Technology has replaced “old school” pen and paper. Industries rise, evolve, and crash every day. Globalization connects us all. Millennials are entering the workforce but Baby-Boomers aren’t retiring. The internet has revolutionized how we work and how we search for jobs.
“The future ain’t what it used to be.” — Yogi Berra
Here are 5 predictions about the Workplace of the Future, along with tips to ensure you’re prepared to succeed.
1.) There will be no barriers between “work” and “life.” We work at coffee shops, on airplanes, and late at night. The lines between “work hours” and “personal hours” are becoming increasingly nebulous as employers and clients demand instant responses.
You’ll succeed if you are
• Flexible, adaptable to change, and willing to work a “non-routine 24/7” schedule.
• Accomplishment and/or project-driven rather than focused on the number of hours worked per week/month.
2.) We’ll be More Connected and More Mobile. Online and mobile technologies that barely existed a decade ago (wikis, blogs, YouTube, Skype, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) are now mainstream, and enable worldwide, instant communication. Your mobile device will soon become your office, classroom, and concierge. Social and digital media isn’t going away, and effectively using it is vital to career development.
You’ll succeed if you
• Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile.
• Incorporate mobile aps and social/digital media into your lifestyle, not just your job search.
3.) Education and lifelong learning are more important than ever (but not necessarily in the form of a college degree). 91% of employers say that the ability to “think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than [a candidate’s] undergraduate major.” In other words, successful employees will need to continually reassess the skills they need and quickly put together the right resources to develop and update these skills.
You’ll succeed if you are
• Willing to invest in education and/or training beyond what you already have.
• Able to develop soft skills and Emotional Intelligence (such as the ability to collaborate, read social cues, and respond adaptively
4.) It’s ALWAYS About Who You Know. Your “Reputation Capital” is the sum of your personal brand, your expertise, and the breadth, depth and quality of your social networks. It’s what will get you hired and promoted. Moreover, the strength of your social network will increasingly be considered in the hiring process as employers rely more on referrals as a sourcing method.
You’ll succeed if you
• Build and maintain your network. Know that the most effective networking tool is still word-of-mouth referrals, and that relies entirely on your reputation.
• Clearly articulate what you’re looking for in a compelling way.
5.) Communication will be multigenerational and culturally diverse. Traditionally, a diverse workforce included multiple races and ethnicities. Today, it includes gender, age, academic background, socioeconomic status, and immigration status. While baby-boomers delay retirement, new opportunities emerge for women, people with disabilities, immigrants, and others. Over the next 50 years, the global population will increase by 50%, and minority groups will make up nearly half the population.
You’ll succeed if you are
• Well-versed in interpersonal dynamics and able to communicate across generations and cultures.
• Able to demonstrate tacit international experience, language skills, and/or diversity management experience.
Additional Sources: “The Coming Jobs War”, “Workplace of the Future”
