Top 10 job skills in demand now

Experts at coding, Web development, and digital marketing, will be on every organisation's hiring list, points out Narayan Mahadevan.

Likely, the organisations will never be able to completely embrace a full-time onsite work culture owing to a gamut of benefits remote working offers.

With increased productivity and reduced office expenses, it is a win-win situation for most organisations.

It can be said that the pandemic has changed the future of working and the digital mode is here to stay.

But as workspace evolves, it calls for a certain skill set essential to survive in the transitioned work environment.

Here are 10 skills that will be highly in demand, just in case you wish to seek a job in the post-pandemic world.

1. Flexibility and adaptability

Irrespective of the working model, the ability to adapt to ever-evolving workplaces and to continuously update and refresh one's skills, still reign supreme at most organisations.

The pandemic has changed how the companies are going to operate in the future.

And newer modes of working will pave the way for newer technologies.

Success in the post-pandemic world will rely on how fast an individual can adjust to this change.

2. Sales and marketing

The task requires persuasion but for a specific commercial end in mind.

It may look like a regular skill, but will be the most sought after in the post-COVID-19 scenario.

An increased sensitivity towards price will make the consumer reduce expenses to compensate for the financial losses incurred during the outbreak.

Convincing someone to open their wallets and pay for a service is going to be a tough job, especially when the user has become selective with needs and wants.

3. Video production

Mobile video communication is becoming the prime form of communication.

Companies are in a haste to create effective digital video assets to be used as a training resource for potential recruits. This allows the company to document transition in an easily-transferable format to be used as a reference in years to come.

4. Technical skills

Companies are adopting the latest technologies at a very rapid rate to weather the impact of the pandemic on their businesses.

For example, real-estate players are leveraging AR (Augmented Reality) to enable virtual walkthroughs on their digital platforms for their guests to remotely experience the property amidst social distancing.

The knowledge of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, big data, Internet of Things, virtual and augmented reality, and robotics is a must-have to amplify your chances at any job.

5. Creativity and innovation

The post-COVID time will need brains adept at creativity and innovation to sail through the transitioning landscape.

Devising new ways of work, forming new partnerships, the ability to invent new products, or out-of-the-box services to deal with the 'new normal' will be coveted skills in every workplace.

6. Digital and coding skills 

The online transition at such a massive scale was possible only because there were people out there possessing great levels of digital skills.

As of now, every company has some digital base. So there is no dispute that employees who can keep your business running and thriving will be in demand everywhere.

Experts at coding, Web development, and digital marketing, will be on every organisation's hiring list.

Apart from these, knowledge of new-age solutions such as club computing and blockchain is a hot seller in the employment space.

7. Critical thinking

With the COVID outbreak, we have seen a surge in the number of fake news and misinterpretation of data or studies.

It could have been backed by a leader, individual or an organisation to evade scrutiny, divert attention, or just create panic.

It is obvious that every information should not be trusted, making critical thinking crucial for informed decision-making.

In the post-pandemic world, there will be a demand for people who can objectively evaluate diverse sources of data to reach credible information. This skill will be highly valued in the future.

8. Leadership

Never think that leadership is all about managing or supervising others or is a skill restricted to managers.

It is also about being self-aware and holding yourself accountable, embracing feedback from peers and superiors, etc.

As the world continues to work remotely, one will be required to work in teams taking leads at different times.

Thus, individuals with good leadership skills, including inspiring teams or encouraging collaboration, will be in demand.

9. Eagerness to learn 

Studies reveal that Generation X and Y displayed similar levels of digital skills when adopting remote working.

In fact, millennials struggled to adapt to the technology during WFH. This can be credited to the ever-evolving tech space.

The greatest technology of today can go obsolete tomorrow. This brings the focus to upskilling as a resort in the currently tight job market.

The zeal to learn new skills as well as upgrade the existing ones go a long way in future-proofing the employment.

Professionals with advanced and expert job skills will be in demand and will likely struggle less during recruitments.

10. Data Literacy

Data drives analytics. The right data helps companies predict the impact of business disruptions better.

Plus, it also assists in serving the consumer with the right products and services relevant during or post-pandemic.

Though the job of sourcing the data is masterfully completed using Artificial Intelligence in most organisations, it needs a keen and expert eye to navigate through the massive data sets and extract valuable information/trends from them.

Those who can sift through this information and understand its context are better equipped to make good business decisions and are no less than assets for businesses during the economic slowdowns such as the current ones.

Narayan Mahadevan is founder, BridgeLabz, an incubator that aims to bridge the employability gap.