SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) In today’s employment landscape, which is characterized by technological disruption, protecting your career against restructuring efforts and downsizing is essential. Here are three ways to become indispensable to your company:

Be a Leader

Doing the bare minimum is a fast track for fading into the woodwork. Instead, become someone that your colleagues, supervisors and supervisees trust, respect, and look to for insight. Make a point of having a broad understanding of your department and company’s overarching goals and priorities so that when you speak up in meetings, you’re doing so from an informed, holistic standpoint. Identify processes that need fine-tuning and share ideas for implementing them. Showcase your ability to lead by volunteering to oversee high-visibility projects and by becoming a mentor to interns and new staffers.

Get the Right Certification

In many industries, acquiring the right certification can impact your income, advance your career and help make you a vital member of your company. Take financial advising, for instance. CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® certification has been considered the standard for 50 years. In fact, 79% of CFP^® professionals say they have a competitive edge over other financial advisors.

Highly valued by consumers — 90% say they feel more confident working with an advisor with a financial planning designation — CFP^® professionals are employed by more than 10,000 firms across the United States, and research shows they get better results for their clients.

Prestigious designations like CFP^® certification have rigorous standards, demonstrating to potential employers and clients alike your talents, ethical standards and capabilities. And because maintaining certification requires continuing education, your employer will know that you are staying on top of developments in your field, so you can remain positioned as a stand-out team member. To learn more, visit CFP.net.

Be Willing to Pivot

Organizational strategies and priorities can change over time. Understanding these shifts and being flexible is essential to staying relevant at your company. This may require learning new skills and software, obtaining new certifications or even going back to school. The important thing is being willing to pivot if needed.

With the right attitude, and a willingness to invest time and energy to develop your professional skills, you can advance your position in your company and secure your place as an essential member of the team.

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