What skills to kids need for work of the future?

“How can kids prepare for jobs that don’t exist yet?”

I was stumped.
 
After working in admissions at a university and then conducting college and career workshops in high schools all across my state, I thought I could answer anything.
 
But when a teacher asked me that one, I admit I was taken aback. How had I not considered this? Especially when you think about how rapidly jobs are changing. For example, if 15 years ago someone told you that students would grow up to become Social Media Marketing Managers would you have known what they were talking about? 
 
So, I went home and immediately began researching the answer to that question. Not only did it become a chapter in my book, but it was also the seed that sparked my entire book. 
 
What I concluded is this: we need to cultivate skills and character traits that allow for adaptability.

Did you know that...

---

The shelf life of hard skills is only about 5 years at this point. However, when a person recognizes what unique qualities, skills, and traits they possess, then they will know what value they can bring to any job they do. Knowing their strengths and weaknesses will allow them to adapt to an ever-changing workforce. 
Work as we know it is changing. It has been for a few years now, but the 2020 pandemic has sped up this process. The workforce that our kids will enter will look different than it did when we began working.

If you would like to read more about this, check out the article I wrote a few years ago that takes a look at predicting the work of the future --->> How to Prepare Kids for Jobs That Don't Exist Yet.

If you would like to learn more about the process I use with my clients, click here.

Now is the time to focus on cultivating what used to be called "soft skills." Those skills have been rechristened "power skills" because they are so important for the work force of the present and future which is changing quickly. Understanding your value and being able to communicate that value and being able to continually learn and adapt is key.

What resources does your teen have access to to help them cultivate these skills?