Top Skills Employers Look For in 2022 - CareerHigher (2023)

As we prepare to adjust to the post-pandemic workplace, we can be sure about one thing: the ways of working will never be the same. Hybrid working models, remote and global teams, soaring usage of online collaboration platforms, etc., are just some changes that we see today. But where is this all headed?

The emergence of new digital and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is propelling the world of work into the future. These technologies will replace specific jobs, and the skills and capabilities required in the workforce will change dramatically in the coming years. The COVID pandemic further accelerates this transformation, forcing organizations and businesses to migrate to their operations online. To future-proof your ability to work, you need to keep yourself updated with the skills required to flourish in the post-pandemic workplace. Don’t worry, for your convenience, we have prepared a list of skills that employers will look for in 2022.

Soft Skills

1. Communication

Communication takes place in two ways, spoken and written. Both involve one’s ability to absorb, synthesize, and communicate information and ideas effectively. This involves asking the right questions and extracting what you need from an email, text message, phone call, or video chat and articulating your thoughts effectively to convey your message to the listener. For some time, communication has been one of the top skills hiring managers to look for. A recent study conducted by the Graduate Management Admissions Council states that oral communication is the ultimate skill employers look for in new hires.

As we spend more time online, we have access to an endless flow of information. Understanding, analyzing, and sharing it in the simplest way is a crucial skill to succeed. Synthesizing information is one of the critical skills to increase your chances of employability in the future workplace, as identified by McKinsey & Co. Excellent communication at the workplace is key for a seamless and hassle-free system between departments and teams. Open communication ensures that everyone is on the same page, allows room for concerns, and creates a safe space for dialogue. It is also essential for fostering an inclusive and open workplace.

2. Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills help people interact and communicate in scenarios where cooperation and collaboration are essential. Employers look for candidates with these skills as they want candidates who can adjust well within teams. They help you understand people and adapt your approach accordingly, enabling you to flourish at any job. Working remotely can be isolating, and it can be tough to feel a sense of community. Strong interpersonal skills can help foster strong relationships and reduce conflicts.

Some examples of interpersonal skills are as follows:

• Empathy
• Active Listening
• Collaboration
• Responsibility
• Patience
• Dependability
• Flexibility
• Leadership
• Conflict Management
• Emotional intelligence

3. Agility

The pandemic has taught organizations and business leaders many lessons, but one of the key takeaways is agility. The need for businesses and their stakeholders to adopt agile behavior has never been more pressing. Agility means being nimble and responding to change effectively and timely. Leaders have learned that agility helps organizations survive in unprecedented times. Today, employers look for the following skills to foster agile behavior in their teams:

• Adaptability
• Coping with uncertainty
• Growth mindset
• Learning & development initiative

Adaptability and coping with uncertainty are among the most employable skills, according to a recent study by McKinsey & Co. Both reflect an individual’s ability to accept, adjust and respond effectively to an unpredicted change. Employers actively seek individuals who can lead teams, projects, or individual tasks as the world of work evolves and changes.

A growth mindset is one of the essentials for agility skills. According to Dr. Carol S. Dweck, people with a growth mindset can acquire and improve skills and abilities over time with effort and practice. Having a growth mindset also enables them to demonstrate continued development through perseverance, and determination.

Combined with a dedication to continuous learning and developing oneself, you are prepared to face any change or challenge. As the world of work changes, organizations need their employees to take accountability for their development as well. Employers are pouring money into the learning and development budgets to prepare their workforce for the future. But for that money to translate into effective results, employees should exhibit initiative for learning and be willing to grow.

4. Self-management

Self-management skills reflect an individual’s ability to control and regulate their emotions, behavior, and thoughts effectively in every situation. Employers prefer candidates with strong self-management skills as they better manage their feelings and behavior while dealing with other stakeholders like customers, clients, and colleagues. Resulting in productive and professional workplace behavior. Examples of self-management skills are:

• Self-confidence
• Motivation
• Wellness and resilience
• Organization

Self-confidence and motivation are a couple of essential skills sought by employers during an interview. While the former allows you to take risks and hold your position, the latter enables you to work harder to achieve your deliverables and deliver on commitments. In a recent LinkedIn report, resilience is quoted to be one of the most important skills by L&D leaders globally. Combining these skills enables you to manage yourself better as an employee, which employers highly desire.

