Rapid changes are taking place in the world. Automation and artificial intelligence have led to a change in skills in demand.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, this process was further accelerated since we changed our work, consumption, and living habits.
The way companies operate has had to change for them to survive. Consequently, many of their employees were retrained to acquire new skills. These new skills will assist them in meeting job demands. No matter if you decide to take on the same role at a new company or entirely change careers.
After a pandemic, employers and job seekers must identify the most in-demand skills.
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What are in-demand skills?
There are certain skills that are in high demand in particular sectors or industries of the job market. Candidates with high-demand skills have a better chance of success in the application process.
In other words, there are more positions than qualified candidates when the demand for that skill exceeds the supply.
Companies hiring candidates with in-demand skills are more competitive than those without.
Among the skills in demand are technical skills (hard skills) and soft skills (human skills). Here’s how they differ.
Technical skills
Skills you gain through education, training, and experience are called technical skills. Technical skills are what makes you a professional.
When hiring, HR managers must ensure that candidates’ hard skills match the technical requirements of the position.
For example, a photographer would be expected to have specialized Photoshop and social media management skills. Currently, the tools a technical role needs are constantly changing. Technically skilled professionals can quickly learn new tools on the job.
The best strategy for a candidate is to apply to jobs that closely match their technical skills and experience.
Soft skills
The term interpersonal or human skills are also used to describe soft skills. An individual’s ability to communicate effectively with others is called interactivity.
All work is based on soft skills, which are highly valued. It is impossible to collaborate without them. Working with others is easier when you possess strong human skills (and emotional intelligence).
Other people are more likely to cooperate with you when they are treated with kindness, empathy, and respect.
Soft skills can be learned or developed by anyone. Some people naturally possess more soft skills than others, but that does not mean they cannot be acquired.
To find the best leaders, recruiters should focus on candidates with well-developed soft skills. Employers look for soft skills in candidates, so candidates should develop them.
Why it’s important to know which job skills are in demand
Changing job skills are in the market as the world changes rapidly. Other skills become obsolete as new ones become relevant.
McKinsey reports that 87% of executives face skills gaps. Companies that can fill these gaps faster will be more competitive.
Candidates can gain an advantage in the job market by identifying and developing the most in-demand skills.
Here are a few reasons why understanding job market trends is essential for employers and candidates.
Employers’ role in the process
To hire the right candidates, employers need to know what skills are most in demand.
The future should be prepared by identifying the skills organizations will need in the coming years. Market trends can help.
The way many traditional advertising agencies currently work has had to change to ensure their competitiveness. Through technological advances, advertising space can now be bought through software.
The company’s employees were formerly responsible for selling advertising space and maintaining client relations. Taking on new roles within a company requires these team members to learn new skills.
Additionally, they will want to hire workers with the skills needed in the future and reskill their existing workforce.
Relevance for candidates
To succeed in your chosen profession, you need to know what employers are seeking and what is likely to be in demand in the future.
Some people are unaware that soft skills are important. Yet employers increasingly value soft skills. We are likely to see this trend continue.
A candidate who develops and shows excellent soft skills is more likely to be hired.
How To Learn In-Demand Skills
If you desire to learn any of the in-demand skills, then you need to understand the processes you must complete to kickstart and complete the process. These steps include:
Pick any Skill
You probably want to learn a lot of skills. Nevertheless, you don’t need to try to learn them all. Your chances of learning some skills are much higher than others.
When do you most likely succeed when you try to learn a new skill? If a skill meets the following criteria, you’re most likely to persist:
- You are passionate about it; it’s something you enjoy doing
- You will be able to solve a problem you’re having, or it will directly pertain to your life.
You won’t be motivated to persevere until you learn a new skill if you view learning a new skill as just an academic exercise or something nice to know how to do. To understand the right talent, you must choose it first.
Set Specific Timeline
Parkinson’s Law is well known. Learning a new skill will become more difficult the longer you give it to yourself to understand; this is the law of diminishing returns. On the other hand, it is also true that the reverse is true. Learning a skill in a shorter time frame requires less effort.
Give yourself a deadline to master the new skill by using Parkinson’s Law.
Shoot For Excellence
Once again, research will help you develop the belief that even if you lack innate talent or don’t have a lot of experience, you can still learn new skills.
There is a saying that a new skill requires 10,000 hours to master. However, that’s false. The rule states not that it takes 10,000 hours to learn a new skill but that it takes that long to become world-class at any given skill.
Trying to become the best at a new skill isn’t necessary. Try to be as good as you can be. You won’t need to spend 10,000 hours on getting “good enough.”.
Never Stop Learning
Learning new skills requires you to believe that your brain is plastic. The idea that the brain’s connections become fixed as people age was long held. The brain, however, has shown that it can be molded in a surprisingly malleable way. This malleability is known as plasticity.
Learning changes the brain continuously. Regardless of age, when you learn a new skill, you will grow the areas in your brain that deal with that skill.
Learn as much as possible about the skill you are interested in by looking at books, YouTube videos, tutorials, courses, etc.
Always choose reputable sources. Take the time to quickly review your resources to identify what you need to do to learn the skill.
At this point, do not get entangled in details. You are trying to build a general mental picture of what you will do to learn the skill.
Start Practicing
To date, you have researched your skill, maybe you have asked an expert for some advice, and perhaps you have watched someone perform the skill. Your research has helped you deconstruct the skill and identify its key components.
Where are you still lacking? You haven’t done anything. Although preparation is important, it is essential not to get bogged down. Focus on getting started as soon as possible.
Get Mentored
You would fail to achieve a lot faster if you don’t get the proper mentoring and guidance from mentors and those with a higher level of experience in the field. When you should have done more, you might struggle to boost through a little challenge.
By taking an interest in researching, you can discover these experienced professionals so you learn from them.
Join a Community
A community is a place of interaction. Many communities offer value and also play as discussion forums for professionals with a particular interest and experience in a position to interact. Like Github enables developers to thrive, there are other communities for you.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a hiring manager overseeing an HR strategy or a candidate looking for a new role, knowing the top in-demand skills for your industry can give you a competitive advantage.
For hiring organizations, anticipating market changes can help you foresee which skills will be most in demand. This will make your company more resilient to disruptions.
For candidates, knowing which skills companies are looking for can help you align your skills to the roles that you’re the best fit for. This can make you a strong candidate and improve your chances of success.
References
- Daring to Live Fully – 30 Tips for Learning Any Skill Fast
- Zapier – Top 10 Strategies for Learning New Skills
- BetterUp – Which 13 in-demand skills will land your next role?
- Online Course Report – 30 Most Lucrative Skills You Can Learn Online
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