7 New Skills Every Worker Needs

It used to be said that if you trained a parrot to say "supply and demand" you had an economist. Similarly, I think, if you had a parrot say "focus, focus, focus", you'd have a career counselor. By that logic, opening a nails salon for thumbs only would give you a unique selling proposition and put you on the road to riches. Now as this article points out everyone is walking that one back, hoping to get a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 out of any new employee in terms of a skill set. I'm not too convinced, though, that these candidates, for the most part senior level, won't be accused of presenting a "confusing background" and lacking direction. We want it both ways, it seems, and we'll blame the work force for the built in contradictions imposed on it.

As for the mobile, flexible project worker finding favor, I give you the numerous employers now who instruct the recruiting force to bypass anyone with a history of independent consulting. Even though candidates were encouraged to reinvent themselves and become "Me, Inc." after their earlier layoffs, they're now characterized as ornery cranks for doing just that and presenting too big a "flight risk" or likelihood of flaunting corporate authority. Nevertheless the double standard will continue that characterizes adaptive, resourceful workers as being flighty or rootless and characterizes capricious, impulsive employers as hard-nosed businesses doing what's tough but necessary to prosper.

Krvince of IL 3:58PM September 04, 2010

Now the business world is touting the value of multi-skills. It was only three two years ago that it was suggested, dumb down your resume, and target only a particular skill set. Those older workers who acquired many different skills gained over a life time of experience like reasoning, problem solving, leadership, and assertive action, were dis-guarded for younger workers.

It was suggested that transferable skills would increase an applicants chances of finding new employment. However, on a resume, it was suggested do research on the company and tailor your resume to that company. It seems this reversal of business thinking is an example of how employers continue to manipulate the job market.

When will the American people wake up and realize, we are now living in an economy that no one has any answers on how to solve the problem.

Ritchie Mayes of CA 6:02PM August 11, 2010

I have to agree with Ed, Gen Y has been taught to be innovative and to adapt to whatever enviroment they find themselves in. You accuse him of being an age-ist by saying Gen Y is well equiped to deal with today's ever changing enviroment, but then you go on a rant about how Gen Y is terrible, lazy know-it-alls. I believe that is the pot calling the kettle...well you know.

Every generation has it's faults and every generation has something they can bring to the table. It just so happens that all 7 of the new skills are skills Gen Y has had to learn to succeed in finding a job after graduation, while older generations are already in jobs (for the most part). When you hear of people being laid off, one of the main reasons they are not being considered for other positions because they are set in their ways, and won't settle for jobs below what they've already had, which is understandable.

Just because someone points out what is right with a generation, don't call it a "rant" and don't call them an age-ist. Thats ridiculous. If you are so great at your job, and you just "love" helping younger generations with their resumes and job skills, then you should see what EVERY generation has to offer.

Diane of KS 12:54PM August 10, 2010

I apologize if you found my comment to involve age discrimination, that wasn’t my intent. Rather, I was trying to highlight the skills Generation Y is bringing to the table that makes them uniquely equipped to handle the current marketplace. Baby boomers, individuals’ ages 46 – 64 years old, are reaching retirement age and according to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2011, the first members of the Baby Boom will reach 65. This represents a very significant, talented group of individuals leaving our workforce in the coming years. That’s a fact. Given the challenges facing our country, addressing this workforce gap will clearly fall to our children, both Gen X and Gen Y. Luckily, this group understands the scope and scale of the multifaceted problems we’re facing because they’ve been raised within a global economy, informed by a global network of 24/7 information and news. By 2025, Generation Y will make up 75 percent of the global workforce and because of this staggering number, businesses will increasingly be looking to this demographic to keep America competitive.

Ed Wagner of MA 1:37PM July 28, 2010