Entering the workforce of 21st century

Entering the workforce of the 21st century 

       Our fast-changing knowledge-based world has created unprecedented challenges for employers and workers alike. Employers increasingly need workers with a broad range of different skills. These skills will become even more important as we continue to retool major sectors of our economy, such as healthcare, transportation and energy. 
            We have the opportunity to acquire many skills during our life especially when we are young. There are many critical skills, which college or university students try to acquire as preparation for a career. In my opinion, communication, personal and technology skills are the three main skills that can help students to build a great career.  
          Communication skills are perhaps the most important skills to get a good job and succeed in that job. Furthermore, communication skills can help to acquire information management skills, which include collecting and analyzing data. No matter what job one may have, we are constantly exposed to a lot of information via various mediums like lectures, memos, books, the internet etc. It is important for people in the work force to be able to isolate important facts from this vast sea of information. To do so one needs critical reasoning and analytical skills. Public speaking also falls under communication skills and is perhaps the single most important factor in a person’s success in the work force. Human are social animals, we work together and hence it is very important for us to be able to communicate our ideas in a clear and concise manner to others. For example, if a student went for a job interview then it is up to him or her to prove to the employers that he or she has the necessary skills. To do so the student will need to have good speaking skills. Also, once in the work force, a worker will often be expected deliver presentations to fellow employees or simply talk to co-workers regarding company policies, work ethics etc.

     Looking toward the future, creativity is among the top five applied skills projected to increase in importance for future graduates.

     In addition, knowledge of foreign languages, cultures, and global markets will become increasingly important for future graduates entering the workforce. Foreign languages are increasing in importance more than any other basic knowledge area or skill. English language today is a tool for understanding other nations, markets, and cultures and ,moreover , understanding of global markets and the economic and cultural impacts of globalization. 
             Interpersonal skills like teamwork and professionalism help us work better in the work force of the 21^st century  with our fellow co-workers. Moreover, good interpersonal skills help a worker gain positions of leadership within an organization. Furthermore these skills are extremely important for students who enter the work force for the first time since their performance in their jobs will not only be evaluated by their immediate superior/s but by their peers as well. In addition to teamwork good work and moral ethics are also important. For students entering the work force, moral training helps in making better judgments. As members of the work force it is in our interests to adhere to company policies.  
            Technology skills are a great ability to perform well in the 21^st century. Computers and computer networks support today’s business world. With every passing day our society becomes more dependent on computers and technology in general. In such a world it is absolutely imperative that a worker have technical skills. Technical skills include manipulating computer programs, using the Internet, computational skills like applications of mathematical concepts etc. As society advances our dependence on technology increases and so do the demands placed on the qualifications of job applicants. Whether one is applying for a job as a clerk or as an architect, knowledge of operating computers, cellular phones, projectors etc is a must. Moreover, being able to use the Internet to access information or gain knowledge is not only a necessary skill but a very useful one.  
             The workforce of 21^st century will display only one major characteristic in the near future: diversity. If recent labor trends continue as expected, the workforce of the 21^st century will be a technicolor tapestry of ethnicity, gender, age, attitudes, skills. 
             The 21st century might just well earn the distinction of being witness to the most competitive work force in mankind’s history as yet. For fresh graduate students about to enter the work force it is in their best interests to learn skills that will help them stand above the competition. Communications, personal and technology skills are just some of the skills that students should learn. These skills teach us the basics for surviving in a world where only the fittest are able to succeed. Skill and success go hand in hand.