Top 10 Skills of a Sucessful 21st Century Employee

by PS Leong


Wondering what are the skills that future employers are looking for? Here’s an infographic giving you the low down on the skill sets you need to acquire to enable you to stand out and be sucessful in the 21st century workforce. The infographic also shows you how you can cultivate those skills while in school. 

Image by University of Phoenix

Technical skills are important but more employers are looking into soft skills as well. University of Phoenix has highlighted 10 skills that are in high demand by future employers:

People Oriented
Communication: You need to communicate well with people from various cultures and backgrounds. 

Collaboration: You are expected to be able to articulate your ideas in a diverse environment effectively and work respectfully towards all colleagues.    

Independent Thinker
Adaptability: The market place needs someone who can adapt to changes, new technologies and concepts quickly. 

Innovation: You are expected to act on creative ideas to make a tangible and useful contribution to your company. 

Critical thinking: This skill set enables you to analyse a problem and find solutions in a creative manner using various sources. The expectation is that you will be able to reflect critically on learning experiences and processes.

Vision Enriched
Leadership: This quality is highly in demand in most industries. Leadership requires people skills, knowledge and confidence. 

Entrepreneuralism: This skill requires you to be visionary and forward thinking. You need to be able to think ahead and anticipate if not start industry trends. You are expected to take some risks and try new ways of doing things. 

Tech Savvy
Global citizenship: You need to be able to express yourself and work effectively with people from diverse background and culture. You need to be able to use technology with ease to communicate worldwide. 

Productivity & accountability: You are expected to have a sense of ownership in all you do. New working conditions can encourage virtual offices around the globe.This means you are expected to manage your time and deadlines effectively. 

Data analysis: Information can be gotten via the Internet fast these days, and you are expected to analyse critically and use the data effectively.