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Ask HN: What is the skill worth investing for next 20 years?

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Re: Ask HN: What is the skill worth investing for next 20 years?

#11

Post by p1esk »

inconfident2021 wrote: post #10
akulbe wrote: post #9

Public speaking. Sales. Being a good human.

I agree with public speaking. Whenever I see someone able to even create a video and upload with a face, I am in awe with their confidence. Public speaking just takes everything to the next level. How can people be so confident about themselves? For example some technical blogger post it like they own their posts. Going through that feels like the author is a all-knowing being. How does that even kick in within a per…

Most public speaking relevant to technology is reading slides. Not exactly an awe-inspiring task.

And some other kinds of public speaking (e.g. Trump’s or Biden’s speeches) are so bad that I sincerely believe any moderately intelligent person should be able to do better.

Technical blogger videos are not public speaking - there is plenty of editing.

Re: Ask HN: What is the skill worth investing for next 20 years?

#12

Post by jononor »

Understanding the customer. Understanding the problems to be solved. Understanding systems. Being able to design and implement systems. Being able to communicate value to the customer. Ability to learn new things. Ability to adapt available solutions to particular circumstances. Ability to select appropriate technology for the problems at hand.

Technology comes and goes, engineering fundamentals are still behind it all.

Re: Ask HN: What is the skill worth investing for next 20 years?

#13

Post by akulbe »

akulbe wrote: post #9

Public speaking. Sales. Being a good human.

It's funny I get downvoted for things that'll outlast technology whims and fads.

Learning how to communicate well, will serve you well no matter what industry you're in.

Knowing how to sell will serve you well, and also solve problems for LOTS of businesses.

Being a good human involves a hell of a lot more than just technology.

We'd do ourselves well to get out of our collective tech bubble. There's a MUCH larger world out there than just we see on the screen.

It seems as if there is perhaps a narrow-minded view here that assumes technological skills are the only ones worthwhile.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

ESPECIALLY in this era where folks are so paranoid about AI replacing people/jobs.

Being more human will win. Those are skills absolutely worth investing in.

Re: Ask HN: What is the skill worth investing for next 20 years?

#14

Post by inconfident2021 »

jononor wrote: post #12

Understanding the customer. Understanding the problems to be solved. Understanding systems. Being able to design and implement systems. Being able to communicate value to the customer. Ability to learn new things. Ability to adapt available solutions to particular circumstances. Ability to select appropriate technology for the problems at hand. Technology comes and goes, engineering fundamentals are still behind it a…

How can one demonstrate this skill? When academics look for grades and HR looks for buzz word. Is there some keywords that people are missing which will help them demonstrate it?

Re: Ask HN: What is the skill worth investing for next 20 years?

#15

Post by ensocode »

inconfident2021 wrote: post #14
jononor wrote: post #12

Understanding the customer. Understanding the problems to be solved. Understanding systems. Being able to design and implement systems. Being able to communicate value to the customer. Ability to learn new things. Ability to adapt available solutions to particular circumstances. Ability to select appropriate technology for the problems at hand. Technology comes and goes, engineering fundamentals are still behind it a…

How can one demonstrate this skill? When academics look for grades and HR looks for buzz word. Is there some keywords that people are missing which will help them demonstrate it?

I guess only extensive experience will show that

Re: Ask HN: What is the skill worth investing for next 20 years?

#17

Post by jononor »

inconfident2021 wrote: post #14
jononor wrote: post #12

Understanding the customer. Understanding the problems to be solved. Understanding systems. Being able to design and implement systems. Being able to communicate value to the customer. Ability to learn new things. Ability to adapt available solutions to particular circumstances. Ability to select appropriate technology for the problems at hand. Technology comes and goes, engineering fundamentals are still behind it a…

How can one demonstrate this skill? When academics look for grades and HR looks for buzz word. Is there some keywords that people are missing which will help them demonstrate it?

In the CV, make sure that the effects/outcomes of your work is described (not just the role/activities). But on the CV screening stage one probably still needs to play the buzzword game. Tailor as well as you can to the role in question though.

It is mostly at th interview stage that the above skills can be demonstrated. Most effective by showing that you know exactly what they do, what they need, and how hiring you will help get there.

But remember that skill building and job seeking is quite different things. The latter is mostly about finding out what people want to hear/see, and communicating that.

Re: Ask HN: What is the skill worth investing for next 20 years?

#19

Post by markus_zhang »

Soft skills if you want to work with people. Yes most SWE work more with people than computers.

Strong fundamental CS skills (e.g. getting through MIT/Berkely CS core courses with all assignments and projects done properly) if you don't like working with people. (don't get me wrong, still has to work with other people, but you get to choose which people to work with)

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