Acquire these 4 skills to future-proof your career

AI, machine learning and algorithms are becoming increasingly sophisticated and integral to our lives. But, are they now performing certain tasks better than we do? According to a Monster Poll, that’s what a third of Filipinos are worried about and they’re concerned that machines will take their jobs away.

However, it’s not all gloom and doom. As has been the case in the past, machines will take on a certain aspect of our jobs, allowing us to focus on jobs that demand more human intuition. Here are a few skills you should start developing today to future-proof your career.

1. Creativity
   
   While automation will increasingly replace repetitive tasks, creativity is definitely not one of them. At present, algorithms and machine learning have not been able to do basic creative tasks that human minds are capable of doing. Creativity is not a skillset limited to musicians, artists or actors, it is becoming increasingly important in a variety of jobs. As markets grow closer together and certain industries become more competitive, it’s often creative and innovative ideas that gives businesses a competitive edge. There many ways to develop one’s own creativity, including reading up on unfamiliar topics, working with people unlike oneself as well as stepping out of one’s comfort zone.
   
   
2. Tackling challenges
   
   While your virtual assistant is great at providing answers to the questions it understands and has a database to search in, it’s quite useless for unpredictable circumstances and situations that have never occurred before. The bottomline is that automation demands a specific knowledge. As humans, though, we are able to think out of the box and add on to tasks and challenges from our own experience. Although machine learning is designed to do just the same, humans have to advantage of relying on common sense to make decisions.
   
   
3. Compassion
   
   Both AI and machine learning are designed to be productive and as efficient. But sympathy and compassion aren’t their key strengths, and it’s unlikely that they’d be programmed to ever do that. A vast number of jobs, such as such as nurses, doctors, fitness trainers and even firefighters, heavily rely on compassion to do their jobs well. Mastering these skills will allow you to secure a future-proof career.
   
   
4. Networking
   
   Often neglected as a skill, networking is fundamentally human. While technology helps us to connect with each other, being an inspiring leader, mentor or business partner is something that won’t be automated anytime soon. Whether you are just starting your career or are a seasoned professional, building a strong network in your field is a database that’s hard to beat.
   
   The technological progress in our lives and careers is inevitable, but by being proactive and developing your skills you will flourish.