Today’s young professionals grew up in an age of mind-boggling technological change, seeing the growth of the internet, the invention of the smartphone, and the development of machine-learning systems. These advances all point toward the total automation of our lives, including the way we work and do business. It’s no wonder, then, that young people are anxious about their ability to compete in the job market. As executives who have spent our lives assessing and implementing digital technology in every type of organization, we often get asked by them: “What should I learn today so that I’ll have a job in the future?” In what follows we’ll share seven skills that can not only make you unable to be automated, but will make you employable no matter what the future holds.
7 Skills That Aren’t About to Be Automated
Artificial intelligence has made the way we live and work more efficient, but this efficiency has eliminated the need for human workers in roles across many industries. College graduates and experienced professionals alike should be developing skills that robots will never have; skills that will make them employable no matter what the future holds. Those wishing to become un-automatable should be able to communicate a deep understanding of their domain effectively and understand the context of both their organizations and those they work with. Moreover, emotional competence is essential to developing strong interpersonal skills and succeeding in any workplace. Professionals should also strive to be effective teachers and build a large network of human connections. Finally, possessing an ethical compass will be important as algorithm-driven machines begin to make morally weighted decisions. These seven skills will make you successful in any profession and shield your career from a robot takeover.