December 2015 – Accelerated, Collaborative Technology Training Services

Here are six tips for early career development:

The MPW Insider network is an online community where the most thoughtful and influential people in business contribute answers to timely questions about careers and leadership. Today’s answer to the question: What should every 20-something do to set themselves up for success? is written by Lynn Perkins, CEO of UrbanSitter.

Entrenched in Silicon Valley’s startup arena for years, I’ve learned a thing or two about working alongside millennials and helping them “manage up” to ensure success in their careers. Research from the 2015 Deloitte Millennial Survey shows that more of the millennial generation aspires to be the boss than any other generation, so it’s critical for today’s 20-somethings to make the most of their first job, setting the stage for a successful future. Here are my top six tips for early career development:

The secret to a successful career may be good social skills.

What does it take to get ahead in today’s job market? While it might seem like specialized technical skills are the only way to compete in an increasingly difficult economy, that’s not the case. To really get ahead, what a worker needs is social skills.

How’s that? Over the next two decades, nearly half of U.S. jobs may become obsolete due to automation, one recent study found. What are workers to do? Become more human, suggests David J. Deming of Harvard. Deming argues that social skills have already become increasingly important in recent decades, especially for those looking for high-wage, competitive positions. Continue reading »