WHAT ARE THE SKILLS OF THE FUTURE?

'Soft skills' are more crucial to your career than you may think. We look at some of the most important professional skills you can attain to safeguard your working future

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Ever worry about your career and the future? With ChatGPT, big data, cloud computing and advanced VR floating around, it’s understandable that most of us would feel just a little worried.

The truth is, almost every job and industry are set to be disrupted and transformed in the years to come. There’s no fighting that fact.

So, what do we do? Before panic sets in, let’s look at the facts. Experts at the World Economic Forum (WEF) have predicted that within the next seven years:

– 85 million jobs will be displaced because of technology.
– 1 billion jobs will be transformed by technology.
– As many as 133 million new jobs will emerge.
– 50% of the world’s workforce will need to be reskilled.

In the decades to come, these numbers will increase even more and the changes will be rapid. But the same experts agree that with this massive disruption will come an unprecedented need for new skills. Most of them will be known as ‘soft’ skills. And, finally, here’s the good news: these are skills you can build and acquire.

WHAT ARE THE SKILLS OF THE FUTURE?
As technology comes to aid or even replace many of our daily tasks, focus will be taken off many technical skills in the workplace. This leaves room for humans to do what humans do best, while technology focuses on the rest.

According to the WEF Future of Jobs Report, the skills that will be in demand for the future (and are already growing in the job market) include:

– Active learning
– Analytical thinking and innovation
– Creativity, originality and initiative
– Complex problem-solving
– Leadership and social influence
– Emotional intelligence

@donnellycss The World Economic Forum has released their TOP 10 Skills of the Future.. learn them now to get ahead in your career. #worldeconomicforum #careeradvice #success #business ♬ original sound - Chris Donnelly

FIVE WAYS TO STAY AHEAD

1. Start collaborating with others to enhance your communication, conflict resolution and team-building capabilities.

2. Boost your leadership skills by taking on new challenges and mentoring others.

3. Stay informed regarding new technologies and industries, and how your career could possibly evolve.

4. Start adapting for the future by using new technology and understanding how it can help elevate your current work.

5. Think outside of the box, and challenge old ways of thinking and outdated systems. Tap into your creativity and sharpen the ‘human-centric’ skills you might have neglected in recent years.

Just about every expert agrees that we should be excited, rather than nervous, about the future. Countless jobs will be created, requiring you to tap into the best parts of yourself: creativity, communication, collaboration, consideration and compassion. All you must do is build and hone those parts of yourself so you’re ready to rise up and meet the future head-on.

YOUR FUTURE-FIT CAREER RESOURCES

Apps:
– Business Inc 3D
A game that simulates running a business, so this is ideal for entrepreneurs or future leaders.

– CogniFit
An app to help train your brain to think more creatively and critically.

Courses:
– Coursera
With many free online courses on a wide range of topics, this is a one-stop platform for anyone wanting to learn skills like writing, communication, well-being, negotiation and leadership.

– Skillsoft
A paid-for platform with brilliant resources on many topics, including career development, management and productivity.

Reading:
– Be sure to have a look at the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report (weforum.org).

By: Edwain Steenkamp
Text courtesy of Man Magazine
Illustration: Gallo/Getty Images