"Last year, someone asked me if I was worried about AI taking over my job. The comment annoyed me at the time, but I kept it classy, rationally arguing that no robot could ever replace an authentic human voice. Yet, the comment stayed with me, and lately, it’s been lingering in the back of my mind. After all, the world of work is changing, and losing my job to generative AI is the kind of ego blow that would be hard to come back from.
Stressing about the security of your job and the fate of your career is not fun, but experts swear meta skills (higher-order skills that boost a person’s ability to learn and apply new knowledge quickly) are the antidote to this stress. Apparently, harnessing these skills will help you keep up in a rapidly changing workforce. I tapped career experts for insight into how the workforce and skill demands are changing with AI and technology, why you need meta skills to keep up, plus how to strengthen your meta skills as you progress in your career.
How are skill demands changing with AI and Tech?
AI and technology are rapidly evolving, so it’s unsurprising that, together, they’re changing the workforce as we know it. Case in point: LinkedIn Career Expert Catherine Fisher says that confidence using AI is already taking precedence over experience during the hiring process. “And we’re also seeing entirely new jobs cropping up, like AI engineer and AI consultant,” she added. Plus, 70 percent of the job skills we use today are expected to change by 2030, as reported by LinkedIn—a predicted shift that will largely be attributed to AI.
Ironically, these shifts have made human skills more popular than ever. According to Florian Rose, a Talent Lead of Business and Growth at AI financial assistant Cleo, “AI isn’t just automating grunt work; it’s creating entirely new human skills demands.” He explained that AI is great for things like data processing, but when it comes down to it, it can’t match humans with ethical reasoning, cross-contextual thinking, interpersonal negotiation, and emotional intelligence. Fisher echoes this sentiment, noting that skills like adaptability, for example, are popping up in job listings across every industry as technology evolves.
“70 percent of the job skills we use today are expected to change by 2030.”
Based on this, it seems evident that AI and technology are not the job stealers we’ve been led to believe, but this doesn’t mean they don’t pose a threat. If anything, the way they’re rapidly shifting the way we work and what employers are looking for emphasizes the need to keep up with these changes. This is where having meta skills is key.
What are meta skills?
Meta skills are higher-order skills that boost a person’s ability to learn and apply new knowledge quickly. Rose likes to think of them as “skills for learning skills,” and prime examples of them include adaptability, creativity, critical thinking, resilience, intuition, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. Essentially, meta skills help you master the hard (technical) and soft (interpersonal) skills your job requires. For example, adaptability (a meta skill) makes it easier to communicate and collaborate (soft skills) on team projects. Similarly, resilience (a meta skill) can help you quickly master a programming software or a technical skill at work. Ultimately, they provide “the cognitive framework that allows us to learn and integrate new knowledge, whether that’s technical expertise, industry-specific knowledge, or soft skills,” according to Meta-Coin Project.
What’s important about these skills is that they’re nonspecific to your job and fully transferable across all industries and positions. “These skills are incredibly valuable and only becoming more so as technology evolves,” Fisher told me. They help to keep you sharp, no matter what changes or advancements are thrown your way. For this reason, highlighting your meta skills at the top of the dedicated “skills” section on your resume or integrating them into your professional experience or summary is crucial.
Why you need meta skills in today’s workforce
Given the state of the job market, I think it’s safe to say that job security is top of mind for everyone, and this is one of the biggest reasons why you need meta skills. “In today’s AI-transforming market, meta skills aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re your career insurance policy,” Florian said. Not only do they demonstrate that you’re the type of employee who will continually grow and evolve, but they also stand out in a world that’s dominated by technology. Similarly, HR Expert and CEO of Toggl Hire, Alari Aho, says a strong learning ability is the ultimate career differentiator right now. “While technical skills may get you an interview, it’s your ability to learn and apply 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, none of this is to say that you don’t need to develop AI skills in today’s market. Rather, it means that you need to show you’re the employee who can navigate AI tools seamlessly while remaining deeply human. “Workers who’ve mastered AI tools are becoming more productive, but it’s not just technical mastery; it’s the human skills layered on top,” Rose explained. “Similarly, the most valuable employees are those who can augment AI’s data processing with human insight, empathy, and creative problem-solving.”
