Dilip Mukerjea
(Best-Selling Author & Innovation Systems Specialist)
The World Bank has recognised and declared that low skills perpetuate poverty and inequality. When done right, skills development can reduce un- and under-employment, increase productivity, and improve standards of living. Helping people develop and update their skills makes economic sense.
Global megatrends such as the rising role of technology, climate change, demographic shifts, urbanisation, and the globalisation of value chains are changing the nature of work and skills demands. To succeed in the 21st century labour market, one needs a comprehensive skill set composed of:
Cognitive Skills encompass the ability to understand complex ideas, adapt effectively to the environment, learn from experience, and reason. Foundational literacy and numeracy, as well as ‘operacy’, creativity, critical thinking, systems thinking, design thinking, and problem-solving are cognitive skills.
Socio-Emotional Skills describe the ability to navigate interpersonal and social situations effectively, with empathy, and include leadership, teamwork, self-control, and grit.
Technical Skills refer to the acquired knowledge, expertise, and interactions needed to perform a specific task, including the mastery of required materials, tools, or technologies.
Digital Skills, which are cross-cutting and draw on all of the above skills, describe the ability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate, and create information safely and appropriately.
The development of skills can contribute to structural transformation and economic growth by enhancing employability and labour productivity, and to helping countries to become more competitive. This, in turn, increases the employability and productivity for both the current and future workforces.
SOME STUMBLING BLOCKS TO SUCCESS AND THE DEMOLITION OF DREAMS
➢ giving in, and giving up, through lack of determination, quitting before breaking through into success;
➢ lacking faith in faith, devoid of a sincere belief that the desired results are realisable and success can be achieved;
➢ starved of the motivation to move from aspiration to action;
➢ having no plan to execute strategic moves to advance from milestone to milestone on the trajectory towards success;
➢ bereft of consciousness of ideas and thus unaware of what results are being targeted.
How do your unique skills and traits add to the workplace?
How will you perform the job in a way that is different and better? How will you be more inclusive and connect with everyone?
If you keep the focus on your skills and strengths, as well as on your interests and values, you will find the best place for your talents. Remember, you are hired for your skills. Keep your focus on what you can do, not on what you cannot. Always keep a learning mindstate: what you can learn on the job, or what can you learn that will make you a better candidate for other jobs?
Bottom Line:
You must offer yourself as a skilled and helpful resource for the employer. Skills always overcome challenges. Find the skills and you find the job.
