39% of core skills will change by 2030

This figure from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 is a real wake-up call for me. Because it makes one thing very clear: the half-life of skills is becoming increasingly shorter. And this also changes the way companies should think about hiring and appointments.

The key question today is no longer simply: “Who meets the requirements of this position?” It is much more: “Who can grow with the demands of the future?”

The report clearly shows which skills will continue to grow in importance in the years ahead:

• Adaptability and resilience

• Analytical and critical thinking

• Leadership skills and the ability to influence

• Willingness to learn and curiosity

• The ability to navigate complex, rapidly changing situations

What stands out is that it is not just about technology or specialist expertise. It is equally about mindset, behavior and development potential. And this, in my view, is precisely where the crucial point in Executive Search lies.

A CV always describes the past. A leadership role, however, is ultimately about the future. That is why it is not enough to match profiles against a list of requirements.

What matters is understanding more deeply:

• How does this person lern?

• How do they deal with change?

• How do they lead people in uncertain situations?

• And how do they continue to develop themselves?

Perhaps, then, we should think less in terms of static criteria when selecting leaders, and more in terms of development trajectories. Not just: "Does this person fit today?” But also: “Will they still fit tomorrow – and be able to grow beyond that?”

Source: World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2025