Top 10 Insights 2024

Generalist and Specialist Skills

Industry says there's a growing demand for people with generalist skills who have a broad set of competencies which enable them to perform well across various tasks and disciplines.

Generalist skills such as problem-solving, innovation and effective communication are becoming increasingly important for employability across industries.

Professionals like Daniella Gullotta (below) are discovering that specialist expertise alone may not be enough to thrive in today’s workplace.

As the world becomes more automated and generative AI improves productivity, these skills hold more value to employers. For instance, as data emerges as the 'new currency,' workers must be able to interpret and communicate its business value effectively.

As demand for generalist skills grows, stakeholders note that balancing generalist and specialist skills is crucial, as current training may overly emphasise specialist skills.

Stakeholders advocate for new benchmarks and recognition systems to validate and promote generalist skills, enabling a more adaptable workforce.

Transforming insights into Action

FSO has identified the opportunity to uplift generalist digital skills at scale across the workforce. Specifically, this work will include training products which will be focused on Generative AI and Cyber. Our training packages will be developed to ensure due focus on both generalist and specialist skill sets.

Coding and Collaborating: Daniella’s evolutionary story

A photo of Daniella Gollotta in a large room with industrial lighting and rows of computers.

Daniella Gollotta is a software engineering specialist who is passionate about technology and its potential to solve real-world problems.

Her career journey began with a network and software engineering course where she acquired specialist skills and technical know-how.

“However, I came to the realisation that while such skills are important, they alone aren’t enough to succeed. Technology is always evolving, yet skills for human-to-human interaction are timeless,” she said.

“You need to be able to be self-aware, communicate clearly, listen actively, give and receive feedback, resolve conflicts and motivate others.”

To help, she chose the Evolutioned program: “Now my strong generalist skills will play a pivotal role in my career trajectory, enabling me to excel in collaborative environments and effectively communicate complex technical concepts," she added.

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