The Top Transferable Skills for 2021

Whether you are an employer hiring new talent to fill a skills gap or a hiring manager looking to plan your hiring strategy for the next 12 months, it has never been more important to understand which competencies and attributes are the most sought-after in Transferable Skills. In uncertain times, innovative solutions are increasingly needed to solve complex problems.

With this in mind, we have collated a list of some of the top skills which are set to shape 2021 in in Transferable Skills. These are the skills which teams will need to thrive and succeed this year. For team leaders, they illustrate areas that may require focus and may highlight skills gaps.

However, this should not be viewed as an issue but also as an opportunity to upskill teams and individuals to take advantage of the trends which will define the years ahead. The other articles in this eBook will help you hire with skills in mind, and help you understand why upskilling and reskilling are so important in a modern organisation.

Although different sectors demand specific knowledge and competencies, there are some key skills that are relevant across the board. In an age of liquid skills and non-linear careers, it has never been more important to develop a bank of transferable skills, which can serve you well in any sector. These are the most in-demand transferable skills for 2021.

Adaptability

Being adaptable to change is an important element for a majority of businesses during uncertain times.

At a time of huge change, adaptability is an ever more important skill to possess. Employers want to hire staff that can work efficiently during times of increased workloads and pressures, or those who can easily switch to a different role when required. A person’s adaptability can be developed over the course of a career as they overcome different challenges, but those who want to master it must be willing to learn. What works today may not work tomorrow, so it is essential to have a strategy for change at every turn.

Innovation

In our technological age, it has never been more rewarding to be innovative and forward thinking.

The sea-change of digital transformation has been the catalyst for the drive for businesses requiring innovative individuals in today’s marketplace. An innovative person that can transform their ideas into a business case is in high demand from employers. Ideas that can save a business time and money, make a process more fluid, and energise the team, will always be welcome. Within an atmosphere that fosters innovation, professionals who know no limits and who demonstrate their ability to innovative and think strategically, will be key players. This important skill set is only expected to gain further popularity among employers.

Proactivity

Proactive people see issues before they occur or find new opportunities without being prompted.

It always pays to be proactive. This isn’t just about going above and beyond a specific job role and showing initiative, but also developing skills on an ongoing basis through exposure to a wider range of experiences. Proactive individuals do not wait for an opportunity to arise or a problem to present itself; they are already thinking ahead and are actively willing to find a solution. Dynamic and proactive individuals can easily adapt when necessary. High proactivity improves productivity, which can then lead to greater rewards for an organisation overall.

Teamwork

Team collaboration on projects and sharing ideas is a great way to get things done.

Teamwork is an essential bedrock of almost all business operations. Being a team player is a particularly essential skill at a time when speed and quality are at the core essence of business success in challenging market conditions. For this reason, it is not uncommon for assessment centres to run team activities when hiring new staff, where an individual’s ability to collaborate with others is just as important as their personal knowledge and skills. A well functioning team is happier and more productive – and this applies at all levels within organisations.

Problem-solving

The ability to work swiftly and efficiently is crucial as systems and new ways of working evolve.

Every business will face challenges, therefore the ability to problem solve has become a highly sought-after skill. A new solution to a growing problem normally requires lateral thinking, as well as an innovative approach to challenging scenarios. For that reason, problem-solving is a key skill at all levels of seniority. However, adept problem solvers will need other skills too, such as emotional intelligence, research skills, and risk management proficiency. They will need to know when to solve a problem intuitively and this will cement their valuable position in the market making them indispensable.

Resilience

Facing up to the challenges of an uncertain market requires true strength of character.

With economic uncertainty posing commercial challenges, resilience is an ever more crucial skill to possess. To truly appreciate importance of resilience to the individual, it is first key to understand its meaning. As the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche famously said, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger”. One way to interpret this is that in order to be resilient and strong, accept the difficult situations and work with them, not fight against them. Those who possess resilience are more likely to find opportunities in adversity and emerge stronger for the experience.

Curiosity

Remaining curious throughout your career is the best way to solve problems.

Received wisdom suggests that curiosity starts to wane in most people when they enter adulthood. However, the complex business problems of today’s market require out-of-the-box thinking. Curiosity is growing in importance, with the World Economic Forum recently recommending it as a pivotal skill for the next generation of workers. This is particularly pertinent at a time where AI and automation are growing in prominence. Ultimately, a robot will never truly be able to replicate human curiosity and when married with related skills such as problem-solving and proactivity, curiosity will serve individuals well at all stages of their career.

Emotional intelligence

A key leadership trait is the ability to understand and manage your emotions.

It has never been more important to be able to collaborate effectively with colleagues. For this reason, emotional intelligence (EI), the capacity to understand and manage your emotions, is becoming an increasingly desirable skill for employers. For EI to be effective, it has to start with the individual. You cannot distil or enhance other people’s wellbeing, improvement, and sense of self without first understanding how you yourself operate on an emotional level. What distinguishes leaders is usually their level of emotional intelligence and it is those skills that help to develop a more collaborative, happy, and motivated workforce.

Empathy

Displaying empathy requires you to put yourself in the shoes of your customers and colleagues.

Speaking at a Michael Page event last year, entrepreneur Belinda Parmar OBE highlighted how empathy is an increasingly integral skill at all levels within a business. In this context, empathy is defined as the emotional impact that an individual or organisation has on people – whether it be colleagues, customers, or wider society. Empathy is a learned skill and those who have developed it tend to build better working relationships, be more productive, and make better leaders. Indeed, according to The Empathy Business, the most empathic companies outperform those that demonstrate the lowest levels of empathy by 50%.