Second, when the time comes for a promotion or if a position opens up on the mentor’s team, the mentee may have already demonstrated their skills and initiative.
Taking initiative is important in developing a strong mentor-mentee relationship, however. Without continued communication and engagement, the relationship can fade.
Stretch assignments of cross-functional projects
Stretch assignments are temporary projects with duties that fall just outside your current skillset or comfort zone, with additional support, allowing you to develop new skills without leaving your current role.
Look for projects or responsibilities that fall slightly outside your usual day-to-day work and give you an opportunity to learn something new.
For example, you might volunteer to lead a presentation, contribute to a project with another department or take responsibility for a process you haven’t worked with before. These opportunities can help you build practical experience while continuing to grow in your current position.
Stretch assignments can also help you demonstrate your abilities to managers and colleagues. By taking initiative and successfully handling new responsibilities, you may put yourself in consideration for future projects, promotions or other opportunities within the organization.
Formal education or classes
Formal education and classes in a chosen topic can be a larger investment, but may provide a more structured way to develop new skills. Colleges and universities offer a wide variety of courses, both online and in person, for different learning styles and budgets.
Unlike e-learning programs, they’re structured and usually have fixed class sizes and deadlines, which may be better suited to those who prefer more structure when completing coursework.
Additionally, they may offer connections to employers and co-op programs, which can provide opportunities to gain practical experience and build professional relationships.
Costs can vary, of course, from a few hundred dollars for a college program to several thousand for offerings at top universities.
How to apply wildflowering to your career
The right approach to developing your skills depends on where you are in your career and where you want to go next. Wildflowering doesn’t necessarily mean starting over or leaving your current career behind. In many cases, it can mean finding new ways to grow within the path you’ve already chosen.
Start by asking yourself a few questions:
What skills could complement the ones you already have?
Think about the skills you use every day and consider what could make you more effective in your current role.
For example, a finance professional might build their technology skills, while someone in marketing might develop their data or project management expertise. The goal isn’t necessarily to become an expert in an entirely new field. It’s to add skills that open up new opportunities within your existing one.
What projects could give you experience outside your usual responsibilities?
You don’t always need a new job to gain new experience. Look for opportunities to contribute to projects, committees or initiatives outside your usual responsibilities.
Taking on a project that involves a different team or skill set can help you build experience while remaining in a role and industry you already know.
Who can help you grow?
A mentor, manager or colleague can help you identify skills worth developing and opportunities to put them into practice.
They may also have a different perspective on where your existing skills could take you. A conversation about your career goals could uncover opportunities you hadn’t considered, whether that means taking on a new project, pursuing additional education or preparing for your next role.
Grow your career from where you are
Find your next role at Robert Half
Wildflowering isn’t necessarily about abandoning your career path and starting somewhere completely new. It’s about recognizing that career growth doesn’t always happen in a straight line.
By developing complementary skills, seeking out new experiences and building relationships across your organization, you can create more branches in your career path, giving you more options for where to grow next.
The biggest takeaway: you don’t always need to climb higher to move forward. Sometimes, the best next step is sideways.
