Today’s world of work is more unpredictable than ever before. Many people have had their hard-fought career advancement come to a standstill because of unforeseen external forces, including organisation and industry disruptions brought about by COVID-19.
According to a Survey of Business Uncertainty (SBU) conducted by the University of Chicago, four in ten jobs may never return after the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. What is more, automation, digital technology, and artificial intelligence are dramatically changing the labour landscape, paving the way for the creation of new jobs that never existed before. For example:
“Many people have had their hard-fought career advancement come to a standstill because of unforeseen external forces…”
| Disappearing jobs |
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| Jobs created by COVID-19 |
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| Jobs of tomorrow |
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“…two-thirds of all jobs will be made up of soft-skill-intensive occupations by 2030.”
How can one prepare oneself for the job market of tomorrow?
As new job opportunities begin to emerge, studies from around the world indicate that two-thirds of all jobs will be made up of soft-skill-intensive occupations by 2030. This makes the development of soft skills essential in order to future-proof careers. Sought after soft skills include:
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Leadership ability
Not only managers should display leadership skills, as having leadership ability is not just about supervising or managing others. Anyone in an organisation can demonstrate good leadership. It is about having the ability to communicate your strategy and vision while encouraging others, as well as being able to embrace feedback from colleagues and superiors. Leadership ability that leads to being self-aware and holding yourself accountable is particularly important during these challenging times.
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Flexibility and adaptability
Being flexible and adaptable are skills the ‘whole world’ has had to acquire over the last eighteen months, since the advent of COVID-19. These are also critical skills that employers will be looking out for in their employees. While being flexible at work may once have been aligned with being prepared to work overtime or with geographic mobility, it is now defined by:
- having an open mind set;
“Being flexible and adaptable are skills the ‘whole world’ has had to acquire over the last eighteen months…”
- being able to work well under pressure;
- adjusting to new and unexpected deadlines;
- being able to prioritise tasks, and
- being able to take on additional responsibilities.
One thing we all learned this year, having been required to adapt to new ways of working, is how we work best. The pandemic has provided a unique opportunity for each person to understand what we need to thrive in our jobs, and what mode of working is best suited for our particular temperament. Some professionals have thrived in a remote work environment and never want to go back. Others miss the social company of their colleagues and, gripped by loneliness, recognise that office life suits them well. The pandemic has validated the feasibility of virtual work and once such a privilege has been granted, employers will find it hard to withdraw it.
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Critical thinking
In a time when discerning fake news and identifying the truth in conflicting data is a daily struggle, it is essential that you are able to think rationally and objectively when evaluating information. This is a skill many people exercise without even realising it. Good critical thinkers ask questions that can help them dig a little deeper and understand more in order to be proactive. Questions such as: “what’s happening?”, “why is this important?”, “who is being affected?”, “where did the information come from?”, “can I be sure about the source?”.
“Even before coronavirus, a growing digital skills gap was evident across business globally.”
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Technical know-how
Even before coronavirus, a growing digital skills gap was evident across business globally. Today, over 80 percent of job vacancies require digital skills of some kind and the pandemic has accelerated the need for specialist digital skills to help organisations adopt or become more aligned with the influx of numerous digital technologies and platforms. While it is unlikely that each employee will need to know every system or platform utilised in an organisation, being able to demonstrate relevant technical know-how will help you to stand out and place your profile above the rest.
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Emotional intelligence and communication ability
Emotional intelligence and communication go hand-in-hand. Firstly, more than ever, there is a need for genuine human connection and understanding in every job role. To have well developed emotional intelligence is to be aware of others’ emotions and behaviours and be able to demonstrate understanding and empathy – especially when people are feeling uneasy. Secondly, this is where good communication skills are critical. As many employees continue to work from home, clarity in emails and at virtual meetings is essential to cement trust in relationships and retain high productivity levels.
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Creativity and innovation
While we see machines and digital technologies taking on roles in analytics and business operations, human beings are still unique in being able to innovate and ‘think outside the box’. The Fifth Industrial Revolution will see a combination of human beings and machines in the workplace, with people being responsible for oversight and the more strategic and creative work in an organisation. Therefore, creativity should not be associated only with professions that are perceived to be creative – it is essential across every industry and sector.
“The Fifth Industrial Revolution will see a combination of human beings and machines in the workplace…”
What will your job look like five years from now?
It is important to follow and keep abreast of the changes and trends in your profession, your industry, and the wider economy.
- Keep yourself informed, and aim to work in industries and for employers that have a positive outlook and long-term sustainability.
- Develop relationships or build new connections with people within your organisation and outside of it.
- Join your professional industry association and participate in a range of industry events and activities.
- Review your options for career progression and be proactive about responding to a lack of opportunities, even if it means changing your job, or your career.
- https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/BFI_WP_202059.pdf
- https://hbr.org/2021/04/reshaping-your-career-in-the-wake-of-the-pandemic
- https://www.challengeconsulting.com.au/announcements/soft-skill-intensive-professions-to-make-up-63-of-australias-job-market-in-2030/
- https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice/9-skills-youll-need-succeed-post-coronavirus-business-world
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