5. Cognitive Skills

Cognitive skills are brain functions that enable the acquisition of knowledge, manipulation of information, and reasoning. While we all exhibit cognitive processes, some cognitive skills are more suited for the workplace than others. Some examples include:

Critical thinking is the process of analyzing a problem, situation, or issue thoroughly based on evidence and relevant information. A critical thinker doesn’t readily accept information or conclusion at face value without examining the reasoning, method, or assumptions behind them. It is one of the essential skills for potential leaders. According to Helen Lee Bouygues, it is a learned skill and can be practiced in three simple steps:

• Question assumptions
• Reason through logic
• Diversify thought

Analytical thinking involves breaking down a complex concept into smaller parts to tackle the problem, make projections, and generate ideas. Analytical reasoning denotes the general aptitude to arrive at a logical solution to a given situation. Employers favor candidates with strong analytical skills as they are essential for developing and strategizing their operations.

Technical Skills

1. Software Development & Automation

According to a LinkedIn report, Digital Fluency is one of two top skills for the future of work. It reflects an individual’s technological skills to effectively operate in an increasingly digital workplace, involving everything from MS office to advanced artificial intelligence. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, organizations were forced to migrate to remote working and develop or revamp their digital infrastructure. This led to an increase in Software development jobs. Learning any popular coding languages like Java, JavaScript, Python, PHP, and C++ can boost your skillset and enhance your resume.

An emerging trend in the industry is hyper-automation. It is a process through which organizations automate complex business processes and operations using AI, low-code application platforms (LCAP), robotic process automation (RPA), and virtual assistants. These technologies are process-agnostic software, making them useful in multiple IT & business use cases in any industry. There are several online courses and products on RPA, LCAP, and AI to learn more about hyper-automation. According to a report by Gartner Inc., the market for hyper-automation technologies will reach $600 billion in evaluation by 2022. Additionally, Technology specialists and automation test specialists are top 2 of 10 in-demand jobs on LinkedIn.

2. Blockchain

Blockchain is an unchanging, public register that records transactions and exchanges of any asset in a network. This technology has found its application as a ledger for cryptocurrencies. But it can be used to store and track information on the exchange of any asset or information. It can be applied to any closed or open network, where transparency and traceability are required to tract a multi-step exchange of things.

The blockchain market is projected to increase from $4.68 bn in 2021 to $104.19 bn in 2028. Blockchain is a growing field and one of the top skills to learn in 2022. As countries look to regulate cryptocurrencies, the applications for blockchain technology have increased in business and commerce.

3. Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity involves protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. Cyberattacks are usually intended to access, change, or destroy critical systems & sensitive information, extort money from the user, or interrupt the business process. Cybersecurity measures are adopted by organizations to protect networked systems and applications against threats originating from inside or outside of the network.

The cybersecurity market is projected to grow from $165.78 billion in 2021 to $366.10 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12% during the period. The growth is mainly driven by the rise in e-commerce platforms and the advent of core technologies such as AI, cloud computing, or the internet of things (IoT). Market leaders are always looking for AI-supported cybersecurity experts.

4. Digital Marketing

We are spending more time staring at screens than ever. As identified by a recent study, people in the USA spend 17+ hours in front of a screen every day. The organizations respond accordingly, with a constant increase in their digital marketing budgets. Marketing promotes products and services through the internet using devices such as smartphones, computers, tablets, etc.

The skills required to succeed in the digital marketing era are:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
• Data-driven marketing
• E-commerce marketing
• Social media marketing
• Social media optimization
• Display ads
• Email marketing
• Copywriting

According to a report by grand research view, the digital marketing software market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.2%, from $56.52 billion in 2021 to $182.21 billion in 2028. Employers are keen on hiring quality talent for the coming surge in the digital marketing landscape. In a recent report from LinkedIn, the number of digital marketing jobs has increased by 63% in the first six months of 2021. Between June 2020 to 2021, there were 381,000 marketing jobs, including 17,000 remote jobs.

Changing careers is a challenging process. However, the right resources and strategy are the keys to landing your dream role. To support your job search, you can browse through our career strategy library and learn more about different industries, identify the right employer, and optimize job search tools. If you need any support, we would be more than happy to help you.