Assessing Your Career Skills in an AI-Driven World
Certainly, the integration of AI and insights means that some insights jobs and skills will adapt or transform. This workplace transformation is not without risks and rewards. It’s a changing insights landscape, and while many see AI as an enhancement, others may see the technology as a threat. Still, there may be some ways to future-proof your career, reinforcing some skills, adapting to new ways of working and adjusting to changing dynamics in your daily operations and development.
Insight Global, in its blog, “4 Tips to Future Proof Your Career in an AI-Driven World,” looks at some ways to future-proof. In a first step, it’s important to assess your capabilities, weigh the capabilities of AI-based systems and think about the scope of your work and the new technology. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Which of my current tasks could be automated by AI today?
- What parts of my work are at risk of AI impact in the next decade?
- How could AI enhance my current or future work?
- Could AI integrate with humans to work more effectively?
From there, it’s important to learn digital skills to adapt, suggests Insight Global. This is a process of reskilling and upskilling, focusing on key strengths and weaknesses. Stay focused on relevant skills to your job and its future. “This technical knowledge will allow you to adapt to an AI-enabled future and be ready to leverage these powerful tools to create value and stay valued,” says Insight Global.
Next, prioritize building soft skills that pertain to the insights discipline. Leveraging AI is one thing but some debate whether a human touch will always be needed to guide these systems. Soft skills may include creativity, strategic communication, empathy, human-centricity and more.
Insight Global also advises embracing continuous learning. Whether or not you are concerned about AI, change is constant. Embracing an educational mindset will keep your skills updated.
Advancing Your Insights Career
Upskilling and reskilling will always remain important to advance your career skills. All Things Insights examined this aspect in, “Learning the Soft Skills of Market Research.” Skills can be developed in a variety of ways in the insights workplace to create an effective, versatile employee with a diverse arsenal of competencies. In market research, both hard and soft skills are important and can be effectively developed through training both internally and externally. Hard skills may ensure that an employee is equipped and trained with the right skills to get the job done, such as analytics and data science. However, there are other softer, more behavioral types of skills that are more interpersonal, and relationship focused.
Looking forward to TMRE 2024? The conference, which will be held October 8 to 10, will also feature a special pre-conference event on Monday, October 7: AI in Action Summit 2024, which will include a range of workshops and sessions. One highlight is the “Keynote Panel: Future-Proofing Your Profession: Upskilling in an AI-Driven World.” In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, the integration of AI is transforming industries and reshaping job roles. However, rather than viewing AI as a threat, it’s time to embrace it as a tool and partner in enhancing our professional capabilities.
This session explores strategies to future-proof your profession through upskilling in an AI-driven world, emphasizing the importance of human skills alongside technical expertise. Join us to discover how you can thrive in an AI-driven future while maintaining the essential human touch in your profession. The panel includes Christina Nathanson, Director, Market Research at Quest Diagnostics; Daniel Hirst; Senior UX Researcher, Research and Insights at Vivint Smart Home; and James Newswanger, Lecturer, Department of Applied Analytics at Columbia University. Register for TMRE 2024 here.
Developing a Strategic Mindset
While the rapid advancement of AI is transforming the insights landscape, let’s not discount the advantages and skills of human insights translators (to coin a term). We asked Gemini how to future-proof your insights career. Focus on these key areas:
- Develop technical proficiency: Gain a solid understanding of AI algorithms, machine learning, and data analysis techniques.
- Learn to leverage AI tools: Become proficient in using AI-powered market research platforms and software.
- Understand AI limitations: Recognize the strengths and weaknesses of AI to effectively complement human insights.
- Enhance storytelling abilities: Develop the ability to translate complex data and AI insights into compelling narratives.
- Strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving: AI can process data, but humans are needed to interpret and apply insights strategically.
- Build strong client relationships: Focus on building trust and rapport with clients, understanding their needs, and providing tailored solutions.
- Explore new research methodologies: Be open to experimenting with innovative research approaches to gain a competitive edge.
- Understand the business context: Gain a deep understanding of your organization’s goals and challenges.
- Think beyond the data: Use insights to inform broader business strategy and drive growth.
- Collaborate across functions: Work closely with other departments to ensure insights are leveraged effectively.
A Window into the Future of Insights
By combining technical expertise with human-centric skills, staying updated on industry trends, and adopting a strategic mindset, insights professionals can thrive in the AI-driven world and become invaluable assets to their organizations.
AI will no doubt continue to transform the data science and insights worlds, as well as individual careers. While new technology may cause concern, it’s also important to be proactive, expand your skills and unlock new opportunities. The time to prepare for the future starts now.
Video courtesy of The Wall Street Journal
