It doesn’t matter if you just started your career or if you have been in your career for years, staying relevant in the workplace is a necessity these days. Technology is constantly changing. Whole job sectors have disappeared over the last few decades and new job sectors are being created almost overnight. So how then does one stay relevant in the workplace? Following are some questions to ask yourself in assessing if you are relevant in your current job and what you should be doing to stay relevant.

1. What is my role in my current job? This is the first question you need to ask. Do you understand what your role is where you work? By understanding your current role, you define your work relationship and what it is you actually do for your current employer. That way you can determine what it is you need to focus on to stay relevant.

2. Am I productive? What tasks are you expected to complete? What do you get accomplished on a regular basis? How efficiently do you complete your tasks? Are you as efficient as other employees?

3. Do I add value? What do you do day to day or on a weekly basis that produces something of value for your employer? Many people never ask themselves what is it exactly that they do in their job that makes one important to one’s employer. You may do many things but what is it that creates value? This can be hard to measure; but it is something you need to think about. If you aren’t adding value, you aren’t relevant.

4. Do I like what I do? Enjoying your job, can be the deciding factor of whether you put in the high level of energy needed to successfully complete your work tasks. This ultimately determines how well you do your job. If you don’t like what you do, over time, your work quality may suffer making you less relevant to your employer.

5. What is my attitude like? How do you approach your work tasks and your fellow employees? How do you interact with people at work? When you get up in the morning are you excited to go to work? Attitude goes a long way in whether a manger feels they need to and want to keep you on.

6. Am I up to date on training needed to do my job? Think about what skills are needed for the job. What training should you do to stay up to date with those skills? Then, also think about what additional training is needed to expand upon current job skills; moving your skill level above basic to advanced is always helpful.

7. What is management’s perception of me? Yearly review time is a good time to ask what areas of self-improvement you should work on. Never be afraid to ask your boss what you’re doing right and what areas you need to improve on.

8. What is management’s goals for the company and how does that include me? You may have a job today, but look at the direction the company is moving in. This will help you determine where you fit in. Things are always in a state of change make sure you are moving along with those changes.

9. Where am I now? This is about personal introspection. What are your individual goals? Do your individual goals sync now with your current job goals. Are you in the right job for you?

10. What direction am I moving in? What is your career path? Where do you see yourself in the next year; in the next five years. Should you begin transitioning into another job or do you see yourself in your current job for the foreseeable future.

The questions set out above may seem overwhelming. But each one needs to be asked if you can really assess how relevant you are in your current job. They will help you determine what steps you should take to remain relevant; whether you want to stay relevant in your current job; or whether now is the right time to look for a change.