top of page
Writer's pictureJessie Desmond

How to Fix a Future "Skill Gap"

I read this article on a future “Skill Gap” that is predicted to take place (ARTICLE HERE). If you have ever put together a job resume, you may understand that you want to include some primo job skills. 25 years ago, you could still include “Typing, 75 wpm” as a skill, but things change. Now most people are growing up with computers and are simply expected to be able to type efficiently.


In the Skill Gap article by Big Think, it’s theorized that the following skills are going to be lacking by job seekers:

  • Advanced data-analysis and mathematical skills

  • Complex information processing and interpretation

  • Advanced IT skills and programming

  • Leadership and managing others

  • Critical thinking and decision making

  • Adaptability and continuous learning


How do we fix this? Simple. Take courses where you can get a certificate that is applicable to your resume. These usually have an official body behind them like a university or official group/institution. Sometimes these are free, sometimes you have to pay for the classes. I have a whole list of some fairly common certificates.


Here are some links:


Here’s a list of basic certificates that you can get that can really add to your resume.

  • First Aid/CPR/AED (Red Cross)

  • Child & Baby First Aid/CPR/AED (Red Cross)

  • Basic Life Support/CPR (Red Cross)

  • Babysitting & Child Care (Red Cross)

  • Swimming & Water Safety (Red Cross)

  • Lifeguarding (Red Cross)

  • Nurse Assistant/CNA Training (Red Cross)

  • Bloodborn Pathogens (Red Cross)

  • A+ Certification - for information technology networking/cybersecurity (Comptia)

  • Forklift Operator Certification

  • Hair Stylist Certification

  • Esthetician Certification

  • Barista Certification

  • Personal Trainer Certification

  • Sport-specific Coaching Certification

  • Accounting Technician certificate (local university)

  • Automotive Technology certificate (local university)

  • Aviation Maintenance certificate (local university)

  • Baking and Pastry Arts (local university)

  • Culinary Arts (local university)

  • Dental Assistant (local university)

  • Drafting Technology (local university)

  • Diesel/Heavy Equipment (local university)

  • Information Technology Specialist (local university)

  • Instrumentation Technology (local university)

  • Medical Assistant (local university)

  • Addiction Counseling and Prevention (local university)

  • Artificial Intelligence (local university)

  • Bioethics (local university)

  • Communication and Leadership (local university)

  • Digital Marketing (local university)

  • Marketing (local university)

  • Alternative Investments (local university)

  • State Government Leadership Excellence (local university)

  • Data Privacy and Technology (local university)

  • Foundations of Clinical Research (local university)

  • Math Leadership (local university)

  • Negotiation Mastery (local university)

  • Bookkeeping Technician (occupational endorsement via local university)

  • Basic Carpentry (occupational endorsement via local university)

  • Ethnobotany (occupational endorsement via local university)

  • Facility Maintenance (occupational endorsement via local university)

  • Medical Billing (occupational endorsement via local university)

  • Medical Coding (occupational endorsement via local university)

  • Supervision and Personnel Management (occupational endorsement via local university)

  • Sustainable Energy (occupational endorsement via local university)

  • Welding, Entry Level (occupational endorsement via local university)



Here are some general types of graduate certificates that can help boost your resume. You can check your local university for availability in your area. Be aware that these require a bachelor's degree first:

  • Arctic Security

  • Business Continuity

  • Cyber Security Management

  • Science Teaching and Outreach

  • Statistics

  • Applied and Computational Mathematics

  • Strategic Leadership

  • Accounting

  • K-12 Art Teaching

  • Teaching Certification

  • Business Analytics

  • Advanced Mathematics

  • International Relations

  • Bioinformatics

  • Corporate Sustainability and Innovation

  • Museum Studies

  • Philosophy & Ethics

  • Visual Arts



My biggest question in regards to skills is: Why don’t we leave high school with one or two of these lower-level certifications? Wouldn’t that help solve the issue of a future “skill gap”?


Leave me with your thoughts. Is this "skill gap" inevitable? Can we fix it?


3 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page