Cultivating These Career Skills Will Prevent AI From Replacing Your Job

      Last year, someone asked me if I was concerned about AI taking over my job. The remark irritated me then, but I managed to respond gracefully, arguing that no machine could ever replicate a genuine human voice. However, the comment lingered in my mind, especially as the work landscape is evolving, and the prospect of losing my job to generative AI would be a significant blow to my ego.

      Worrying about job security and career prospects is stressful, yet experts assert that meta skills—higher-order skills that enhance an individual's ability to learn and apply knowledge swiftly—can alleviate this anxiety. Supposedly, developing these skills will enable one to keep pace in a fast-changing workforce. I consulted career specialists to gain insights into how AI and technology are reshaping the workforce and skill requirements, the necessity of meta skills for adaptation, and how to cultivate these skills as one advances in their career.

      How Are Skill Demands Shifting Due to AI and Technology?

      AI and technology are advancing quickly, so it’s no surprise that they are transforming the workforce. For example, LinkedIn Career Expert Catherine Fisher indicates that confidence in utilizing AI is becoming more important than experience in hiring processes. “We’re also observing the emergence of entirely new roles, such as AI engineer and AI consultant,” she noted. Moreover, according to LinkedIn, 70 percent of the job skills we rely on today are predicted to change by 2030, largely due to AI advancements.

      Paradoxically, these changes have rendered human skills more sought after than ever. Florian Rose, a Talent Lead of Business and Growth at AI financial assistant Cleo, states, “AI isn’t merely automating mundane tasks; it’s generating new human skill demands.” He elaborated that while AI excels at data processing, it cannot replicate human capabilities such as ethical reasoning, cross-contextual thinking, interpersonal negotiation, and emotional intelligence. Fisher supports this view, observing that skills like adaptability are increasingly common in job listings across various sectors as technology progresses.

      “70 percent of the job skills we use today are expected to change by 2030.”

      This indicates that AI and technology are not necessarily the job thieves we often fear. However, this doesn’t mean they aren’t a potential threat. On the contrary, their rapid transformation of work processes and employer expectations underscores the importance of keeping pace with these developments. This is where meta skills become essential.

      Meta skills are advanced abilities that enhance a person's capacity to learn and apply new knowledge promptly. Rose refers to them as “skills for learning skills,” with prime examples including adaptability, creativity, critical thinking, resilience, intuition, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. Essentially, meta skills enable you to excel in both hard (technical) and soft (interpersonal) skills necessary for your role. For instance, adaptability (a meta skill) facilitates effective communication and collaboration (soft skills) in team settings. Likewise, resilience (another meta skill) aids in mastering programming software or other technical skills at work. Ultimately, they provide “the cognitive framework that enables us to learn and integrate new knowledge, whether it’s technical expertise, industry-specific insight, or soft skills,” according to Meta-Coin Project.

      The significance of these skills lies in their non-specificity to any one job, making them transferable across various industries and roles. “These skills are incredibly valuable and are becoming even more so as technology advances,” Fisher conveyed. They help ensure that you remain sharp, regardless of the changes or innovations that arise. Therefore, it’s vital to showcase your meta skills at the top of the dedicated “skills” section on your resume or incorporate them into your professional experience or summary.

      Considering the current job market, it’s fair to say that job security is a top concern for many, which is a critical reason for developing meta skills. “In this AI-driven market, meta skills aren’t just optional—they’re your career insurance policy,” Florian stated. They not only illustrate that you are the type of employee who will continue to grow and adapt, but they also make you stand out in a tech-oriented world. Similarly, HR Expert and CEO of Toggl Hire, Alari Aho, emphasizes that a robust learning capacity is currently the ultimate differentiator in careers. “While technical skills may secure you an interview, it’s your ability to learn and implement new skills that will ultimately get you hired.”

      “In today’s AI-transforming market, meta skills aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re your career insurance policy.”

      Of course, this doesn’t imply that you shouldn’t develop AI skills in the current market. Instead, it highlights the necessity of being the type of employee who can adeptly manage AI tools while remaining truly human. “Workers who master AI tools are increasingly productive, but it involves not just technical mastery; it’s also about the human skills layered on top,” Rose elucidated. “Similarly, the most valuable employees are those who augment AI’s data analysis with human insight, empathy, and creative