Right now, you probably know a handful of people who have jobs you hadn’t even heard of more than five years ago.

While the world progresses, so does the job force and, according to an article from the current World Economic forum, “35% of the skills that are crucial in today’s workforce will have changed by the year 2020,” reports local online education company, GetSmarter.

It’s called the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”, and is characterised by “an exponential increase in various digital and cyber technologies.” GetSmarter continues:

The rise of smart machines and systems, our computational world, new media ecology, superstructure organisations and evolving global trends, are all key factors driving this era.

Your current job may cease to exist; new jobs will grow in its place; and currently nonexistent jobs will become the norm.

You might be questioning your choice in career right now, but don’t worry.

A recent survey, commissioned by Microsoft, shed some light on this question and identified that “although technical skills are valuable, employers of the future will place greater importance on soft skills,” explains GetSmarter.

Soft skills? They listed a few you might have never thought about:

1. Social intelligence

Employers value this skill today, and will value it even more in the years to come: the ability to adapt your behaviour to accommodate various styles of communication, different strengths and weaknesses, and a multitude of personalities.

If you’re in a position of leadership, or looking to move into one, this will be a key competency to develop.

2. Cross-cultural competency

Linked to social intelligence is the capacity to function in a multicultural setting – a soft skill which will be key for working in a world where globalisation trends are here to stay.

This means you’ll need to be able to adapt the way you communicate, collaborate and interact with people across the cultural spectrum, as well as work with a variety of cultural beliefs, time schedules and nuances.

How will you identify, understand and accommodate different cultures and cultural trends in your future work environment?

• Speak a universal language of visual communication. This is translatable across language and cultural barriers, so use images or video, as a way to train employees, or educate others in your workspace.
• Ask your current co-workers questions. Take the time to learn basic words, phrases and gestures from other cultures in an effort to identify with people you may work with.
• Make the effort to educate. Cultivate a pioneering environment of learning, where you transfer the cultural knowledge you have acquired to those you work with.

Maybe even teach your boss a thing or two.

3. New media literacy

Video and audio content are becoming more prominent in the exchange of information, and within the next five years, will be even more important in a wider range of industries.

Whether your role currently has a direct relation to these forms of media or not, your ability to consume and understand visual content is going to be a highly desirable skill to your future employer.

The best way to utilise new media in the year 2025 is to prepare now.

• Win the war for online attention with a digital marketing short course
• Unleash your visual thinking ability with a skill set in graphic design
• Get creative behind the camera by improving your digital photography skills

Heed these lessons, or I suppose we all risk being surplus to requirement in the years to follow.

This article was originally published on GetSmarter’s website – click HERE to read more.

Collaborating with leading universities around the world in order to offer premium online short courses, GetSmarter offers a best-in-class online education experience that delivers verifiable competencies, to the personalised, people-mediated support their students receive.

In no time you could be a master photographer, digital advertiser or logistics manager.

All new skills that may well come in handy as we steamroll deeper into the 21st century.

Now that you know, you should totally make 2017 your year and get on that skills enriching train.

[source:getsmarter]