In our ever-evolving world, the demands of the job market and society continue to change rapidly. 

And so do the skills and competencies required to secure a brighter future or land a dream job. 

The million dollar question is: which skills and competencies should you focus on today to succeed?

To dive into the latest “wish-list”, and my personal favourites, it’s crucial to understand the difference between skills and competencies first.

Skills refer to specific, measurable abilities that can be acquired and honed through practice and training. 

Coding, graphic design or playing guitar are all examples of skills. 

Competencies, on the other hand, are a combination of skills, knowledge, behaviours and attitudes that contribute to overall success. They are more about how you apply your skills and adapt to diverse situations.

Teamwork, conflict resolution and the ability to motivate others are all examples of competencies that fall under a leadership category. 

Now let’s dive into the must-haves that will help you stand out from the crowd.

Unsurprisingly skills such as flexibility, agility and resilience are the ones that will help you face the uncertainty and the accelerated pace of change. 

The ability to empathise with others, solve problems and analyse data are also at the top of the charts, according to the latest WEF Future of Jobs 2023 report.  

However, my personal favourite based on my professional experience, are the 3Cs: communication, creativity and curiosity. 

Communication

Effective communication remains a timeless skill.

The ability to convey ideas in a clear and impactful way, both in writing and verbally, remains vital for workplace success. It helps resolve conflicts, overcome challenges, improve workflow and teamwork.

And that’s just for a start. 

(speaking of communicating, I cannot help but saying something about listening. There is a reason why you have one mouth and two ears after all).

Creativity

Generating innovative ideas, finding fresh perspectives and novel solutions is a highly-desirable skill to have. It is closely linked with the open-mindedness and the growth mindset that Carol Dweck talks extensively about in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.  

Curiosity

This is a fundamental trait that drives individuals to seek new ways, explore possibilities, and just keep on asking questions. 

Cultivating this skill can catapult you to the top. Because curiosity means continual learning and continuous improvement. And that thirst for knowledge means that your skills stay sharp and that you can keep up with any changes and transformations taking place. 

The 3Cs (and all the other skills that you will learn along the way) will contribute to developing your leadership, cultural, digital and technical competencies, which will help you advance in your career.