Future-proof your career: top 5 skills employers want now
Want to get ahead in your career? Explore the top five skills employers are looking for now and start future-proofing your career.
The world of work is rapidly changing. With a regular influx of newly-created jobs, the need for diversified skill sets and ever-transforming approaches to work, the skills gap is widening at a rapid rate.
According to a forecast report by Dell and the Institute for the Future (IFTF), 85% of jobs that will exist in 2030 haven’t been invented yet. Considering this, there’s never been a better time to take control of your career and upskill with intention. Get, and stay, ahead of the curve, and discover the five most important skills employers want in an employee.
#1 Writing
Company emails. Marketing material events. Presentation decks for new clients. Customer newsletters. Creative briefs. Social media posts. Meeting invites. Whether or not you work as a writer, writing is an essential part of many roles. In fact, according to a study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 73.4% of employers want a candidate with strong written communication skills.
Clear written communication aids in clear cross-team communication, boosts productivity (because being productive is easier when you understand your tasks) and is ultimately what sets businesses apart as they’re able to define their position, products, services and USPs in any industry. Plus, with the growing use of AI writing, being able to write clearly and creatively when needed will put you in a career lane of your own.
#2 AI
Speaking of AI, it’s clear that with the growing use of AI across industries, developing your understanding of all things artificial intelligence will be essential going forward. Research by Goldman Sachs suggests that roughly 300 million jobs could be threatened by AI, however, becoming AI literate will put you in a prime position to make the most of the fourth industrial revolution and future-proof your career.
Learning how to use AI prompts, automating your tasks and streamlining your work processes, understanding the differences between popular AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini and Midjourney, and most importantly considering how to use AI sustainably and ethically are all important aspects to building your AI skills.
#3 Project management
Behind most great teams is a project manager who can lead them to success. Skilled project managers know how to plan, coordinate, execute and deliver projects on time and to an excellent standard. They use a range of skills and competencies, such as leadership, communication, organisation, resourcefulness, problem-solving, and adept use of reports and tools. With this kind of expertise and as projects continue to flow, it’s no wonder employers, big and small, value project managers.
If you want to take your project management career further, consider taking an accredited online postgraduate degree, like the MSc Project Management at the University of Roehampton. Explore agile project management, risk appraisal, change management and strategic project management under the guidance of experienced programme leaders and gain expert skills that’ll set you up for success in any workplace.
#4 Data
As technologies develop the need for data skills is rapidly increasing. Research commissioned by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and conducted by Opinium found that there is significant demand for data skills. According to the research, UK companies are recruiting for 178,000 to 234,000 roles requiring hard data skills. Roughly 48% of businesses are recruiting for roles that require hard data skills but less than 46% of those businesses struggled to recruit for these roles. Similarly, the big data market revenue size is expected to grow to $103 million by 2027 so data skills are more important than ever.
From data analysts and SEO experts to data engineers and marketing executives, being able to work with data to collect, interpret and implement findings, at the necessary level, is a highly desirable skill for any organisation that wants to make data-driven decisions. Plus, now that there are reporting and analytics platforms such as Google Analytics and Looker, making the most of the data doesn’t always have to be hard.
#5 Adaptability
Whatever the future of work will look like, we know that it will involve constant change. From changing leadership to the changing demands of each industry, being adaptable and flexible will not only help you develop transferable skills but will also open you up to opportunities that you can make the most of. That’s why adaptable people are 24% more likely to be employed and more likely to be seen as leaders.
By making the most of your available resources, thinking strategically and problem-solving when necessary, you can begin to develop your learned agility in the workplace. Think of it as a muscle that you can start flexing as you take risks, work on new projects, embrace teamwork, and take on new challenges.
