Understanding The Skills Required to Be Successful in The 21st Century

Introducition

In simplest terms, 21st Century skills are the specific skills needed to be successful in the 21st century society we live in today. These skills come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some skills have remained the same over decades. Some skills are new skills that weren’t needed in the past. And, some of them are skills that have evolved to the new type of society we have today.

This ever changing list of skills are important to the current and future workers of today. We need these skills, especially in a global society. These skills run our economy, and if we don’t use these skills to keep up with other countries’ economies, then our nation will fall apart as a whole. Due to this need for 21st century skills, your attractiveness to future employers shoots up when you attain and understand these skills.

21st Century Skills

Communication

One of the 21st century skills that are essential, is communication. Communication is the exchange of information between parties. Communication is big, both on a domestic and global scale. The only way to do business is by using some form of communication to indicate your wants and needs. To be a good communicator, you have to be able to work with others, be able to communicate your message effectively, and be able to present yourself publicly in a way that benefits you.

Various general examples of using communication skills include, doing a business transaction in a foreign language, presenting a new product to your superiors, or simply looking professional. An example where I used communication skills personally was when I worked together with my peers on a team project. Also, I used communication to go through a job interview, in which i got the job. In the future, communication is becoming more technology centered. The definition of communicating will rapidly evolve in the future, and we need to evolve with it.

Technology

Another 21st century skill is technology. Technology is using the application of science to make it practical. The main change between the 20th and 21st century is the use of technology and how it affects our business world. Technology allows us to do things faster, better, and cheaper. Being able to use technology is a critical skill to keep up with today’s world. Some general examples of using technology for productivity include writing a report in Microsoft Word, looking for employment through sites like LinkedIn or a job hunting website, and even simply emailing to your coworkers.

I personally use technology on many occasions to get work done. I have made projects using Powerpoint. I also have used texting to assign parts of work in a group project. As our ability to innovate and design creates new technology, the skill to be able to learn how to effectively use technology will be one of, if not the most sought out skill looked for by future employers.