How to strengthen your meta skills as you progress in your career
1. Continually audit and exercise your skills
According to Fisher, abilities such as critical thinking and emotional intelligence will keep you ready to tackle whatever comes next in your career. So to determine which ones you have and need to work on, she recommends auditing your skillset. Think about what you do well, the areas you could improve in, and which skills you’re lacking entirely. If you’re unsure about anything, don’t be afraid to reach out to your colleagues and mentors for feedback; everyone loves an employee who’s all about self-growth.
Additionally, be sure to exercise the skills you do have. After all, if you don’t use ‘em, you lose ‘em. This might mean volunteering for cross-functional projects, offering to lead a meeting, or simply stepping outside of your comfort zone. “Small steps to stockpile these in-demand skills now will pay off big later on,” Fisher explained.
2. Show yourself off
People typically don’t like a show-off, but when it comes to your career, Fisher says it’s a necessity. “Visibility is your career currency—you have to ‘show what you know’ to stay top of mind,” she explained simply. This means leading with your skills during your job search and demonstrating how you’ve used meta skills in the past. According to Fisher, the best way to do this is to practice answering traditional interview questions:
- “Tell me about a time you solved a tough problem.”
- “Can you provide an example of a time when something didn’t go your way and how you worked through it?”
- “How have you resolved disagreements with colleagues?”
3. Don’t forget to be human
As cheesy as it sounds, there’s only one of you, and no automated system can ever take your place. This is why Rose implores you to remain human and embrace your uniqueness even as the world of work changes. “The bottom line: Meta skills aren’t built in isolation—they’re built in the messy middle of human interaction,” he said. Interact with colleagues regularly, or schedule video calls to connect with others. Maintaining your humanness and staying connected will ultimately strengthen your meta skills. Rose also encourages you to “share personal stories about your career missteps, be vulnerable about what you don’t know yet, and build real connections with people who challenge your thinking.”
4. Brush up on one skill at a time
The sheer amount of technological developments happening at work, combined with the endless sea of competitive job seekers in the market, can feel incredibly overwhelming. This, in turn, can create a sense of urgency and anxiety because you’re desperate to keep up. However, Fisher says, “You don’t have to learn everything all at once! Instead, pick one skill you want to brush up on, and focus on doing a little bit every day.”
Since AI and human skills are the future of work, Fisher recommends focusing your attention on growing in those areas. Find out if your employer offers sponsored skill or certification programs; this will help you save money and demonstrate your career dedication. Otherwise, online learning courses, podcasts, and books are also phenomenal resources. LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Sophia Learning have courses that won’t break the bank, and listening to the Tech World Human Skills podcast will give you insight into the human skills needed to thrive in the tech-driven world.
When it comes down to it, none of us can stop the workforce from changing. Instead of fighting it, the best thing we can do is continually put our best foot forward. Nothing is certain, but by embracing change and using meta skills to adapt, Aho assures us that “you’re not just preparing for your next role—you’re future-proofing your entire career.”
Experts Consulted
Catherine Fisher
Catherine Fisher is a Global Marketing and Communications Leader, LinkedIn Career Expert, and the Author of the Career Companion Newsletter. Fisher leads integrated data and consumer communications in her role at LinkedIn, and she is passionate about building and leading cross-functional teams that deliver business impact and providing people with the opportunity to continue to learn and grow in their career.
Florian Rose
Florian Rose is a Talent Lead for Business & Growth at Cleo in Brighton, UK, with over 8 years in talent acquisition. Previously, he served as Senior Talent Partner at Cleo, Talent Manager at Juggle, and held positions at Too Good To Go, including Interim Team Lead for Global Talent Acquisition. His experience includes 5+ years as Senior Consultant at HoffmannGastrock.
Alari Aho
Alari Aho is an HR expert and the CEO of Toggl Hire, which is a recruitment software and full-cylcle hiring platform on a mission to revolutionize the way companies hire by prioritizing skills-first hiring.