Skills for Today’s Workforce

Whether you’re a current student navigating the post graduate world, a recent graduate trying to get a leg up in your career or a mid-career professional looking for the next opportunity, now is the time to better understand and prepare for the constantly evolving job market. Even years from now, more than one-third of the skills that are needed in today’s workforce will have changed, according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report.

In our more hyperconnected, ever-changing environment, certain skills are in demand to keep pace with the future of the job market. So how can you stay ahead of the curve?

Here are five key skills – each paramount for employability in today’s workforce:

1.    Willingness to Learn and Grow: As skills emerge as fast as others fade, employers are seeking applicants who understand that their abilities and skillset can be developed – leading them to learn from mistakes, take on challenges and expand their knowledge base.

2.    Cultural Intelligence and Perspective: It’s vital to have a broad understanding of the world around you. As workplaces become increasingly diverse, individuals must be able to respect and interact with colleagues despite differences in ethnicity, language, gender, political ideologies and more. By working and adapting to others who perceive the world differently than you, employers can see that you’re open, inclusive and empathetic to all people.

3.    Technically Savvy: Technology has enriched our lives with greater convenience and improved access to information. Time is precious and valuable to everyone. Becoming digitally literate will allow you to not only feel more confident in using emerging tools and platforms but also enable you to be an effective collaborator and better leader for teams.

4.    Agility: If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we must remain agile, flexible and open to all variations of change. As work landscapes shift and new norms form, one must be able to adapt quickly when the context calls for it – appropriately acknowledging the needs of your workplace and industry trends.

5.    Effective Communication: As one of the most essential skills for the job market, communication helps to articulate thoughts, express ideas, analyze non-verbal cues and listen to gain understanding. In any environment with human interaction, effective communication can mitigate conflict and results in a more productive and talented workforce. Moreover, the written word will always make candidates standout in the job pool.

Think of these skills as the accessories you can bring to your field. They alone cannot qualify you but, when coupled with solid credentials, they make you a much more attractive candidate. Learn to cultivate your skills and you’ll stay ahead of the pack.