Used to be you’d get a funny look if you had frequent job changes on your resume.

Now, job-hopping, or having one or more career pivot or career change, is becoming desirable and even necessary. What’s causing this shift? I have a theory.

If you change jobs frequently, but have quantifiable data that demonstrates success, you probably have some of the most valuable, sought-after skills in the market today: SOFT SKILLS

Start developing and promoting these skills everywhere: on your resume, to your network, and especially in a job interview.

Soft skills like adaptability, collaboration, communication, and emotional intelligence are taking a commanding lead with employers, for a variety of reasons:

[1] Robots can’t replace what makes us human (yet)

While automation is dominating many industries, soft skills are nearly impossible to program, so it seems the more human you are, the more marketable you will remain as an employee.

In her recent article on automation, Alison Doyle of The Balance Careers writes,

“Employers are expected to rely increasingly on computers to do jobs that humans currently perform. About half of all employees’ tasks could become automated using today’s technology.”

That number, ‘half of all employee’s tasks,’ is just using the technology available right now, not even taking into account technology in the works!

With these kinds of sweeping reforms to the workforce and job market, human skills (soft skills) are going to be more important than ever.

[2] Things are changing, quickly

With the integration of Artificial Intelligence, a large percentage of the workforce will need to be retrained. Flexibility, adaptability, and critical thinking skills will be required to keep up with new training demands.

Bernard Marr, a Forbes contributor, wrote, “From how we are recruited and on-boarded to how we go about on-the-job training, personal development and eventually passing on our skills and experience to those who follow in our footsteps, AI technology will play an increasingly prominent role.”

[3] Company culture and image

Companies are now creating happy, healthy and socially conscious cultures within themselves. Diversity and cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and collaboration are some of the more in-demand soft skills for 2020.

“We believe that it’s really important to come up with core values that you can commit to. And by commit, we mean that you’re willing to hire and fire based on them. If you’re willing to do that, then you’re well on your way to building a company culture that is in line with the brand you want to build.”

– Tony Hsieh, Zappos

[4] Creativity can’t be faked

Every company needs creative employees. And, creativity is a skill that can be developed. If you’re ‘not a creative person,’ it’s only because you haven’t properly developed your creative side. Go ahead, give it a try- it’s fun to create stuff!

“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things.”

– Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple Inc.