5 new jobs skills employers are looking for in 2016

1. 5 New Jobs Skills Employers Are Looking for in 2016
Adapted from Sam Becker Article, April 2016
Discussing skills during a job interview | Chris Hondros
In a rapidly changing world economy, it’s a question that’s consistently at the top of everyone’s mind: what job
skills do I need, and which will get me a job? Hunting for a job requires not only a specific set of strategies and
techniques, but also a strong sense of confidence in your abilities. But it’s those abilities – which abilities,
specifically – that hang up a lot of jobseekers.
We’ve dug into this very topic before, and provided some insight into which skills will get you hired. As the
economy is constantly shifting and evolving, and churning undercurrents of consumer behavior call for different
types of workers creating and supplying different products and services, it can be really difficult to know what
employers want. We’re here to be a compass of sorts, and outline a handful of skills that employers are really
scouring the labor market for in 2016, which should give you a leg-up in your job search.
While there will always be a need (until the robot takeover for menial, low-wage work, if you’re truly looking to
give your career a shot in the arm, you’re going to need to put in some time on the side. Investing in yourself by
learning new skills can lead you to new, unanticipated opportunities, and ultimately put a lot more money in your
pocket. If you want to get serious about improving your earnings potential, this is the place to start.
So, what are employers looking for, and what skills do you need to make yourself an attractive candidate?

2. Social skills
Social skills at work with co-workers
As we covered a little while back, social skills are becoming increasingly important in more and more
organizations. At one time, this set of skills was overlooked – even seen as a hindrance to productivity. But as
time marches on, managers and team leaders are recognizing the importance of social skills, and how they can
shape a workplace.
The main reason? Human interaction is hard to automate, and almost impossible for a computer to mimic.
As automation kicks in, and social connections become more scarce, they’ll naturally increase in value. Being
able to show what you stand for and articulating your personal story in a way that connects with others and the
organisations you may want to work for is going to be critical.
This starts with being clear about your long-term ambitions and the sort of work you are passionate about. This
passion may grow out of curiosity or a genuine desire to learn or apply skills and below is some thinking that
may help you navigate future choices.

3. Industry-related programs
If you know what specific job or industry you’re gunning for, then you’re going to want to have a tool chest full of
skills tailored for it. And in a world in which knowledge and software skills are as important as ever, figuring out
which programs and skills you’ll need is paramount to getting hired. Knowing these programs intimately will give
you a big leg-up during the hiring process.

4. Development
Google software developers | Stephen Brashear
These days, the word “developer” means so much more than someone who builds condos. And developers of
all stripes are in high demand. In our case, we’re referring specifically to software and web developers, both of
which possess skill sets that are highly sought-after by many big, flourishing companies. If this is a career track
you’re interested in pursuing, go back to the previous item on our list, and figure out which software programs
you need to be well-versed in to start getting successful interviews behind you.

5. Design
Software designer | Farooq Naeem/AFP
In the same way that developers are a hot commodity, so are designers. Designers possibly come in more
stripes than developers, as there are graphic designers, software designers, game designers – hell, even
fashion companies and automotive manufacturers need designers. Needless to say, the world needs designers.
If you want to get specific, the world needs web designers, and algorithm designers. These are skills that will
not only land you a job, but likely a pretty high salary.

6. Information security
Information security sign | Ethan Miller
We don’t often go a week or so without hearing about some giant data breach, which typically puts the personal
information for millions of people at risk. It’s happened to big corporations like Target, and it’s even happened to
government agencies. Because data is so valuable – and because so many people are out there trying to steal
it – information security is something that every organization is quickly trying to beef up. That means there’s a
need for information security professionals, leaving an opportunity to learn the skills and get hired.