Ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus somewhat obscurely said 'ethos anthropoi daimon.' Of the many translations of this fragment over the years, my favourite has always been: 'Man's character is his destiny.' What we will become comes from within us and is our inevitable pursuit.

The new working world has shifted over the past decade to enforce this mantra of self-reliance and personal evolution on those who wish to succeed. Common phrases often become clichés because of the essential truth they carry. In the modern work environment, the over-used expression knowledge is power has never been more apt.

True career growth now comes more from acquiring new skills, experience and contacts as a freelance-minded professional than from getting next in line for that promotion at any one company.

The lack of long-term employment with a single employer, and the air of uncertainty that permeates even the biggest of organizations has resulted in a culture where the way to survive is to become a mercenary. You can have a lifelong career, but it is the one that you build for yourself, working in many different roles with a variety of employers. The career trajectory will be not how you moved up through the ranks in one place, but how you acquired new expertise, made new connections and advanced as a skilled professional at many.

Among the "Employability Skills" listed by the Conference Board of Canada are many that support this premise that organizations are looking to hire potential, evolving professional works in progress. Here are some of the top abilities they mention:

• Learn Continuously - be willing to continuously learn and grow,
  
  
• Think & Solve Problems - assess situations and identify problems,
  
  
• Manage Information - locate, gather and organize information using appropriate technology and information systems, and
  
  
• Participate in Projects & Tasks - plan, design or carry out a project or task from start to finish with well-defined objectives and outcomes

Because a career is not any one job, but a body of work from client (employer) to client, it is important to keep up with the latest trends, build a professional network, stay on top of technological advances and market yourself as a skilled contractor, even when employed fulltime. That is to say, the answer to the question "What do you do?" is becoming not a company name "I work for McDooligans International" but a profession: "I am a technical writer."

You can reduce the risk of future unemployment and increase the rewards of your current work by volunteering to pitch in on any new projects that take you out of your comfort zone. Pay attention to the roles others play and ask questions, take notes, absorb every bit of information you can. You never know what your next role will be.

"The problem today isn't in getting a job; it's in establishing a career path," says William G. Hollingsworth, author and employment policy consultant, "in order to advance you need to attain skills and have convincing documentation to confirm them." 

Here are four ways to do just that:

• Think outside of job descriptions: never let the phrase 'that's not my department' cross your mind at work. Willingly help out every and any other branch of your company that wants your help, or even that will let you contribute to their projects. You'll see a wider view of the organization's work as a whole, interact with a different set of coworkers and learn.
  
  
• Informal apprenticeship: find a skill set that you might be lacking, but have an interest in, and learn from someone you know who is willing to be shadowed or outright teach you.
  
  
• Formal education: workshops, certification programs and continuing education courses are a great way to expand your skill sets and keep learning for life.
  
  
• Help yourself while helping others: volunteer work can be rewarding in its own right, but even more so if you volunteer on projects where you can learn and develop new skills while you pitch in.