How to Update Your Skills for the Future of Work

When it comes to the future of work, technology is the name of the game. Industries all around the world will be disrupted as technology and the workforce begin to merge.

The earliest effects of technology impacting the workforce can be seen in things such as the automation line. In fact, the Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis covered how there were nearly two robots per 1,000 human workers in 2017 alone.

Clearly, technology is changing how work is being performed, but this will have new implications for human workers who remain. More value will be placed on certain tasks given to workers and the skills needed to complete those tasks are going to change drastically.

Learning how to update your current skill set to match future trends can help you get a leg up on any potential competition in the future workforce.

Focus on Developing Coding Skills

If there is one skill that will become prominent in the future of work, it’s coding. This skill, and field, have emerged in the last decade and taken the world by storm, with entire majors being built around it. There are a number of coding languages and Indeed lists Python and JavaScript as two of the top options.

These two languages are extremely versatile and can be used to handle a number of different jobs, from simple debugging to building entire games.

Due to this versatility, adding coding as a skill to your toolbox will help you to stay extremely relevant in the future. Consider attending a coding bootcamp today to learn one of these languages before the market becomes too saturated with coders.

Regardless of the specific language you choose, there is no future where coding or programming will not be used extensively in day-to-day work. Computers and websites all rely on coders, as well as programmers, to keep them running, which means learning the skill now will open up job opportunities in the future.

Accordingly, if you are considering boosting your coding knowledge, researching Bay Valley Tech in California could be a fantastic place to start. Attending a code academy alternative like Bay Valley Tech can help you to expand your skill-set all while being part of a community of fellow learners and industry professionals. Above all, pursuing coding could be just the kickstart you need to get your career off the ground.

Consider Attending a Trade School

Rather than updating one specific skill, it may also be prudent to consider reworking your entire toolbox. Trade schools have been rising in popularity and are specialized forms of education that offer courses geared towards specific career paths.

Online and in-person campuses around the world mean that no matter where you are, you can learn the skills needed to launch a tech career.

Numerous people have begun to consider trade schools as a serious educational option due to the fact that courses can be completed in under a year for some schools, such as Thinkful.

With tuition deferment options for those who are unable to pay now, trade schools represent a great path for revamping your skillset to be applicable to the future of work.

For those who are interested in a longer education that may be slightly broader, consider pursuing an online degree at an accredited university. This option may be particularly helpful for those who aren’t clear on what skills they want to develop.

Study the Trajectory of Tech Trends

An often-overlooked strategy for ensuring your skills are up to date for the future of work is simply studying emerging tech trends. Rather than focusing on developing a surface-level understanding of a skill, try to dive in deeper. For example, instead of simply learning how to code, consider actually studying what Python is used for.

There’s no downside to studying trends and doing so can often give you insights before anyone else even realizes what is going on.

Focus on the technology that will be most disruptive to industries as a whole and try to picture how your skills fit in with that technology. From there, you can work to develop your skills specifically in certain areas, rather than broadly.

Conclusion

Try as you might, there is no surefire way to ensure that your skills will be incredibly applicable to the future of work. The best you can do is to prepare while you can and develop new skills that seem to match the tech trends witnessed today.

There will always be a need for human workers and the likelihood of technology shoving out every flesh-and-blood worker is extremely small. Creative destruction will ensure the continued life of the workforce, but keeping your skills relevant is the best way to remain an asset in this technological future.

 

Simone Ribeiro
Hi! I'm Simone, a citizen of Britain, where I live for over a decade, and of Brazil, where I was born. Midlands Traveller is where I combine my passion for travelling, business and an Eco-friendly lifestyle.

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