“To position yourself favorably for the jobs of the future, become someone who can look at problems in unorthodox ways, seeing different angles and finding workable solutions,” David Tuffley wrote in an article on The Washington Post website.
In the article published in early January, Tuffley writes about the jobs of the future…and how to get one.
What is largest sector to get a shout out from Tuffley? Information technology. His list of jobs included analysts of many kinds, web and mobile application developers, and of course, robotic specialists.
Tuffley’s other predictions are hardly surprising: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, school teachers, psychologists, financial advisors, engineers in all areas, and even sales reps and construction workers.
But more importantly than job titles, Tuffley outlines what he calls “generic skills” and what are commonly called “soft skills” or social and emotional intelligence. These include:
- thinking skills like ethics, respect and appreciation of diversity
- critical thinking and effective communication
- managing information and problem solving
- building and working effectively in virtual environments
Jobs of the future will take more than practical skills and they will require skills that aren’t being taught in all schools. We must take measures to prepare ourselves and the next generation for these new and evolving careers in technology and engineering. And don’t forget the importance of good, clear communication.
“Possessed of an open mind and few fixed ideas about how things should be done,” Tuffley said in closing, “you nonetheless have a strong conscience and can operate outside of your comfort zone to achieve win-win outcomes.”
You can read the full article here.