Growth, purpose, and the future of work

The future of work is being shaped in real time. As AI transforms how we work, professionals are being challenged to rethink not just how they grow their careers, but why they work in the first place. This edition explores what it takes to stay relevant, resilient, and fulfilled—from building future-ready skills and finding meaningful work to navigating job search scams with greater confidence. Because long-term career success is no longer just about progression; it is about adaptability, purpose, and trust.

Building the skills that matter most in the age of AI

In a world where AI is reshaping how we work, the most valuable career skill may be knowing how to keep evolving.

The ideas behind Open to Work continue to resonate because they focus on what professionals need most right now: adaptability, curiosity, and the confidence to grow through change. Alongside Aneesh Raman, creators and career experts are sharing practical advice on the skills that matter most—from building AI fluency and strengthening communication to developing resilience, entrepreneurial thinking, and the uniquely human capabilities technology cannot replace.

The message is clear: future-proofing your career is not about having all the answers. It is about staying open to learning, taking small intentional steps, and building momentum over time.

Because in the age of AI, the people who keep growing will be the ones who keep moving forward.

Gen Z isn’t waiting for opportunities, they’re building their own

For many young professionals, the traditional career path no longer feels like a straight line, it feels like something they have to create for themselves.

As new graduates enter one of the most competitive job markets in years, job searching is taking longer, career progression feels less predictable, and traditional on-ramps to professional success are harder to find. Instead of waiting for opportunities, many Gen Z professionals are choosing to build their own.

New LinkedIn data shows the number of members adding “founder” to their profile has nearly tripled since 2022, with entrepreneurship among younger professionals accelerating rapidly. In the U.S., the number of LinkedIn members identifying as founders has jumped nearly 70% year over year, reflecting a growing shift toward self-created career paths.

In the UK, this trend is showing up through side hustles, portfolio careers, and multi-hyphenate roles. Nearly two-thirds of Gen Z small business owners and entrepreneurs say they have multiple income streams—significantly more than older generations—highlighting how non-linear careers are quickly becoming the new normal.

In a world where stability feels less certain, career growth is increasingly about creating opportunity, not waiting for it.

Finding meaningful work starts with the right questions

“Your career will not be by your bedside as you’re taking your dying breath.” A powerful reminder from Dr. Arthur Brooks that success is not just about achievement, it is about meaning.

In a recent conversation, Brooks shared three practical steps to help professionals build more purpose into both their careers and their lives: 

1️⃣ Understand your career type: Are you transitory, expert, linear, or spiral?

2️⃣ Limit your device use: This opens up space for you to tackle the big questions.

3️⃣ Use the 80/20/0 rule: When making an important decision, choose the option that has you feeling 80% excitement, 20% fear and 0% deadness.

Together, these ideas offer a simple but powerful framework for making career decisions that feel aligned, energizing, and meaningful.

How do they all work together? Watch the full interview with Arthur Brooks to find out: https://lnkd.in/e4V6xsJe

Job search safety: Spotting what’s real

“Is this opportunity real?” has become one of the most common questions in today’s job search.

As scams become an everyday reality, new research shows that Gen Z professionals are the most exposed to job scams and often the least likely to recognize them. In a highly competitive market, pressure to secure opportunities can outweigh caution, with many younger professionals admitting they ignore warning signs because they feel they cannot afford to miss out.

The greatest risk often comes at the very beginning of the process—while browsing job listings or receiving first outreach from a recruiter—when trust is still being formed and context is limited. Bad actors frequently try to move conversations off-platform quickly, making it harder for job seekers to verify legitimacy and stay protected.

LinkedIn is helping reduce this risk through stronger detection, clearer verification signals, and added measures designed to encourage members to pause and think about credibility as they engage with opportunities. From ID verification for high-risk job posters to stronger spam detection and safer on-platform communication, the goal is to help professionals job search with greater confidence.

A few practical steps can make all the difference:

• Stay on-platform for early conversations — scammers often try to move conversations off LinkedIn quickly, where trust signals and protections are harder to verify.

• Do a quick identity check — take a moment to verify who you’re speaking with before applying or responding to outreach.

• Trust your gut in the early moments — pressure to act fast, vague job details, or unexpected outreach can all be signs to pause.

• Keep sensitive information private — legitimate employers will not ask for personal documents, sensitive details, or upfront payments early in the process.

Explore the full findings and practical guidance in the Job Search Safety Pulse.

Serena Williams and Reckitt on the power of networks

Success is rarely built alone.

LinkedIn has teamed up Serena Williams and Reckitt to shine a light on the value of networks. It’s about more than just a list of connections; it’s about leveraging those relationships to turn influence into massive opportunity.

For all the founders, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, remember:

🐐 The GOATs don’t go it alone. Serena uses her platform to mentor and open doors for underrepresented founders.

🚀 Ecosystems > Effort. Hard work gets you noticed, but the right ecosystem (like Reckitt’s) gets you scaled.

✨ Your network is your leverage. Every connection on LinkedIn is a potential bridge to a new idea, a new mentor, or a new breakthrough.

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