21st鈥疌entury Skills
Century graduates need a lot more鈥痵kills and attributes to thrive in the careers than鈥痠n the past.鈥疶he World Economic Forum identify 16 skills that all students will need by the time they graduate from secondary school, and the learning in these areas will be lifelong.
Currently, a new revolution is taking place.鈥疉ccording to the automation, robotization and digitization are driving the need for new skills in the workplace.鈥疐rom 2018 to 2025, the machine:鈥痟uman division of labour ratio is predicted to increase from 29% machine to 52%鈥痬achine in鈥痵even years.鈥疻hile a net increase if in jobs is predicted, a significant shift in the skills required in the world of work is also anticipated. The following table outlines the鈥痵kills most likely to grow and decline鈥痠n demand by 2022.鈥�
Notice that any of the skills growing in demand are complex and could just as easily be described in the terms typically used to describe attributes (e.g. analytical, innovative, creative, influential, emotionally intelligent etc.) Employers today are as interested in attributes (who people are) as skills (what they can do) partly because the nature of what they will expected to do is likely to change dramatically.
Against these job market developments, it鈥檚 interesting to notice that many universities have defined the attributes to be fostered in their students by graduation, including UCC through the .
It is also interesting to note how many of the skills set to grow in the demand are what as referred to as 鈥渉uman鈥� skills such as:
- creativity, originality and initiative, critical thinking, persuasion and negotiation
- resilience, flexibility and complex problem-solving
- emotional intelligence, leadership and social influence
So how can you set out to ensure that you develop 鈥� and can demonstrate that you鈥檝e developed 鈥� these critical skills and attributes?
One thing you can do is鈥痗omplete the 鈥� this engaging and practical self-audit鈥痠s a great start.鈥�By undertaking this audit, you鈥檒l know exactly which skills you have developed to a high level, which need more work 鈥� and what you can do to improve. The 10 skills covered in this guide are relevant to every graduate, regardless of degree or target career.
Another key step to take鈥痶owards preparing for the鈥�21st鈥疌entury workplace鈥痠s to to assess and develop your emotional intelligence, an increasingly valued form of intelligence that will permeate every aspect of your work.鈥�鈥�
Swiss philosopher,鈥�Alain De Botton defines emotional intelligence鈥�very鈥痗learly鈥痑s 'the quality鈥痺hich enables us to confront, with patience, insight and imagination the many problems that鈥痺e face in our effective relationship with鈥痮urselves and other people'.
Reflect on these questions:
- How well do I understand and value myself?鈥�鈥�
- How well do I manage myself and my emotions?鈥�鈥�
- How well do I inspire myself to grow and contribute?鈥�鈥�
- How well do I understand and value others?鈥�鈥�
- How well do I manage others and their difficulties?鈥�鈥�
- How well do I inspire others to grow and鈥�contribute?鈥�鈥�
- How well do I understand and value different groups鈥痑nd cultures?鈥�鈥�
- How well do I manage diverse and changing鈥痗ircumstances?鈥�
The more experience you have of working with others, and reflecting on the experience, the more accurate your experience is likely to be.鈥�
