Everything is subject to change and work is no exception. The qualities of a worker today are very different from those of 40 years ago. Because of the complexity of today’s systems, workers are required to have both technical and soft skills. What are they? Why is it important to develop them?

Soft skills are now the most valued skills in the world of work. These allow to adapt to different situations and unforeseen scenarios. Over the years, work has changed significantly. New technologies were introduced to facilitate the interactions within a company. Machines have become more efficient every year. However, tools are not the only ones to have changed.  Worker’s own skills have also changed considerably over time. Whereas in the past workers were required to have technical expertise in their work domain, today there is a greater demand for transversal skills and those mainly relating to internal personal characteristics, such as interpersonal skills and logical thinking.

These are called soft skills because they are dynamic and constantly improve. They do not refer to specific sectors or activities, but to a set of behaviours and characteristics to deal with situations that may arise at any level in any human activity.  Nowadays more and more companies look for candidates with these characteristics, which they consider one of the main selection criteria. Technical knowledge continues to be important. However, having good ‘soft’ skills also means having good learning skills, which allow to acquire the hardest skills, such as the use of software.

Soft skill requirements change over time. Besides problem solving assuming central importance, the other soft skills vary over the years. Problem solving means being able to analyse a problem and then come up with the most effective and ideal solution. Whereas in 2015, companies looked for candidates with strong teamwork and people management skills, in 2020 more attention is being devoted to skills such as creativity and critical thinking (reaching a judgement through a series of accurate and informed reflections).

People working in the lifting sector need to have technical expertise because they operate machines that can cause serious damage if not used properly. However, skills that go beyond this are also essential, such as thinking deeply even in stressful situations.

These skills are highly valued at Magni. Thus, we make machines and attachments allowing our operators to carry out their work in the best possible way. They can rely on the simplicity and ease of use of our machines.