Just a few short years ago, we saw technical skills ranking in the top spots as the most sought after and desirable skills in organizations, but a fascinating shift has occurred. Many current hiring and workplace reports reveal that Soft Skills are now the top-most important skills that employers are looking for!
These soft skills would be things such as Communication, Collaboration and Time Management, just to name a few. And in addition to the skills first movement and skill based organizations now popping up wherever you look, you will also start hearing more and more about Durable Skills.
Durable Skills are in essence a new name for soft skills.
Soft skills have a longer shelf life of relevance than technical skills, which must be refreshed and updated constantly. Due to that longer permanence of soft skills is why I think we are seeing a movement towards renaming them durable skills. Their longer shelf-life and rise in importance in the age of AI has led to the development of the Durable Skills Advantage Framework.
The Durable Skills Advantage Framework is the result of a partnership between CompTIA and America Succeeds, where they have found that:
• Durable Skills are 7 of the top 10 most requested skills in job postings.
• The top 5 Durable Skills are requested nearly 5 times as often as the top 5 hard or technical skills.
• Leadership and communication are the most in-demand Durable Skills competencies.
Durable skills have always been important. And with rapid technological advancements and the changing jobs landscape, there’s been a renewed focus on these durable skills. Employers are increasingly incorporating durable skills training into their training and talent development strategies.
The COVID-19 pandemic also highlighted the importance of durable skills. As remote work became the norm and teams had to adapt to new ways of collaborating, skills like communication, adaptability, and digital literacy became even more critical.
Organizations with a strong focus on durable skills were better able to navigate the uncertainties and challenges brought about by the pandemic.
As technology continues to evolve and reshape industries, the demand for individuals with a strong foundation in durable skills will only grow. Lifelong learning and continuous skill development will be key to staying relevant and competitive in the job market.
The Durable Skills Advantage Framework Contains 10 Primary Building Blocks, which are:
Communication: Information exchange and management
Leadership: Directing efforts and delivering results
Metacognition: Self-understanding and personal management
Critical Thinking: Informed ideas and effective solutions
Collaboration: Teamwork and connection
Character: Personal and professional conduct
Creativity: New ideas and novel solutions
Growth Mindset: Improvement and aspiration
Mindfulness: Interpersonal and self-awareness
Fortitude: Constitution and inspiration
The great news is that each of those ten skills blocks can be learned and added to your own skills stack. They are attainable and essential for your success in a skills-first hiring landscape and are what skills-based organizations are seeking most. For those reasons, I am currently creating courses for each of these skills blocks and will have much more to share in this space in the coming weeks and months here! So be sure to subscribe to this podcast for updates and share this podcast with others by leaving a review of your own. Make your voice heard and continue the conversation here at Urelevant.
