The future of work: What's changed?

Work has changed and continues to. Fast. The future of work is a term that describes shifts in the world that affect how we work and live in it. We’re all about preparing our students to thrive in this dynamic environment.   

Here are 5 key changes we think everyone needs to know about:  

1.  AI is everywhere: Artificial intelligence (AI) is here and it's changing industries. It is already doing tasks that used to be done by people, and making us think differently about our jobs.  People need to learn to work with AI and see it as a tool, as well as focus on skills that make us human. 

2. Skills are changing: Skills don’t last as long as they used to.  A degree? Great start, but not enough for your whole career anymore.  Now, it's about always learning new things, getting skills quickly, and showing you have what companies need now. That's where micro-credentials come in. Upskilling and reskilling now form part of everyone’s life when it comes to work.  

3. Work is more flexible: The old 9-to-5 in an office?  That’s not the only way anymore.  More and more people want flexible hours, to work on different projects, and to be their own boss.  The “gig economy” mindset also shows a preference to work on shorter-term opportunities over long-term employment. Companies are finding talent all over the world and are no longer limited to work with people who live in the same city they have offices in.  

4.  The world is connected: Technology has made distance irrelevant.  Working with people in other countries is normal.  You need to be able to interact and build relationships with people from different cultures, usually online.  

5. Human skills close the gaps: With all this tech and interconnectedness, the skills that make us human are becoming critical to success. It’s said that hard skills get you hired, and soft/global skills get you promoted. Some examples of these skills are critical thinking, intercultural competence, problem solving and collaboration.  

Find out more about how Bayswater is preparing students for the future of work, from our CEO Stephan Roussounis.