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Essential Soft Skills for Young Professionals

Jennifer Dulski, a prominent leader with experience at Google and Facebook, asserts that the most important skills for young professionals today are not technical. In a discussion with Business Insider, Dulski shared insights accumulated from her extensive career in the tech sector, encouraging early-career individuals to prioritise soft skills over hard skills.

Dulski, who was Director of Product Management for Google Shopping between 2011 and 2012 and later led community initiatives at Facebook in the late 2010s, now runs a leadership coaching software firm and instructs at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Her advice to the newer generations is straightforward: attributes like adaptability, communication, and proactive thinking outweigh specific technical abilities.

“The hard skills that may be required change so swiftly that a list cannot be made, but soft skills genuinely drive a career forward,” Dulski communicated to Business Insider.

Adaptability in an Ever-Changing Industry

Dulski’s career in technology commenced in 1998 with an internship at Yahoo, which led her to a permanent role in the marketing department. Throughout her journey, she has observed the internet transform from a budding concept to a continuously evolving landscape, encompassing messaging, mobile services, streaming, and AI.

In the realm of Big Tech, Dulski pointed out, organisational changes, fluctuating market conditions, and global economic issues such as tariffs can disrupt strategies at a moment’s notice. To succeed in this landscape, having the ability to adapt swiftly is crucial.

An instance she shared was about a position change during her time at Yahoo. To excel, she took the initiative to request participation in meetings with other teams, allowing her to deepen her comprehension of their objectives and audience requirements.

Interconnected Skills: Learning Agility and Relationship Building

Dulski is convinced that adaptability closely aligns with learning agility, which is the capability to grasp new concepts rapidly. As AI alters the working environment, those willing to self-educate without relying on formal training will have a significant advantage.

During her early career, Dulski took the initiative to learn HTML to facilitate better collaboration with engineers. “Understanding the engineers’ language contributed to my career advancement,” she remarked to Business Insider.

Another vital soft skill is relationship building. Recognising colleagues as individuals, rather than merely by their job titles, fosters a supportive network that proves invaluable during transitions or uncertain times. This practice also enhances collaborative efforts. Dulski recalled how her early connections with engineers enabled her to implement an experimental idea that impressed the corporate leadership and advanced both their careers.

Proactive Attitude: Take Initiative Early

Dulski emphasised that junior professionals often underestimate their capacity to take initiative. The individuals who actively engage, referred to as “hand-raisers,” often receive greater responsibilities and attract quicker recognition from leadership.

In an early example, she and a colleague suggested a strategy to enhance sales between holiday peaks. Their proactive approach resulted in a successful campaign and paved the way for them to propose more significant ideas in the future.

“The most successful individuals in large organisations are those who ask, ‘How can I assist?'” she shared with Business Insider.

The Long-Term Value of Soft Skills

While Dulski acknowledges the importance of technical knowledge, such as interpreting a balance sheet or comprehending AI, she asserts that these skills are not what propelled her own career advancements.

“Soft skills hold greater long-term value and complement hard skills,” she stated. “Adaptability and a swift learning ability far outweigh any specific technical skill one might acquire.”

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