Whether you’re a young professional trying to build and shape your career, or a seasoned vet with credible experience under your belt, developing new skills, particularly skills that will make you stand out from the rest, is never a bad idea. Coursera, offers a list of five profitable skills that you might benefit from acquiring.
Data analysis
There has been an exponential growth of companies that use and need different kinds of data for their day-to-day functions. Having the ability to analyse, interpret, and share data that can solve a businesses problems will put anyone ahead of the rest. If you have aspirations of one day becoming a business analyst or a data scientist, this is a skill worth investing in.
Project management
Project management is a skill that shows up in various careers and becomes moe vital the higher up in your career you move. Most companies work in different teams and departments and sometimes collaborate on a single project, which is where a skilled project manager comes in. Ensuring coordination from all involved parties means you will need to possess great leadership skills, be a great planner and have great communication, amongst other skills. If this sounds like you, you might consider careers in project management or portfolio management.
Content creation and management
Content is at the center of life as we know it, and the kind of content that one can create varies and can differ in so many different ways. At the basis of content creation and management is the art of storytelling and creativity, therefore the more you can hone in on that, the more you stand out to recruiters. According to Glassdoor, jobs related to social media and content creation are in high demand currently. Social media manager, digital marketing manager and content creator are some of many jobs that fall in line with these skills.
Software development
More and more companies are migrating toward using more technology to advance their capability and reach. This means that there is a need for people who will be responsible fore developing, maintaining, and improving their technological systems. There are many tools and coding languages one can familiarise themselves with, such as Java, python, and Git. Software engineer, systems developer and applications engineer are some careers one might consider if these skills are up your alley.
Soft skills
Although technical skills are of utmost importance and will determine how far one gets in their career, soft skills are also just as important. Also known as interpersonal skills, these include communication, adaptability and teamwork. These skills, most of which cannot be taught are the skills that will help you excel in the workplace, and are essential for your professional success.
Also see: How to find a job in the new year
