Transitioning from Campus to Corporate in 2020

Fresh out of campus and landing a glamorous job is in itself a dream come true for many but 2020 has redefined history. The first batch to graduate online, the first to appear for exams online and the first to start off their career with a mandatory work from home regime are all in 2020. In fact is it a transition to the real corporate world at all?

What does it entail to survive and grow in a world of coats and ties at a time where everything is Virtual? According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), here are 10 qualities that are being sought after in employees:

Complex Problem Solving

Emerging at the top of the list as the most desired skill for 2020, the WEF report defines it ‘to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings. As problems evolve and continually present varying requirements, complex problem solvers are hot in demand! As is clear from the above info-graphic, 36% of all jobs will demand this particular skill.

Critical Thinking

An in-demand skill-set even in the years to come, critical thinking takes logic and reasoning do delve deep into an issued, weigh its pros against the cons and arrive at a decision.

Creativity

WEF senior writer Alex Grey states “With the avalanche of new products, new technologies and new ways of working, employees are going to have to become more creative in order to benefit from these changes.”

WHY? Because a creative person can connect the dots, envisage a bigger picture and present NEW solutions in ways many cannot.

People Management

An organisation’s most prized resource is not its technology but its people. No matter how many leaps and bounds artificial intelligence takes, it will only be as capable as its creator.

As a future manager this is the first skill one must pick up along the way as this skill can be nurtured through experience and mistakes. It is vital that every manager be aware of his / her team’s capabilities and drivers in order to lead effectively.

Coordination

Each one of us has done group assignments through high school, undergrad and post-graduate phases but, seldom have we realized its significance and have more often than not dismissed as unimportant. Working in a team with coordinated efforts is a part of every project you will ever have to manage and thankfully we humans are still better at this than bots.

Emotional Intelligence

Co-author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, Travis Bradberry explains that emotional intelligence ‘is the other kind of smart. It’s that intangible ‘something’ that helps us tune into the kaleidoscope of human emotions, and measures how adept we are at adjusting our behavior depending on the mood of a colleague, partner, family member, or even our own internal feelings. (as quoted)

Literally an integral part of every interaction we have, it affects how we manage emotions, meander through complex social situations and make personal decisions to achieve positive results.

Judgement & Decision Making

Considering the amount of big data we now have access to, brains that can sift through this mass of information and extract actionable insights to make business decisions are the need of the hour.

In order to be an effective decision maker, the objective of the entire analytical exercise must be crystal clear to chart out the best path forward. Lately plenty of tools are available for assistance with the process.

Service Orientation

The ability to proactively look for ways to assist people is a strong service orientation. This is particularly helpful not just within an organisation but even outside when solving problems for clients. It entails a thorough understanding of customer needs, likes, preferences, etc and transforming that information into an optimum product offering.

Negotiation

Although mentioned later in the list this is one of the most essential on this list, social skills are becoming increasingly important as humans are better at feeling emotions and understanding one another’s needs in order to arrive at a mutual consensus.

Learn to negotiate better here

Cognitive Flexibility

This skill is all about shuttling between different trains of thought and being an agile mental gymnast. This skill enables one to spot new patterns and make unique associations between ideas.

Flexing your cognitive muscles is possible by exposing yourself to arenas outside of your comfort zone, read beyond your domain and your brain will thank you for it later.

All of the above qualities can neither be imbibed overnight nor be found in one place. As professional interactions provide more and more experience, these skills will become a part of your persona and hone you into a better manager as you continue to grow.