From Career Ladder to Climbing Wall: Roslansky’s Wake‑Up Call
LinkedIn Ryan Roslansky argues that the “new truth of work” is blunt: “no one is taking care of your career for you”. In his book Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI, co‑authored with Aneesh Raman, he reframes careers as a climbing wall, not a ladder. There is no single route up; you can move sideways, diagonally, or even step down temporarily to find a better path. Drawing on data from LinkedIn’s 1.3 billion members, Roslansky says the people “winning right now” are not those with the flashiest credentials, but those actively taking control of their careers. For him, AI is not the main character but an amplifier: it will displace some jobs, yet free people from the “efficiency treadmill” and create space for creativity and innovation—if they are willing to experiment, learn and build, instead of waiting for employers or institutions to rescue them.
How AI Is Rewriting Hiring and Skills – And What That Means on LinkedIn
AI and careers are now tightly linked, from how companies hire to how job seekers present themselves. Roslansky and Raman expect organisations to shift away from rigid job descriptions and hierarchies towards “work charts” – organising around the work that needs doing rather than fixed positions. On platforms like LinkedIn, this is already visible in skills‑driven hiring: recruiters search for capabilities, not only titles or degrees, while candidates showcase projects, prototypes and portfolios to prove real‑world impact. Roslansky’s advice to young job seekers applies to all ages: stop trying to look like everyone else. Instead of hiding behind a conventional CV, demonstrate what makes you unique by building something, getting it in front of people, and iterating. In the age of AI, the profiles that stand out combine technical literacy with human strengths: curiosity, courage, creativity, compassion and communication – the “five Cs” the authors say are critical for thriving amid rapid change.
Malaysia’s AI Shift: Sectors in Flux and Emerging Job Skills
For Malaysian professionals, future proof your job means understanding where AI is already biting and where it is boosting demand. Knowledge‑heavy roles in finance, shared services, customer support, marketing, logistics and software development are being reshaped by automation and AI‑assisted tools. At the same time, new AI job skills are appearing across job descriptions: prompt design for chatbots, data literacy, basic coding or scripting, workflow automation, and the ability to evaluate AI outputs critically. Even non‑tech roles in HR, sales and operations increasingly expect familiarity with AI‑powered analytics and productivity platforms. This does not mean everyone must become a data scientist, but it does mean learning to work with AI rather than around it. The Malaysian advantage lies in combining regional context, multilingual communication and industry experience with modern digital skills – a blend that algorithmic systems on their own still cannot fully replicate.
Owning Your Career: Visibility, Learning and Networks Beyond Your Employer
Roslansky’s central message is personal responsibility: you must take your career into your own hands. For Malaysians, that starts with building a visible, credible online presence. A polished LinkedIn profile that highlights projects, measurable outcomes and AI‑related skills is now basic career hygiene. Next is continuous learning: tracking in‑demand skills through job ads, LinkedIn skills insights and industry events, then pursuing targeted micro‑courses, certifications or personal projects to close gaps. Do not confine your network to colleagues in your current company. Join professional groups, attend meetups and webinars, and connect with peers across ASEAN. Share what you are learning, not just what you have already mastered. By treating your career like a long‑term project—regularly reviewing your direction, skills and relationships—you reduce dependence on any single employer and create more options if your role changes, is restructured, or disappears altogether.
Using AI as Your Co‑Pilot: From CV Optimiser to Mid‑Career Pivot Tool
Rather than seeing AI purely as a threat, workers in Malaysia can use it as a personal career assistant. Generative AI tools can help you tailor your CV and cover letters to specific roles, simulate interview questions, and map learning paths for new skills based on your current experience. You can brainstorm side projects, draft proposals or prototypes, and refine them quickly—exactly the kind of practical output Roslansky urges people to showcase. For mid‑career professionals worried about redundancy or age, AI can accelerate a pivot: analyse your existing responsibilities, have AI suggest adjacent roles where your experience is valuable, and identify the smallest skill upgrades needed to transition. Human qualities like resilience and adaptability, which Roslansky and Raman highlight, become your unfair advantage when combined with smart use of AI tools. The goal is not to compete with AI, but to become the person who knows how to direct it effectively.