Seven important skills for the jobs of the future
After talking to chief HR officers from leading global employers, the Forum’s Future of Jobs report estimated that over 5 million jobs will be lost by 2020. It’s not all bad news though, as the same technological advances will also create an estimated 2.1 million new jobs.
How can you prepare for the change that’s coming? Here’s our guide to the skills and qualities you’ll need to succeed.
1.Emotional intelligence
Reassuringly, experts believe that future job descriptions will emphasise skills and qualities that are uniquely human and can’t be effectively replicated. Emotional intelligence ranks highly, including traits such as empathy, the ability to cope with stress, self-control in social situations, resilience and self-awareness.
2.Critical thinking and problem solving
The ability to ask insightful questions, analyse the causes of a problem and come up with innovative solutions will be highly prized in the future. Evaluating multiple sources of information will also become an increasingly important skill, as the amount of online data continues to increase.
In addition, employers will need people who are able to understand complex information, interpret data analytics and make informed decisions.
3.Collaboration
As technology improves, more and more employees will work remotely, relying on digital communication to build relationships. Fading geographical boundaries mean that you’re also likely to find yourself collaborating with employees from a range of countries. This will require cultural sensitivity, patience and strong communication skills.
4.Commnication
Human beings are built to enjoy social interaction, so experts predict that communication skills and the ability to make strong connections will become more and more important as automation and technological advances increase.
As well as presenting written and verbal arguments clearly and persuasively, employees of the future will be expected to negotiate effectively, offer feedback, resolve conflict and listen well.
5.Adaptability
The days of doing one job for life are already fading fast and this is a trend that’s predicted to continue, so employees will find themselves following a career path full of challenging twists and turns.
Future jobs will also involve working across disciplines, learning new skills and adapting to new digital platforms. If you show initiative and embrace learning opportunities enthusiastically, employers are more likely to see you as an asset.
6.Imagination
“Imagination is more important than knowledge” according to Albert Einstein. Robots, self-driving vehicles and 3d printers may be taking on many of the more mundane tasks traditionally done by humans, but they can’t replicate human curiosity or our ability to think outside the box.
Future employers will value employees who are able to see problems from a variety of perspectives and come up with inventive solutions.
7.Digital literacy
As more and more people use the internet for their everyday needs, social media interaction will become an even more important aspect of running a business than it already is.
As a result, employers will be keen to hire people who are adept at using words and images to promote their company’s products and services across a variety of digital platforms.
Which of these skills do you need to work on? Why not give yourself a head start by taking action now?
Anna Louise Whitehouse writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in sourcing candidates for internships and graduate jobs.
