Future of Work

Write a 2–3-page essay that examines the future of work and the key skills and behaviors necessary for succeeding in the evolving workplace.

The jobs of today look very different from the jobs our parents had. Whether you work in a cubicle or on a construction site, technology has changed—and is continuing to change—the ways we connect, communicate, and create in our careers. In the past, a college degree was enough to set you up for professional success. Today, employers want job candidates who also have the right skills to succeed.

That’s why Capella partnered with top employers, business leaders, and recruiters to identify 10 skills that are critical to performing your best—not just in one field but across all industries. These are skills that will prepare you for the needs of any future employer and set you up for success in a world that is constantly evolving. In this course, you will learn how these 10 skills will help you reach your professional dreams, and you’ll discover how you can use these same skills right now to achieve your personal and academic goals. 

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What are these skills? Whether you are here for a job, for a promotion, for personal enrichment, or to realize a different dream, these skills can work to help you meet your personal, academic and professional goals.

• Self and Social Awareness is the ability to understand your personal strengths and limitations, and how your behaviors impact others. 


• Technology is the ability to confidently and effectively use technologies to be productive, complete goals and tasks, and maintain a competitive advantage. 


• Productivity is the ability to strategize, organize, and plan to effectively and efficiently manage priorities and time.


• Initiative is the ability to see what needs to be done and to take action without being prompted to improve a circumstance or create a new one.


• Results Driven is the ability to act with a sense of urgency and focus to reach outcomes and goals, without compromising integrity and quality.


• Communication is the ability to actively seek and deliver information, articulate ideas, effectively listen, and connect to various audiences, settings, and situations.


• Relationship Building refers to the ability to effectively work with others and establish, cultivate, and leverage networks over time.


• Problem Solving is the ability to identify and frame problems, explore ideas, and create effective, ethical, and evidence-based solutions. 


• Innovation is the ability to creatively think and generate original or unique ideas and solutions outside of routine perspectives. 


• Agility refers to the ability to embrace change and effectively adapt in a continually changing environment to achieve desired results. 

The 10 Skills Table media will help you get to know the 10 employability skills discussed in this course. You'll find a definition for each skill and why each skill matters for the future of work. This course will examine each of these skills and show you how to apply them in your professional and personal life. You will identify areas of strengths and areas that need improvement, and you will create a plan to continue developing these skills after this course ends. Understanding, developing, and applying these skills will give you the tools you will need to be competitive in the 21st-century workplace.

Assessment Instructions

Overview

What do we mean when we discuss the future of work? We are moving away from the classic employment model: you are hired full time and work 40-hour weeks, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at a desk in an office with your fellow employees. The future of work is really happening now. You may remember learning about the industrial revolutions of the past and their impact on the economy and the nature of work. Today we are in the fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0. This new world of technology is characterized by:

• Instant communication and connectedness.


• Virtual/remote workspaces.


• Age-diverse workforce.


• Move away from lifelong careers at a single company, more of an open talent economy.


• AI and automation, or machines taking over some workforce tasks and jobs.

In this assessment, you will examine the future of work and the key skills and behaviors necessary for succeeding in the evolving workplace.

Preparation

Review the resources for this assessment. Use the Capella University Library to locate at least one article or book that discusses the skills and aptitudes needed to succeed in the 21st-century workforce.

Instructions

For this assessment:

• Write a 2–3-page essay that addresses the following questions:
  
  
  
  • What types of jobs will most likely be automated in the future?
  
  
  • What types of jobs are more resistant to automation and why? 
  
  
  • How will automation and continued technological advances impact how you work?
  
  
  • Why one or more of the employability skills (such as self and social awareness or agility) are essential for remaining competitive in the 21st-century workplace? Explain.
  
  
  
  

Additional Requirements

Your assessment should also meet the following requirements:

• Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.


• APA formatting: Citations should be formatted according to current APA Style and Format guidelines. 


• References: Your assessment should include at least two credible references. One of these references should be obtained from the Capella library.


• Length: 2–3 pages of text, excluding the title and reference page.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Describe the importance and impact of key skills and behaviors that are necessary for success in the future of work.
  
  
  
  • Describe the influence of automation in the 21st-century workforce.
  
  
  • Explain how automation and technological advances affect the nature of work.
  
  
  
  


• Competency 3: Develop skills to support a successful learning experience and career.
  
  
  
  • Explain why employability skills are essential for remaining competitive in the 21st-century workplace. 
  
  
  
  


• Competency 4: Compose text that articulates meaning relevant to its purpose and audience.
  
  
  
  • Write coherently with correct grammar, usage, mechanics, and citation of sources