We live in quite a weird age when the new knowledge becomes obsolete years (or even months) after it was obtained by humanity. Technological progress is accelerating at a tremendous rate, so most of us start to be afraid that the profession we chose when enrolling college would be unpopular after graduation.
Still, humanity has a set of skills that are always needed, and it seems that they won't be replaced by AI in the distant future. They are called "soft skills" and they become a more and more prominent paragraph in the CVs.
1. Ability to learn
We all are able to learn, it's obvious. But few of us can live with the thought that we have to learn for all our lives. Even the professors can get into the situation when they need to learn something (developed and invented by some "young weirdos" usually) and learn fast because the world has moved on and the paradigm they were so devoted to doesn't work anymore. But thanks to modern technologies it's easier for people now to adapt and find new sources to learn. We have access to almost all of the knowledge of humanity through online libraries, special essay databases like Study Moose and other trusted educational services.
Sometimes pride and conformity don't allow people to accept this state of affairs. They advocate the patterns they are used to, inventing new and new reasons not to transite to the new ones. Such rigid thinking is quite normal for any of us - one of the basic needs of human beings is stability and safety, that are impossible to achieve in the ever-changing world. To overcome this subconscious block, accept that you were wrong and learn new from scratch, one needs to be really brave.
2. Negotiation and mediation
People who can hear both points of view and work out a compromise are real treasures everywhere - from family life to conflict zones to work. The negotiators can set aside their own prejudice and walk a mile in the shoes of every side of the conflict - that's why they may see a big picture of the problem and suggest a solution that no one ever thought about.
The negotiation skills also help in warming the corporate climate. Sometimes, companies even pay some extra money to the employees who manage to keep the department's drama at bay. Human factor is still very powerful at work, so the one who can keep the conflicts low (and therefore increase the productivity of teamwork) are saving money for the company and deserve a reward.
3. Troubleshooting and crisis management
Nowadays troubleshooter is a profession by itself, but still, a skill to make something critically needed from sticks and ropes was highly valued by generations of our ancestors. Sometimes the crisis just happens, the trouble just pops out and can get way worse while everyone is waiting for the management orders. The people who can take responsibility and solve the problem right there and now are one of the most precious employees.
This demands talent, quick wit and ability to think outside the box, together with boldness (because the one who starts acting also takes all responsibility for the consequences). It seems like a set of qualities for a superhero, but each of them is trainable. You may develop the troubleshooting skills by observing the world around you, deliberately seeking issues and thinking about ways to fix them or make better.
4. Creativity
Creativity sounds like a cliché for a CV, but this word has long been misunderstood. Creativity is the ability to create something new by connecting things that were never connected before in a meaningful way. The "meaningful way" here is the keyword.
We are all victims of creativity blocks. The society values conformity over creativity and it imposes lots of cultural, environmental, social and other restrictions. The ability to overcome them opens up our creativity - a spark of it is in every one of us, inherited from the time of our first furry ancestors. There is an old exercise for designers: try to design a car for aliens who descended from birds, have three claws on each hand, three eyes (one of which sees in X-ray spectrum) and breath methane. By doing this, by expanding your thinking beyond your average experience, you will develop the true creativity that is highly valued.
Of course, you may encounter the boss who doesn't value any of these qualities seeing you as a function that has to do its task. But with the set of such "soft skills" you will be able to find a better and more benevolent job soon. These qualities can never become obsolete because they are unique human traits that any AI or system is unable to mimic.
