Improve Your Skills, Improve Your Worth

posted on Jan 25, 2019

Skills employers are looking for in 2019

Every now and then, you need to take a retreat to upgrade your resume with relevant skills needed to make you work smarter, achieve more and forge ahead in your career.

When talking about job skills, we should be aware that they are divided into two sections: soft skills and hard skills. Soft skills are the type of abilities that can't be proven with a certificate or degree, and because they can't be automated, they're increasingly in demand and take time and more effort to be noticed by others. Soft skills have to be done repeatedly over time for it to become a skill. They include skills like collaboration, creativity, negotiation, time and risk management, etc.

Hard skills, on the other hand, is quite different and more rigorous than soft skills. They have to be learned as a course, practiced and certified through a test or examination process. Unlike soft skills, hard skills have to be backed up by certification, while soft skill would be realized over time. The similarities they both have is that they both require action and time for it to be perfected.

In 2019, employers are hoping to see their employees improve on some soft skills and also train some when necessary on some hard skills to ensure they become better at their task and achieve goals without limitations and on time.

Some of the soft skills are;

Creativity: This is perhaps one of the skills that would remain relevant for growth in any business. There is a problem to solve and that’s why there is a business, therefore, employers’ needs employees that are able to think outside the box to solve a problem with an unorthodox approach.

Time Management: The world is evolving fast and in business, there is a need to catch up with the trends that pertain to your industry in order to keep your customers closer. Therefore, employers need their employees that can use their time effectively and productively to achieve more goals within a short period of time.

Adaptability: Constant change is the new norm. Based on the daily change in technology, innovation, and world business policies, employers need to be sure that their employees can adapt to the trends and would consistently stay abreast of things for easy adaptation.

Some of the Hard Skills are:

Data and Analytical Reasoning: Every business needs information about their clients and/or customers in order to serve them better. This is why employers are looking for people who can read and analyze data and make profitable decisions from it.

Digital Marketing: Now that everything is done online including sending and receiving money, employers need digital marketers that understand the digital space, trends, and data and also use data to develop content that resonates with the target audience and the business objectives.

People Management: The world has moved from rigid business policies that promote a “command-and-control” model to flexible and empowering policies that promote creativity, productivity, staff work fulfillment, and overall growth. Which is why employers need professionals that can coach and lead the people that work with them for the overall success of the organization.

These are just a few of the many skills employers are seeking for in 2019, and if you already have one of these skills, then lucky you.