Rising Up To Meet the Challenges of the New Work World
While doing my weekly shopping recently, I couldn’t help but notice all the brightly colored eggs, baskets and bunnies for the upcoming Easter holiday. Easter is one of the principal holidays, or feasts, of Christianity. For many Christian churches, Easter is the joyful end to the Lenten season of fasting and penitence. It marks the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion.
And then I began to reflect as a seasoned recruiter on the correlations or metaphors of how we all might “rise up” to meet the many changes of the New Work World to become better employers, candidates and employees, and even recruiters.
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said it best when he coined the phrase, “The only constant in life is change.”
Being a baby boomer, I tend to want to resist major change at times. I smile to myself as I remember my dad back in the late 1970s quoting the line, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” made popular by Bert Lance, director of the Office of Management and Budget. But I believe some of our old mindsets might be “broken,” and if we could at least examine the changes and innovations upon us, it might help us to become more successful and have more productive exchanges in our work environment and even beyond.
LinkedIn, the social networking platform for professionals, published an article in March of this year called “Skills on the Rise 2025: The fastest-growing skills in the US.” For the purpose of brevity, here are five of the top in-demand skills I as a recruiter see and allow you, the reader, to ponder how they might facilitate productive change in your employment arenas.
1. AI Literacy
LinkedIn data shows that both technical and nontechnical members are adding artificial intelligence as a skill and increasingly leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot, while not necessarily learning AI technical skills. And Linked in goes on to say why this is on the rise:
“As AI rapidly transforms industries, companies are increasingly looking for professionals with the ability to understand and utilize tools harnessing that technology for business purposes.” An online class on AI tools that may enhance your skillset and marketability might be a worthwhile endeavor during changing times. Letting your employer or co-workers know that you are trying to contribute to the New Work World to facilitate better productivity may enhance team building and consequently be remembered at performance-review time as well!
2. Conflict Mitigation
According to LinkedIn, “Whether it’s the push and pull of return-to-office policies or managing intergenerational teams, navigating workplace conflicts is critical to fostering collaboration and leading agile teams.” The article suggests the most common job titles for which this skill is particularly relevant are: Customer Service Representative, Administrative Assistant and Project Manager. The most common industries are: Technology and Internet, IT Services and IT Consulting and Higher Education.
Sitting on my side of the desk as a recruiter, interviewing candidates and taking job orders from various national clients, I believe this skill is more in demand than ever. I routinely get feedback from clients that a candidate on an interview came across as arrogant, inflexible on coming into the office daily, etc.
I suggest a candidate on a first interview “read the room,” as they say. Try to make an effort to relate to the person you are dealing with and make it clear you want to make a meaningful contribution. In my many years of doing this job, I more often than not have seen people hire and promote those folks who try to get along and not make waves.
3. Adaptability
“With the rapid pace of change in the workplace — from economic shifts to technological advancements — continuous learning and resilience are key to staying ahead of the curve,” LinkedIn states. Most common job titles: Teacher, Administrative Assistant and Project Manager. Most common industries: Higher Education, Technology and Internet, Media and Telecommunications.
I recently served on a panel at a local college with other professionals answering questions from the students to learn their concerns to be able to advise my employers of current trends. I believe if we all can go back to school, if you will, and learn how we can be more adaptable in the workplace and beyond, it’s a win-win. Post-Covid demands on both the employer and candidate have changed, and we all have to be open to those changes to work together more harmoniously.
4. Process Optimization
LinkedIn reports that “Organizations are doubling down on operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness to stay competitive and drive sustainable growth amid constant workplace change.” Most common job titles: Operations Manager, Project Manager and Chief Executive Officer. Most common Industries: Technology and Internet, Higher Education, Business and Consulting Services.
Another important aspect here I have observed lately is the unprecedented talent shortage and global economic changes. Candidates may need to do more than what’s in the job description and be open and willing to cross-train in various departments. I recently had a client request more of a numbers orientation on an Administrative Assistant job. The candidate who expressed experience and aptitude in that area was strongly considered to move along in the interviewing process. Others with related industry experience, great tenure and strong letters of recommendation were not invited to move forward. Also, having an attitude of “how can I make a valuable contribution?” as opposed to not being flexible to go above and beyond can more likely be considered in the New Work World.
5. Innovative Thinking
“Creative problem-solving is imperative as AI transforms the work landscape: both in advancing new technologies and maintaining human ingenuity that machines can’t replace,” according to LinkedIn’s study. Most common job titles: Creative Director, Teacher and Writer. Most common industries: Higher Education, Technology and Internet and Advertising Services.
As employers, we must become more open to transferrable skills. If a prospective employee does not have the industry or exact skillset required on a job but his work history demonstrates he goes the extra mile, has been quickly promoted, has the necessary technical aptitude and, additionally, may have contacts the company does not currently have that could add revenue to the bottom line, the employer needs to be willing to at least interview the candidate. I am proud to say most of my successful long-term placements have been with employers who were open to “innovative thinking” and didn’t require every i dotted and t crossed on the résumé.
Besides, with the talent shortage, this is even more important so that jobs don’t remain open for weeks or even months, risking the company losing business to a competitor.
No matter our field, we are all important members of the New Work World. Let’s have our own “resurrection,” of sorts, and rise up to meet the new demands and challenges we are facing. As you shop for the holiday and pick out that sweet Easter Bunny for your kids or grandkids, eat those yummy chocolate eggs or go on that egg hunt in your backyard, smile to yourself about how you can use the metaphor of resurrection to enhance your work world to make 2025 the best experience ever!
