Career Trends: Positive Strides Building Our Future Work Force
How do we stay relevant and competitive in today's challenging job market? According to LinkedIn there are four trends that are transforming our workplace.
Soft skills
Work flexibility
Anti-harassment
Pay transparency
Soft Skills
Soft skills are not easy to construe, as they depict those human characteristics that are not readily seen. Even during the interview process, recruiters aren't always able to identify if the job seeker possesses the soft skills required for the job. These soft skills incorporate our ability to connect with others properly in a professional setting, such as our emotional intelligence, our ability to demonstrate empathy, how we collaborate with our teammates, or use our creative talents. Soft skills are important in achieving business success, yet organizations claim there is a lack of soft skills in the workplace.
Work Flexibility
It used to be that being able to work from home was uncommon, however according to Jason Phillips, VP of Digital HR and Global Chief of Staff at Cisco, "work flexibility is becoming a norm." LinkedIn reports seeing an increase in job posts that mention work flexibility. Technology has played a positive factor in this equation making e-mail communication, conference calls, and social business platforms more accessible to communicate with colleagues. Work flexibility is a benefit that allows for a more balanced life and happier employees. Organizations offering flexibility to work from home are not only able to attract and retain employees, but they are also able to save on space and overhead.
Anti-Harassment
Another topic on the forefront is centered on preventing harassment and creating an encouraging environment that welcomes and promotes diversity and inclusion where people feel safe in their workplace. Establishing ways to safely report harassment issues or establishing zero-tolerance policies are some action steps that are recommended toward averting harassment.
Pay Transparency
Pay transparency conversations have also been on the rise since 2014 making it easier to facilitate salary negotiations and fair pay. Undertaking the issue of salary secrecy could also curtail disparity in pay among men and women in the workplace.
Do you feel prepared for the future job market? What skills do you bring to the table and how are you staying competitive in your career?
Looking Ahead
As we look ahead, technology will continue to lead the way for creating new jobs. Job seekers will need to ensure they possess the right skills and education to fill the shifting demands of the skills gap of tomorrow. Some of the job skills that are in demand today will not be the same skills needed in 2020. LinkedIn reported that "oral communication, leadership, and management were among the" soft skills with the "biggest gap in the US."
It is essential to be aware of the skills needed in your city, which may be different than those in another location. Both job seekers and hiring managers can leverage this information by being cognizant of the skills that are in demand in their home town. Understanding what skills are needed will help an individual to navigate the job market to emerging career opportunities as new skills continue to be added. For instance, the Future of Jobs lists creativity as one of the top three skills that will be most in demand in 2020.
Do you have the soft and hard skills needed to stay competitive in the job market?
How are you staying relevant with the trends that are shaping our future?
What are your top non-negotiable job needs? Work flexibility, pay transparency, or anti-harassment?
All hard work brings a profit. Proverbs 14:23
“Work flexibility is becoming the norm. The challenge is how fast can organizations provide it. Those that can are going to be in a far better position to retain top talent over the next three to five years.” ~Jason Phillips, VP Digital HR & Global Chief of Staff, Cisco
