Foundational Skills and Skill Sets for Different Kinds of Careers

Foundational Skills and Skill Sets for Different Kinds of Careers

Understanding the value of foundational skills is a must for Generation V. Every career is based on a set of foundational skills, and in many cases, larger groups of jobs can share the same or a similar foundation. In other words, someone with a particular set of foundational skills could move from one career Generation Virtual to another, as long as the basic foundational skills translate, aside from any possible additional skills required. Foundational skills are the basis for everything else, but now these skills are being challenged, adjusted, changed, and expanded. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other types of technology will forever alter the way the world does business. The world market's digital innovation matters for companies that have goods for sale, as well as for those who have the skills to market and sell to others. Heightened levels of innovation are completely changing the game. Without proper skills at the foundation, it is tough to accomplish anything of value; going virtual or digital makes it easier to gain access to such skills. People have to learn what they need to know to further their careers and realize their career aspirations are going to need to change, as well. Workers should prepare now, not later, for the reality that many jobs available today are no longer going to be in a technologically advanced future. In addition to the workplace or career-based foundational skills, other skills lay at the foundation of a person's abilities, including self-motivation, self-leadership, self-discipline, adaptation, self-driven learning, and written communication. Not only are these skills generally valuable, but they will be especially helpful for enabling virtual work. Self-motivation is excellent for accomplishing goals: someone else will not always be around to motivate workers, so workers must motivate themselves. This skill will be even more critical in the virtual world, as there is often less supervision for at-home and other virtual workers. By focusing on self-motivation and understanding its value, members of Generation V can accomplish much more in their lives and careers. It is not always easy to become—and remain—motivated, but it is a valuable skill that should be part of a worker's foundation. With self-leadership, a worker understands that being a leader does not always mean commanding the loyalty of a large group of people. One can also lead by example, and an excellent way is to lead oneself. In other words, members of Generation V must be willing and able to take the lead in their careers. Managing oneself and one's time will become increasingly valuable as the virtual workforce continues to gain prominence. With self-discipline, members of Generation V can do much more than they may have thought possible. Motivation often fades over time, but discipline remains, allowing people to perform basic tasks every day, simply because those tasks need completion. Such control can help people do the same with their careers. The Virtual Generation will also benefit from self-monitoring and self-control, especially those who work virtually. No boss is looking over a worker's shoulder when they work as a freelancer—that can give them great freedom, but it also means they have to be responsible for their actions. With good control and self-monitoring, there is a much better chance of success as a freelancer and virtual worker. Adaptation is another vital foundational skill for people in Generation Virtual. Without the ability to adjust course, individuals and entire species may find themselves struggling, with many doors simply closed to them. If Generation V fails to adapt to the virtual workforce and changes brought about by the disruption wave of technology, their members may encounter serious future struggles. Self-learning can provide Generation V's members a way to acquire the necessary skills, even if they do not attend an educational institution. There are many options for online learning, which will likely continue to expand over time. If members of the Virtual Generation want to learn something, they can certainly do so from the comfort of their own homes, and as they learn and develop new skills on their own, they will become increasingly valuable to employers. Generation Virtual must appreciate the value of written communication—while most "writing" has yielded to "typing," the communication behind the activity has not changed. In a virtual world, written notification will be frequently used to interact. Instead of sharing ideas in person, ideas will be shared over email and through other written means. This skill often gets overlooked, but it is one of the essential foundational skills. Foundational skills are critical, but they are not everything. Each career calls for a skill set, and not all skill sets translate from one job to another. How careers change, addressed in this chapter, means that foundational skill sets are not always enough to help a person move into a career field. Generation V should focus on something they want to do with their life as the world of work diversifies, adjusts, and changes. Some skill sets are specific to careers, and members of Generation V should be learning skill sets they will need for jobs in the future, but the real value is in knowing what careers will be available to Generation Virtual. Additionally, new and unique careers may develop that would not have been realistic—and may not even have existed—in the past. These careers will have corresponding skill sets likely also not considered by past generations. Generation V should learn more than one skill set, as well, because how their careers develop will be changing with technological advancement. The disruption wave of technology and the continued progress of artificial intelligence mean people may change jobs or be responsible for expanded duties in the future. Some skills are easily adapted from other skills, while still other skills are much more complicated. The disruption wave of technology will change all the necessary skills and make them more technological. In other words, the skills that translate to technology applications will retain their value, and those that do not belong in a more virtual world will end up disappearing, so Generation V should not waste their time on learning what they cannot use in the future. Meanwhile, learning how to adapt skills to other careers may be more important than learning the skills themselves. If skills cannot translate from one career to another, those skills may be best left unlearned, especially with the speed of change coming through the disruption wave of technology. Technology can make work more comfortable in a lot of ways, but it can also make things difficult for those who fail to "get on board." Workers who cannot adapt could see themselves pushed aside and have trouble finding or keeping work they enjoy. Adaptation is critical, but adapting does not just mean learning new skills. It also means taking existing skills and finding new and better ways to apply those skills in other areas of work and life. In total, four components will work together to help Generation Virtual with their success: in addition to learning and adaptation, management and organization are worthy of consideration. Missing one or more of these skills can hinder what members of the Virtual Generation can accomplish, which could put them behind in their career aspirations. The rapid advance of technology means Generation V's need to learn new skills will continuously grow and change as they enter the workplace and throughout their working lives. It is not just about work, either—technology will also affect other areas of life. Finding and completing fulfilling careers will improve social experience and satisfaction for members of this generation. What types of jobs will Generation V have? Let us consider that in the next section.

ENCADE Corporation?has the one-stop solution for all The Next Generation Workforce Training and Tools

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Related Topics:?What is Generation Virtual?

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Transitioning to a Virtual Workforce

Generation V's Technology Adaptation Curve

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