The world is changing at a very swift pace. The skills that seemed important a few months back may or may not be relevant anymore and the ones that were important are now critical.
Businesses today are more technologically and digitally driven. It is critical for every company to keep up with the fast-changing environment – caused by disruptions like the pandemic or technological advancements. This, along with the remote & hybrid work setup, has changed the skill sets required to perform and succeed in the corporate world.
Companies today are focusing more on whether the candidates possess the necessary set of competencies and skills needed to succeed in their role as compared to the college degree and technical skills.
Here are the top skills that recruiters today are looking for in the potential hires.
- Adaptability
With technology changing at a rapid pace, adaptability is the most critical skill that hiring managers are looking for.
Ability to adapt to changes makes a company more agile, resilient and competitive. It is no surprise that most companies are now looking for employees who are willing to adapt to the latest technology and philosophies.
“You can’t build an adaptable organization without adaptable people – Gary Hamel
- Open to Learning
Gone are the days where you would not need to learn or add new skills to your repertoire once you finished formal education. With changes taking place at a remarkable speed, it is not only important but absolutely vital that one is open to learning; to add newer age skills to their resume – soft and technical.
Employers want to know that you believe in honing your skills and continuous learning. Employees who are open to learning have a better chance at succeeding and thriving in the fast paced technologically driven world.
Online education platforms like Coursera, Udemy, Linkedin Learning make it very easy to upskill yourself from the convenience of your home or office or even while commuting. Plan your learning needs and start your learning process today.
- Critical Thinking & Analysis
Thanks to technology, more and more data is available to companies today. This data is critical for important business decisions. In the post covid era, companies want to be ready to face new challenges. They need teams that can think creatively, critically and come up with innovative solutions. Moreover, they need employees with the ability to analyse the data available and to present it, such that the company can use it to their advantage.
- Collaboration Skills
Collaboration is a very highly valued skill in the current remote or hybrid working scenario. With teams working remotely permanently or a few days a week, being able to connect and communicate proactively within and across teams can help you complete your projects successfully and seamlessly.
Companies are looking for team players who can collaborate and work well even in the remote setting. While you may work alone remotely, it is important that you can connect with the team and work as part of the team without meeting them physically.
- Time Management
Time management has always been a good skill to possess. But with the mobile and digital technology taking over our lives, managing our time amid social media and binge-worthy series is becoming a difficult task. Moreover, in remote working scenario, maintaining routine along with the additional household work & managing children and ailing parents calls for serious time management skills.
Companies now are placing more emphasis on individuals who can manage their time efficiently and complete their work on time without having anyone monitoring them.
Familiarising oneself with Project Management tools and Time Management tools helps showcase your commitment towards timely completion of your work.
- Digital and Social Media Savvy
If you want to be eligible for a job and career growth, it is important that you are well apprised of the latest in the digital and social media world. Whatever your line of work or industry, your knowledge of the latest technology will help you stay ahead in your career. The pandemic helped accelerate the online business making the knowledge of digital media and social media a necessity.
Take time to learn about the new age apps especially the ones that are linked to your line of work. For eg. knowledge about how to use Communication tools like Zoom, Google Meet, Slack etc.
- Emotional Quotient
According to a career builder survey, over 70% employers valued emotional intelligence over IQ not just during employment but also for promotions.
People with strong EQ help in creating better work environment by practicing empathy and creating better interpersonal relationships at work.
With companies realising the importance of emotional quotient in creating a great work culture, they are looking for applicants who can display empathy, who can listen intently and are not shy of showing their emotions.
You can improve your emotional intelligence by practicing listening actively and looking at things from other’s point of view to start with.
With these skills, we have provided you with a starting point to understand what your hiring manager is looking for. Start with upskilling wherever you can and showcase these skills in your resume and covering letter to let the employers know that you are future ready.
