Looking to advance your career as a young specialist? Discover the key skills in English and beyond that will help you succeed in today’s competitive job market.
Analysts have calculated that about 300 million jobs could be automated using programs like Chat GPT. It’s hard to predict whether this will happen or not, but it seems that everyone will have to adapt to the new reality. Together with Yandex Praktikum, we tell you what you should learn now so as not to be left without a job in the future.
The development of technology will affect the work of specialists from various fields – from finance to healthcare. Content makers, lawyers, teachers and even programmers may face the threat of losing income. For example, the American IT giant IBM announced that it will suspend hiring for positions that can be handled by artificial intelligence: up to 7,800 jobs will be automated in the next five years. However, so far this only concerns newcomers who perform simple tasks, and not highly qualified specialists.
Women were already at a disadvantage in the labor market before Chat GPT and similar programs were invented. For example, in Russia, they earn on average a third less than men — the difference is almost 20 thousand rubles. They do more housework — 4 hours 25 minutes a day versus 1 hour 23 minutes. And women are also less likely to participate in STEM projects: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The development of artificial intelligence will not reduce the gender gap. On the contrary, there is a possibility that technology will form false career attitudes. UNESCO experts believe that virtual assistants can promote patriarchal ideas, for example, that women are better at housework and raising children. To improve the situation, researchers suggest encouraging girls’ interest in mathematics and technology, and retraining working women so that they can build a career in STEM.
Closing the gender gap is important for everyone. For example, in developing countries, it would increase GDP by 20%, and global GDP could increase by $7 trillion per year.
What skills will help a young specialist develop his career
To remain in demand, it is worth focusing on competencies that will help you not compete, but collaborate with technologies and even manage them.
1. Digital literacy
It’s useful for professionals to track niche trends and understand how AI is already being used in the industry. For example, using the Midjourney neural network, UX designers generate concepts for web pages and mobile apps. Such sketches require editing, but can reduce the time spent searching for an idea and set the direction for creativity.
Innovations are not always easy to accept and start using. Some people are afraid to master programs with age, and it may also seem that some trendy technology is not yet relevant in the work routine. But sooner or later everything will change. About 10 years ago, SMM specialists only wrote posts and responded to comments in groups. Today, to find a good job, you need to master analytics services, planners, and brand mention monitoring programs.
2. Creativity
Even Chat GPT itself recommends upgrading this skill. Programs can do a lot, but they have a hard time competing with humans when it comes to creativity. The workplace of the future will require new ways of thinking, even if your job doesn’t seem creative. For example, a programmer can write complex code in different ways, and a product manager will need to be resourceful to come up with new features for a mobile app.
Creativity is developed in different ways. You can try the freewriting technique – write everything that comes to mind for 5-7 minutes on a timer. In the process, it is important not to stop and not to evaluate the text critically. This tool is recommended to be used to overcome the fear of a blank sheet, understand complex material and find new ideas.
Another option is to create associative chains of words. Let’s say, “animal” – “dog” – “joy” – “party” and so on ad infinitum. The ability to see connections between different objects has helped people before. For example, 200 years ago, engineer Samuel Brown came up with the design of a suspension bridge when he was observing a spider web.
3. Knowledge of the basics of cybersecurity
Every time technology makes a leap forward, humanity faces new vulnerabilities. A few years ago, neural networks learned to create deepfakes. Sometimes faces were replaced for fun, and sometimes to tarnish someone’s reputation. In the future, threats will not go away, and therefore cybersecurity specialists will be in demand.
By the way, understanding the base is important for all employees regardless of their duties. For example, to avoid accidentally giving away your work account password to scammers or infecting your computer with a virus by opening a suspicious email. Some companies conduct cybersecurity training for employees, but you can also find courses and lectures on your own. Such knowledge will stay with you even when you decide to change jobs.
4. Flexible thinking
The skill involves the ability to adapt to new circumstances and make decisions under uncertainty. A person who possesses it perceives obstacles as an opportunity for growth. He is ready to constantly learn and ask questions. For example, when an employee is offered to take a new course, he may refuse, citing his already rich experience. Or he may seize the new opportunity with curiosity. The second reaction is an example of flexible thinking.
To develop this ability, it is useful to participate in discussions. Try to find arguments not only for your position, but also for the opposite one. You can practice active listening . Do not interrupt your interlocutor, but during logical pauses ask him questions that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. For example, “Can you tell me more?”, “What do you think about this?”. Training will show that there is not always only one point of view. And it will also become easier for you to make decisions and adapt to changes, taking into account new information.
5. Critical thinking
Neural networks can generate texts, but they still require verification. The knowledge of the same Chat GPT is limited to 2021, so dates and numbers still need to be double-checked. This means that the habit of not taking anything on faith is still useful. Critical thinking also implies the ability to analyze a situation, weigh arguments, and make decisions based on logic, not emotions.
The same approaches as in flexible thinking help develop this skill. In addition, it is worth learning to recognize fakes and biased opinions. Even if the information seems convincing, it is better to be on the safe side. For example, if someone says that artificial intelligence is about to take our jobs, check what is written in different sources. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology believe that it will take several decades before the creation of intelligence that can do everything for a person.
6. Communications
They will be useful in working not only with people, but also with machines. To create text, images or code using a neural network, you need to formulate the request correctly. Companies will need employees who understand what their colleagues and clients need and will be able to use the capabilities of artificial intelligence correctly.
Here it is worth pumping up emotional intelligence and empathy – even the most complex programs are unlikely to be able to reproduce this quality. You can talk more often with people outside your usual social circle and learn to work in a team. If you are a freelancer and rarely see your colleagues, try to join volunteer projects or participate in hackathons.
7. Working with data
Machine learning requires people who understand where to find data and how to use it. Learning statistical analysis, visualization, and interpretation of such information helps develop this skill. At a basic level, not being confused by Excel tables and understanding what a median is is already good. But there are specialists who work directly with data — data scientists. With the help of machine learning, they analyze arrays of unstructured information — search engine query statistics, product sales history, geographic summaries. This helps make business forecasts. For example, based on purchases in past seasons, they can predict which shoe model will be in demand in a month.