Choosing what to study, or the direction of your career takes a little thought and a whole lot of resourcefulness. We are on the cusp of an exciting couple of decades and there are some interesting careers of the future to choose from.
With so many possibilities it’s firstly important to narrow down the type of career that would suit you best. You could look at your personality type, skill set and where your main interests lie. Try to really narrow down your unique characteristics, strengths, weaknesses and qualities to hone in on the careers of the future that would be best suited for you.
When you already know your personal non-negotiables, it’s a lot easier to discover where your best fit may lie according to what is coming in the future of work.
What are the careers of the future?
The South African government has released the latest critical skills list, which means that business owners and employers will be on the lookout for very specific skills to bring into their company. This could potentially influence the choices you make in your studies, work experience and in your career path.
Below we’ll outline some of the important roles of the future as they pertain to the latest update in the critical skills list.
Engineering in multiple disciplines
Whether you are looking into becoming a mechanical, electrical, software, aeronautical or any other type of engineer you will be set up for an impactful career in times to come. Engineers think in a certain way which opens the doors for them to move into an array of different disciplines. As an example, a mechanical engineer may find themselves working in a financial company analysing data simply because of how engineers are trained to think at university level.
Accounting, tax and finance expertise
Actuarial science, corporate treasurers, external auditors, investment managers and tax professionals are a couple of critical roles that are highly important for the future of work and are much needed around the world. As long as there’s money in the world, there will always be a need for sharpened and up-to-date knowledge and skills in finance.
Sciences of the future
There is a reason why science and biology are subjects in school. Work opportunities in the sciences of the future include agricultural scientists, biotechnologists, chemists, geologists, physicists, nursing educators, conservation scientists, microbiologists, zoologists and mineralogists to name a few.
Education, research and development
The need for educators will always be relevant. Whether we are teaching online or in person, the need to educate future generations is an important role. Along with education comes the need for research and development as a discipline and as a career. With technology moving at the rate that it is, you will never go wrong diving into a career in the field of R&D (research and development).
Tech and media
Between the vital roles of undercover journalists, SEO analysts, software developers and writers, it’s safe to say that a career in tech or media is certainly a worthwhile one to invest your resources into.
Soft skills, hard skills and personal development
Along with your studies, internships and career development comes the need to harness and strengthen your soft skills and personal development. We love the GetSmarter 360 Degree Framework, which provides some structure around developing your professional capital.
Looking for your first job in your chosen field? Look no further than RecruitAGraduate. Take a look through our current job openings and get your applications in today.