With 87% of hirers considering skills crucial as they evaluate a candidate, skill-based hiring is on the rise. So, if you’re planning to enter the workforce in 2021 or looking to pivot into a new career, brush up on these eight job skills that recruiters and hiring managers are looking for.
The world of work is constantly evolving. The business landscape is witnessing a major transformation in work behavior, settings, and most importantly, work skills. International universities and recruiters are now seeking qualities that are very different from what they were looking for before the pandemic.
Here’s a list of the top 8 in-demand skills on the market that one must pursue to stand out from the crowd.
1. Resilience
Tagged as the “power-skill” of 2021, resilience tops the list of priority skills to build globally. ‘Workplace Resilience’ is defined as the ability to withstand, bounce back from, and work through challenges. It has emerged as a crucial skill as businesses all over the world are experiencing significant change. Employers are looking for people who can boldly take on new tasks and bounce back swiftly from setbacks.
2. Digital Fluency
Day-to-day digitization has increased as a result of the COVID-19 recession, causing a surge in work-from-home arrangements and creating a new marketplace for remote employment.
Even after the world is free of COVID-19’s impacts, forecasts suggest that the future of work will be remote and hybrid. Employers now want people who can keep up with the pace of digitization and have the ability to leverage tech tools and operate various digital platforms.
3. Communication
The importance of communication in forming collaborative and effective organizations has long been recognized. However, communication is most effective when combined with strong interpersonal skills. Being well-spoken isn’t enough to be an effective communicator. It’s also necessary to actively listen to your colleagues and strive to understand them. Strong communication helps tackle a problem before it becomes a crisis and focus on collaborative solutions.
Employers have long been on the hunt for people who can communicate effectively. With the rise of the remote working culture, the requirement has grown even more urgent. Maintaining focus and transparency on deliverables demands excellent communication skills at all levels of the organization, especially when individuals are spread out geographically.
4. Continuous Learning
Gone are the days when you could stick in an organization and climb up the success ladder with what you walk in. In today’s environment, when organizations are changing and developing at a breakneck pace, having a knack for continuous learning is a must.
Thanks to the phenomenal growth of online learning platforms, there are plenty of professional courses available for you to pick up new skills. So, buckle up and increase your appetite for learning something new. Go out, challenge yourself and pile up more knowledge to stay competitive.
5. Critical Thinking
We all think, but only a few of us pay attention to the process of thinking! Critical thinking is the capacity to assess an issue while not being affected by prejudice, misconception, preconception, or distortion.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report 2020, “Critical thinking and analysis” is the skill set that senior executives around the world believe will grow in relevance between now and 2025. The pandemic has made the work environment even more complex and businesses will continue to face challenges where employees will have to deal with difficult situations creatively.
6. Emotional Intelligence
A company is made up of a variety of people with different backgrounds and viewpoints. It is critical to have an integrated cultural framework that values diversity. Emotional intelligence (EI) is a skill that helps with just that. It brings everyone together. EI is the ability of an individual to successfully identify and manage their emotions and those of people around them. Taking a holistic approach to our own emotions and the emotions of people we deal with enables us to collaborate and grow successfully.
Though identified as a must-have key skill that leaders must possess in 2021, honing emotional intelligence is equally important for anyone joining the workforce.
7. Adaptability
Flexibility is a key skill in 2021. The world is not the same as it was before the pandemic, and it will change again just as fast. It’s no surprise that employers in 2021 are looking for people who can adapt to new technologies and changing work systems to flourish in the pandemic world and beyond.
8. Coaching Mindset
We are as strong as our team! If working in a disconnected pandemic world has taught us anything, then it is the ability to help the people around us while we are on our journey to boost our careers. Given the changing dynamics of the business world, employers are actively pursuing candidates who can help team members adapt to the new normal.
So if your brain is constantly brewing with thoughts to make things better not just for yourself but those working along with you, then you have a skill that’s selling like hotcakes.
Be industry-ready!
Employers today want individuals who can provide for the organization in the face of uncertainty and ensure competitive advantage. Based on reports and surveys carried out by eminent organizations we have covered the list of top 8 skills that employers are looking for in 2021. There will be skills specific to the profile you will be applying for. However, if you are going to appear for an interview soon, don’t forget to carry these skills in your basket to gain a competitive edge over others.
Authored By: Mr. Ashish Fernando, Founder, and CEO, iSchoolConnect
Hope this article will help you.
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