Millions of people are leaving their jobs, either retiring early or hoping for something better, which means millions of potential vacancies moving forward. Employers in many industries are struggling to find employees; the requisite skills and proficiencies continue to evolve, and knowing what employers are after can be challenging. With that as our backdrop, below are 6 skills that will get you hired in 2022.
Digital and Technical Literacy
Jobs in 2022 will be more reliant on computers and other technological equipment, especially given the explosion of software as a service over the past two years. Knowing how to quickly find information on the internet, using various operating systems and navigating cloud-based software are must-have skills for your resume. Mastering several apps as they pertain to your potential field is also important. There may be new software that you must quickly learn, or you may be required to demonstrate your skills in order to teach an existing employee on the new program.
You should always try to familiarize yourself as much as possible with the various applications and software that are likely used in a given industry. While it is usually impossible to know with certainty which companies are using which tech tools, you can do some preliminary research into the commonly used ones, and more importantly, the types of tools used, before submitting a resume or going in for an interview. If you can demonstrate that you are a technologically literate person, to begin with, and also that you have a base knowledge of the tools already in use in the industry, you will be a stand out candidate.
Data Analysis
Though people in the technology industry may have the most expertise with data analytics, it is becoming increasingly vital for employees in any field to be able to look at and understand a basic data set. This will allow them to make more informed strategic decisions, debate their performance and achievements and set new KPIs when necessary. While it may not be required for every profession every day, data analytics abilities will only become more important in the future. Data analysis is something you can pick up through previous work experience, and even on your own, but these skills are typically best acquired by pursuing a data science education.
Adaptability
Many organizations recognize the importance of this skill (which may be more akin to a personality trait) during the pandemic and want to ensure that new staff have it. Whether an employee's workload needs to be adjusted as the company re-staffs or expands, or if the location of their position moves, adaptability is always a plus. This demonstrates to staff that you are willing to roll with the punches in order to achieve success and that you can handle change on the fly and are able to remain productive and in the right frame of mind while it happens.
Adaptability will continue to be one of the most necessary soft skills moving forward as the world of work continues to experience a tremendous amount of upheaval. Everything from automation to millions of people resigning from their jobs is reshaping what working in the 21st-century means. Success in the workplace will mean being able to contend with all of this flux without succumbing to the stress and potential burnout.
Empathy
Empathy is a valuable trait to have, especially in management jobs. This ensures that you will be able to participate in and foster a diplomatic, prosocial work environment, settling disputes with tact and interacting and collaborating with coworkers from diverse backgrounds. Emphasizing your empathy demonstrates to your new employer that you are capable of becoming a team leader, are willing to work with others, can see things from different perspectives, and are therefore capable of compromising, and will go out of your way to make people feel comfortable.
Cross-Cultural Communication
Cross-cultural communication is another favoured soft skill by employers because of the multicultural nature of the modern workforce. The labour market is global, and organizations frequently employ people from around the world, with teams dispersed across continents and time zones. English will rarely be the first language of all of your teammates, and western culture is not always going to be the default either. If you can indicate to employers that you have experience working, communicating and building relationships with diverse people, you are already an attractive hire.
Cross-cultural communication can also signal to an employer that you are someone who understands the cultural and political sensitivities of the modern workplace. A lot has changed in the past two years, including what is expected of employers and their workforce with respect to social justice and sensitivity towards marginalized groups.
Time Management
This is an experience-based skill for your resume. Multiple needs may have to be satisfied concurrently with blended workforces functioning across multiple counties or even continents. In most jobs, time is of the essence. It is critical to demonstrate that you know how to best spend your time to produce the best results, especially if you work remotely.
Conclusion
Possessing the above skills and competencies give you a very solid base with which to apply for jobs, impress during interviews and succeed in any role in any industry. Obviously there are required technical skills that candidates need to possess in order to be considered for various positions, but the above traits are ones that are applicable and add value anywhere you go.