To make 2023 better than 2022, boost the job skills employers are looking for at the start of the new decade. As we look to 2022, one thing is certain. That’s how the world of work turned upside down from 2020 to 2022. As the global pandemic progressed and implemented new strategies to keep the wheels spinning, remote work became the norm. Some companies have adopted a remote working model and plan to keep him full-time, while others want him to return to onsite work in 2022. But the move to remote work has taught them many lessons about what it takes to be a great worker in the new normal.
If you’re looking for ways to set yourself apart from other candidates in your next job search, go beyond degrees and certifications and think about the top skills employers will be looking for in 2021. Most people who apply for jobs have the basic skills needed to do the job. But many recruiters think it’s your soft girlfriend skills that can propel you to the top of the list. That said, there are some hard skills that can up your hiring game, especially in the years to come. Brush up on the 13 job skills they look for in top candidates.
1. Continuous learning
The days of just getting a job and going to work are over. If you want to move on, you must continue your education. Improving your skills, whether soft or hard, increases your chances of advancing in your career path. Employers love to hear that candidates enjoy learning because it’s necessary in the world of business where change and growth are happening at breakneck speed. Those who refuse to learn new things will be left behind.
Skill Tip: Check out online course platforms like Linkedin Learning to see what they have to offer in your area. Great if you are a computer programmer looking to learn project management. If you want to learn design, that’s cool too!
2. Time management
Time management has always been important, but the acceptance of remote work makes it more important than ever. In other words, your employer needs to trust you to manage your time and get the job done without being seen. In today’s age of smartphones, social media, and immersive TV, you need to prove that you can stay focused and reach your goals.
Skill tip: Before you log off, prioritize your tasks for the next day, putting your biggest and most annoying tasks first. Work on these and the rest will fall easily and you will be able to continue achieving your goals.
3. Decision making
Everyone makes decisions, right? not exactly. For some people, decision-making is excruciating. They struggle to see beyond all the questions: What if we make the wrong choice? Is the investment worth it? Will your team participate? Your ability to evaluate the criteria at hand and make consistent decisions on a regular basis, even if they are sometimes wrong, sets you apart as a performer. It also shows that you are willing to take risks at times. This is good.
Skill Tip: Decision-making is not just an attitude, it’s a skill. Get a copy of former Navy SEAL Mark Divine’s book The Way of the Seal and look for a chapter on what he calls his PROP decision-making model. It’s simple, but it’s also bulletproof.
4. Collaboration
If you think remote work means flying alone, you’re probably surprised. Collaboration is alive and well, but it takes a little more conscious effort. If you’re open to collaboration and thinking positively about it when starting a project, you can show recruiters that you’re a player on the team, even if you’re working alone from home.
Skill tip: Learn cross-functionally. You may not be able to do everything, but knowing how and why other teams are doing it can help you work with them on any project with understanding and patience. Helpful.
5. Emotional intelligence
The ability to stay in tune with your own emotions and the emotions of those around you is more valuable than ever and will be an important professional skill for 2021. From recognizing your own emotions to being able to empathize with the emotions of your colleagues and clients, job search emotional intelligence can help you become a “human person” without being an extrovert.
Skill Tip: Start with our Emotional Intelligence Quiz. Then, when the results are displayed, examine any areas that may be missing. Next, think of someone you know at work or in your personal life who you think excels in that area. Talk to them about it and try to learn at least one little trick you can use to increase your EI.
6. Creativity and resilience
2021 will be a time of change and growth. In short, creativity puts you in the driver’s seat so you can find solutions and new ideas that make a big difference in your business. Resilience goes hand in hand with creativity. New ideas may not work immediately or not at all. If you can bounce back from setbacks with improvements and new ideas, you can show employers that you can move the company forward.
Pro Tip: Find a few simple things you can do to boost your creativity. In some cases, all you need to do is make small changes in your daily routine.
7. Adaptability
Have you noticed that things are changing faster than ever? As technology advances, we find new ways to use it. That’s the old “We’ve always been this way!” meaning.
To be successful in 2021, you must be able to adapt to new technologies, new collaborations, and new philosophies.
Skill Tip: Find a book that focuses on adaptability at work. Even though it dates back to 1998, Spencer Johnson’s Who Moved My Cheese is still a useful read and a good place to start.
8. Change Management
As we mentioned above, things are changing faster than ever, and it can be tough for employees. Whether you manage to change yourself or help guide an entire team on new policies, having a knack for change management is a great way to become an integral part of almost any organization.
Skill tip: A big part of managing change is understanding how change affects employees on an individual level, so take a course or read a book on emotional intelligence. If you have a deep understanding of EI, you can succeed.
9. Coaching Mindset
Increasingly, success is less about how aggressively you try to advance your career and more about how you help those around you. From your boss to your direct reports, the coaching mindset means trying to make the people around you better. please think about it. Who wouldn’t want to work with (or for) someone like that?
Skill Tip: Think about five people you’ve worked with, including clients, managers, and direct reports. What could have been done to improve their situation? Then think about how it affected your own career.
10. Project management
Understanding the full spectrum of projects and being able to manage them from concept to completion will be a key skill in 2021. With more remote work, it becomes harder for managers to keep track of each project, and employees who are proficient in project management make life easier. It also prepares you to help others and potentially transition into leadership roles of your own.
Skill Tip: Familiarize yourself with at least one or two project management systems. Do a little research and see which are the most popular in the industry. Companies using Asana, Wrike, Jira, or any other system are welcome to include this on their resume.
11. Cloud computing
Here are some more direct skills that can really give you an edge in 2021. Thanks to 2020, the world is moving to the cloud faster than we expected, and we need people who can understand and navigate it.
Skill Tip: Take a short cloud computing course and find one that covers the topics most relevant to your career. You can also find free online courses like this one. You don’t have to be a programmer or engineer to get a head start with a solid understanding of the cloud, how it works and best practices.
12. Knowledge of new social and digital media
Like it or not, digital media is mainstream these days. If you want to compete in the job market, you should at least know what’s out there, how it works, and what kind of audience it enjoys. It’s not just Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter these days ( But don’t ignore them!). Sticking to what you know and ignoring newcomers may be convenient, but that mindset will shatter you and your resume, especially as your new decade begins.
Skill Tips: We have courses to help you brush up on your new medium, as well as numerous articles detailing the intricacies of various social and digital media sites. But if you want to save a little money and get to the heart of the matter, find someone from college and ask them what types of media they use and how.
13. Artificial intelligence
We are truly in the age of AI, with robots and automation entering the job market. Not only do we want our computers to work for us, but we also want them to be smarter at work. As with cloud computing, you may not need to be a top-level expert, but a solid understanding of AI can give you a distinct edge in a tough job market.
Skill Tip: Again, there are free courses you can take. Now that you know some of the job skills and attributes you need to succeed in the new normal, it’s time to get down to business. But remember that you need to not only improve your skills but also promote them. Update your resume to highlight your top 13 skills for 2021 and craft a compelling cover letter that shows you’re ready for the new year and new job.
