As we come to the end of 2024 and approach a new year, you might be thinking about your future. Perhaps you’re finishing school or university and wondering what’s next, looking for your first job, or considering a change of career.
One of the most common questions young people ask us is “what skills do I need to land a job?” In the competitive jobs market, it’s understandable that you are thinking about how you can stand out in all the right ways.
We’ve looked at what various experts have to say on this subject, and identified 5 of the top skills that they say will be essential for young job seekers in 2025 and beyond. Read on to learn more about them.
1. Critical thinking & problem solving
The world is changing rapidly, and new problems and issues are cropping up all the time. Employers love job applicants who can think on their feet, respond to situations as they come up, and think of creative solutions to challenges. That’s why critical thinking and problem solving will be key skills for job seekers in 2025.
“Critical thinking” is all about taking in information and then analysing and evaluating it to make informed judgements and decisions. Good critical thinkers are able to look beyond what is on the surface, identify problems and biases with information, and use what they see, read, or hear to make smarter decisions.
“Problem solving” is about overcoming obstacles and coming up with practical, effective solutions to issues. Good problem-solvers can handle unexpected challenges, find the root cause of problems, and think outside of the box to find solutions.
Further reading: 4 Ways to Use Critical Thinking and Make Smart Decisions
2. Emotional intelligence & interpersonal skills
With the rise of AI, technology has been front and centre this year. But there is one thing machines will never be able to replace, and that is a human element. For this reason, emotional intelligence and related interpersonal skills are going to be vital for job seekers in 2025.
“Emotional intelligence” refers to your ability to understand, manage, and respond to your own emotions and the emotions of others. It helps you to communicate effectively and build stronger working relationships with those around you. Important skills of emotional intelligence include active listening, empathy, clear communication, compromise, and self-regulation.
People with good emotional intelligence tend to be more resilient and adaptable, better able to navigate conflict constructively, better team players, and stronger innovators.
Further reading: See how to show resilience in a CV or job interview
3. Adaptability and flexibility
Adaptability and flexibility are all about being able to navigate unexpected situations, cope well with change, and respond positively to a changing work environment. At work, this might include situations such as new rules or policies, new team members, a change of working environment, or even a change to the wider landscape of your company or industry.
Many of us find change difficult, particularly when it is unexpected. However, adaptability and flexibility skills can be learned and honed.
Try to view change as an opportunity rather than a threat and maintain a positive mindset. Take on new roles and responsibilities with enthusiasm and approach them with curiosity. Make the effort to proactively learn new tools and technologies. Most crucially, work on your resilience so that you feel equipped to navigate change when you encounter it.
Further reading: 4 Reasons Why Being Adaptable Makes You a Better Team Player
4. Leadership
Even if you are applying for an entry-level or non-management role, leadership skills are increasingly vital and will set you up for a successful career in the long run. Good leaders also tend to be good team players, able to take initiative, and good at motivating themselves and others.
Great leaders can take control of a situation without being controlling or overbearing. They can inspire, engage, and energise others and they lead by example, displaying the qualities and behaviours they most want to see from their team members.
Displaying good leadership skills early in your career can catch the attention of your employer and may help to put you at the front of the queue when promotions or other opportunities for advancement are up for grabs.
Further reading: Everyday Leadership: Dividing Up Tasks in a Fair Way
5. Artificial intelligence (AI) proficiency
Artificial intelligence, or AI, has been around since the 1950s. However, since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT tool in November 2022, this technology has exploded in popularity.
From generative AI tools that can create text or images to AI-powered search algorithms, chatbots, and much more, businesses in almost every field you can think of are now using AI (or soon will be.)
If you are interested in a job in a computing field, there is likely to be huge demand for AI specialists in the coming years. But even if you’re looking to work in an entirely different sector, at least a basic understanding of AI will likely soon be as essential as other forms of computer literacy.
You’ll need to understand what AI is, the opportunities it presents and its limitations, the ethical and legal issues surrounding it, and the ways it can (and can’t) help you in your work.
Many people are afraid that AI will replace humans. However, instead of seeing this technology as your competition, try to view it as a tool that you can harness. In 2023, Professor Karim Lakhami of Harvard Business School wrote that “AI won’t replace humans – but humans with AI will replace humans without AI”.
Further reading: What You Need to Know About the Uses and Limitations of AI
Boost your skills for 2025 and beyond with Youth Employment UK’s resources
If you don’t have all of these skills honed yet, don’t worry! We are here to help you and we understand that some of these vital skills can be hard to develop and even harder to demonstrate to a prospective employer.
You can use our extensive range or free resources and online courses to learn how to boost and show off your skills to employers. Why not start with the recommended reading we’ve linked in this article, then explore the Careers Hub to find out more.
