Why Does LinkedIn's CEO Think Five-Year Plans Are Outdated?

LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky is the master of careers, leading a platform that enables over one billion people worldwide to connect over jobs and business tips, but this doesn’t mean that he agrees with every piece of advice users share. That includes five-year career plans.

Although a five-year plan may help people set their goals and stay on track with where they want to be, Ryan believes that the approach is “outdated” considering the fast pace of today’s job market.

Speaking on a recent ‘No One Knows What They’re Doing’ podcast , hosted by content creator Erin McGoff on YouTube, the CEO said: “You’ll hear people frequently say, ‘hey, you have a five-year plan, like, chart out what the next five years of your life are going to look like, and then follow the path and follow that plan.

“And in reality, when you know technology and the labour market and everything is moving beneath you, I think having a five-year plan is a little bit foolish.”

Instead, he advised that it’s best for people to focus on what they want to learn and the experiences they want to gain.

“I think that’s the right mental model in this environment,” the CEO said. “If you focus on those shorter steps, gaining learning, gaining experience, a lot of your career path will open up for you.”

The changing job market

A major factor changing the job market is the introduction of AI. In particular, the technology is transforming the way people apply to jobs.

Today, job hunters can use AI programmes that apply for hundreds of jobs in a day autonomously without any added input from the individual.

Once a candidate starts a job, they may see that their role is different than expected, including being encouraged to use AI in roles to complete certain tasks and free up their time elsewhere. But, as Business Chief has previously reported, professionals are saying that recruiters are looking for AI-savvy talent who can adapt to this change.

Data from the World Economic Forum supports Ryan’s idea that the workplace is changing at pace, reporting that roughly 39% of their core skills will be transformed or become obsolete by 2030.

Because of these rapid changes, the CEO says: “I would much recommend people focus on maybe the next few months and a couple things that aren’t a plan.”

Advice for young people

He said that having a predictable and linear career path isn’t realistic anymore, specifically for young people as they no longer “graduate high school and then go to a certain college and then become a consultant and then get an MBA”.

Ryan encourages people to let go of that idea and the “you can take your career into your own hands”.

He said young people should “learn the tools” of AI: “Try and figure out how to create a PowerPoint presentation out of chat, you know, figure out how this can help you get a better marketing message.

“Whether you like it or not it’s a good fit for what you’re trying to do, that mental model - like, ‘I’m going to use this tool and learn it to help me do something’ - I think it's the most important thing.”

Ryan added that in a world that’s focused on technology, it’s also worthwhile working on your interpersonal skills.

He said that “a lot of those human skills, it can be a great differentiator for you”.