Skills Qualified Employees need in the 21st Century
There was a time when landing an entry level job meant that you needed little more than basic communication and perhaps typing skills. However, in the 21st century, entry level positions now require more refined skills. Lack of these skills can result in being unable to land even a basic job such as receptionist or personal assistant. Here are some of the skills qualified employees need in the 21st century.
Ability to be a Team Player
While many companies have always valued the employee who is capable of team work, in the 21st century this is a skill that is critical. The lone wolf approach to work is generally unacceptable in most companies today; those who can contribute to the overall success of a project in conjunction with others are highly valued.
Computer Skills are a Must
While in past years a passing knowledge of keyboarding might have been more than sufficient computer knowledge, today this is seldom the case. Most companies have internal email systems, document sharing capabilities and some form of internal chat systems. Those who hope to succeed in the 21st century will require a working knowledge of email systems, internet browsing and the ability to learn other computer skills.
Excellent Communication Skills
Long gone are the days when communicating within a company meant dropping into the office of the person you wished to talk to. More people today areengaged in telecommutingthan at any time in the past. For those who need to communicate across several departments, this means they must be able to craft excellent, professionally written emails. Communication has always been critical to the success of projects and today, that means working with people across departments, and even in other facilities. Communication skills can be learned, but one must have a basic knowledge of professional communication.
Flexibility in Time and Responsibilities
For some employees, job responsibilities are laid down in black and white and their overall role never changes. For others however, they must be willing to take on added responsibilities that might not have been in their original job description. Flexibility means that an employee is willing to come in early, change hours worked, be willing to take on added work (often without additional remuneration) and be willing to do what it takes to succeed. This is a skill that is highly valued in all companies.
Summary
The skills qualified employees need in the 21st century have dramatically changed from those that were needed in the past. Entry level work now means that you have to have a basic set of skills that require fine tuning if you are going to succeed. Those who fail to understand these skills will have challenges being considered for 21st century jobs.
