Checklist: What skills are in high demand in a new era of work

The Covid-19 pandemic has influenced the way we work for years to come. We’ve listed the top skills employers are looking for right now. How many can you tick off?

We are entering a new era of work as we come out of the Covid-19 pandemic. This era involves hybrid ways of working and managing teams. It also comes with a renewed focus on certain technical and soft skills in the employment field.

High-demand skills in a post-pandemic world at a glance

If the pandemic has shown us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. But with the inevitable increase of digital services, we can safely assume that no one can fully escape the need for improved digital skills in the future. Whether it’s coding or working with data, practising these skills will provide an important asset to your CV. If you can also demonstrate that you’re a flexible employee and a compassionate colleague or leader, you’re on for a win.

Read our detailed list below covering all the in-demand post-pandemic skills and find out how you can work on developing them.

If you’re considering your next step, get in contact with one of our expert recruitment consultants for a confidential chat about the career options available to you.

Data literacy

The importance of accurate and insightful data is a critical asset to organisations today. With good data analysis, companies are better able to predict areas of decreasing and increasing demand. This ensures that businesses can adapt their product and service offerings to meet evolving customer needs.

Data-literate professionals will be particularly critical to employers as we navigate a new era of work. Honing your proficiency in the following areas will be a great place to start:

• Google Analytics – Google’s Analytics Academy offers free classes to help your understanding of how to track and analyse website traffic.
• Microsoft Excel – Mastering Excel is a significant asset today as it is the main tool for recording and analysing data in various roles. Udemy offers some free courses.
• Data visualisation – Being able to turn data into visual stories is the key to making information both understandable and digestible. Udemy also offers an introduction to data visualisation.

Web development & coding

Digital transformation was already happening at top speed and the Covid-19 crisis has only accelerated the pace with entire organisations needing to transition entirely online. Reactive ways of working are now essential as we push forward into a new world of work. Digital skills including coding and web development are increasingly in the spotlight. 

If you do want an introduction to coding or are looking to polish up your skills, Codecademy is an excellent place to start. They offer lots of free courses for all skill levels.

There are a host of coding languages to learn, but here are just a few you can’t go wrong with:

• HTML – Used for front end web development, HTML is a foundational skill that determines the basic structure of a web page. When you access a site, your browser reads HTML content and translates it into the web page you see.
• CSS – HTML’s sister coding language CSS determines the style of a webpage, for example the fonts, colours and layouts.
• Javascript – Also used for front end web development, this coding language helps bring static web pages to life with dynamic content such as animated graphics.
• Python – A back end web development language, Python is used for varying types of programming besides web development. It is also relevant in mobile and desktop app development as well as processing big data.

Adaptability & flexibility

One thing is for certain, we are moving into a rapidly evolving world of work – one that will involve new practices and different ways of collaborating with each other. Obvious as it might sound, the ability to integrate quickly into this new era will be fundamental. You also need a willingness to improve existing skills or acquire new ones where needed.

Many elements of workforce practice, including communication, management and strategy will need to adapt. Those who demonstrate open-mindedness and willingness to embrace the ‘new’ will be best placed to succeed.

Emotional intelligence

Despite all the preparation, research and insight into the big ‘shifts’ revolutionising the world of work, no one could have predicted the coronavirus outbreak and its subsequent effect on all our lives.

If we can take anything positive from this, it is the increased importance of compassion and empathy as working traits. Being able to understand how people are feeling in the light of difficult situations and tailor your response accordingly will inspire understanding and loyalty in others. If you aspire to be a future leader in this new era of work, emotional intelligence is invaluable.

What you need to remember about current high-demand skills

The skills in demand after Covid-19 are directly related to the way we adapted our working ways during the crisis. Although the ever-evolving digital world continues to dominate our professional and private lives, the pandemic also emphasised the importance of people skills.

Making time to learn and improve the skills listed above will give you a competitive advantage in today’s job market. Add them to your existing bank of professional knowledge and your resume will be a top contender in the months and years to come.

To access a host of advice to help you adapt to the new way of working, visit our Inspire Me in the New Era of Work Hub.