Skills in 2020's

 

CURIOSITY

If you ask great questions, investigate the world around you, and are always expanding your horizons, then consider curiosity a skill of yours. You often find new situations and experiences exciting because they provide opportunities for you to discover more.

To demonstrate this in a job interview setting, think about the ways in which asking good questions has supported you in your work. Be sure to think of a time when being curious allowed you to gather information to do something quicker or more efficiently, in the workplace or even outside of the workplace, and highlight that example to the interviewer.

LEARNING AGILITY

Do you enjoy learning new things about a wide range of topics? Can you pivot quickly from discovering information about one thing and applying it, to then quickly moving on to something new? If so, then consider learning agility as one of your skills.

Ensure you convey to hiring managers times when you have learned something and applied it quickly, or even a time when you had to learn something new and adjust your thinking.

GROWTH MINDSET

Those who possess a growth mindset have the desire to conquer new challenges, even if they require persistence to succeed. They have an inner belief that they can achieve their goals and find it motivating to work on unfamiliar projects.

It is important to make the distinction that those with a growth mindset seek out projects that are difficult in order to showcase their persistence and resilience, rather than being open to any and all opportunities in which they think they can be successful. In an interview, highlighting a time when you were able to overcome a challenge that allowed you to grow will show off this strength.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

If you have the capacity to look at issues from different perspectives and enjoy consulting with multiple people to identify the next steps and make informed decisions, then you may be an expert at critical analysis. You are able to grasp complex concepts, including numerical information, and can draw themes. You don’t necessarily need to be a mathematician, but you may possibly have an interest in data. Describe a time when having a different perspective on something added to a project at work.

COLLABORATION

Those who know that working with others is the best way to achieve results, and who enjoy contributing and delivering on shared goals can add collaboration to their list of skills. You most likely work well in person and virtually and know how to adapt your communication style. Be sure to show your interviewer the kind of teammate you want to be and how you plan on showing up to work if they were to give you this role.

It is important to think of these skills as accelerators that will help you develop yourself further in your career. Whether you are searching for a new role, getting back to work, or are a recent graduate, highlighting these skills to hiring managers will show that you are not only qualified for the role you are being interviewed for but that you also have the potential to grow and move on to greater leadership roles in the organization.

Having these will also help you develop further as an individual. Taken together, the skills give you an understanding of yourself, how you use information, how you challenge yourself, and how you are with others. This is what is going to give you the basis to go on and build additional strengths and talents.