Employers often say that what they want are articulate recruits, with good self awareness, good thinking skills, flexible minds and the ability to make good decision.
In contrast to routine knowledge and skills, flexible problem solving is associated with the ability to apply one's knowledge structures in relatively new situations.
Interviewees commented on the importance of mentorship and a positive organisational culture; and the opportunity for academic freedom and creativity, using discipline-specific knowledge and skills, flexible working arrangements, and a strong shared vision of why their work was important.
These skills and attributes--presentation skills, writing skills, a flexible work attitude, multitasking--are developed by most postdocs during their time at the bench, but they're often undervalued by employers and--especially--by ourselves.
The danger is that the baby boomers will focus government attention on retirement and healthcare, while the opinions of the young go unheeded about the likes of lifetime education, skill development, flexible working and transitions.
On the other hand, a principal who wants to reduce stress in his school might have to look beyond EF skills, and focus on broader skills including emotion regulation, coping skills, and flexible problem-solving or planning.
It would require a family-friendly economy – a living wage, equal pay for women, skills training, flexible and secure employment, and affordable homes so that mothers and fathers have more opportunity to negotiate work, housework, child care and free time.
The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia look set for growth of 3-5%.The Baltic countries will surge ahead thanks to their low taxes, high skills and flexible labour laws.
The third way offers a society of free market opportunity and enterprise that extends to those left outside the means to join it through training in skills, a flexible labour market and, ideally, help with family responsibilities such as child care or care of elderly parents.
A report by Deutsche Bank argues that firms are moving towards a collaborative "project economy" that demands more "soft skills" and flexible working practices.Germany's birth rate jumped last year to its highest since 1990 thanks to parents' pay, perhaps, but it may also have owed much to the buoyant economy.
