4 Hard Skills Employers Want In The 2022 Job Market

In a previous article, we’ve shared what soft skills employers are looking for in the 2022 job market but what about hard skills? In this post we are getting into some of the technical skills any career professional, in any industry, could benefit from having some ability in as you navigate the 2022 job market.

1. Understanding Data

As a career coach, most of my skills and abilities center around people to people connection or soft skills like active listening, powerful questioning and empathy. But also, I’m a small business owner who creates content to promote on my website and social media. For me to understand what is most helpful for my audience, I need to understand data.

Understanding how to read and interpret data and incorporate it into strategy and future opportunities is critical in your success as a career professional. Technology is becoming more advanced and understanding/using trends and themes from data is a valuable skill to have in any professional role in any industry.

2. Data Visualization

With data becoming a more instrumental and pivotal tool in professional settings, the ability to visually interpret and represent data as part of your communication strategy is key to getting stakeholders bought into your vision. Platforms like Power BI or Tableau are decently affordable and accessible for many professionals through employer licenses.

You can also take LinkedIn Learning courses to help build your knowledge base of understanding data and data visualization platforms, of which many employers also pay for.

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3. Project Management

Working from home has taught employers how important it is for remote employees to be able to manage their own time, themselves and yes, their own projects. Northeastern University published an article a few years ago on 7 Essential Skills for Project Managers. If you look at the list, nearly all of these skills are increasingly becoming more transferable outside the project management world.

Tools they highlight “range from shared drives (e.g., SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Google Docs) to more technical programs. Microsoft Project and Jira, for example, are popular in IT settings, while Primavera is commonly used for scheduling in the government and construction industries.”

4. IT Fluency

In 2022, Information Technology fluency isn’t just reserved for IT professionals- it’s everyone’s job. Understanding the basics in cybersecurity, database administration and how technology can help you do jobs more effectively and efficiently is a huge advantage in an increasingly technical workforce.

I’m currently completing a Google IT certification through Coursera and let me tell you, it’s a heck of a lot harder than I thought it was going to be! I’m 38 years old, so I’m right in the middle of the millennial generation of understanding safe technology practices but I certainly don’t know how to build a computer or code.

Lastly…

I have found learning technology and going through a more formal education experience (vs just youtubing everything) has definitely increased my confidence in learning new software and understanding the value of technology at work. While I’m not ready to leave my full-time job and become an IT professional tomorrow,

I do feel more empowered in my use of technology- which is never a bad thing in the job market!

Technology and hard skills are changing rapidly so don’t get too caught up in what you do or don’t know. Take it one step at a time and experiment with different skill areas you normally wouldn't organically have the opportunity to or need to learn.

And remember, you don’t have to be an expert in something to speak generally about it in interviews or on your resume. Even entry level knowledge is good knowledge!

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Meet The Writer!

Hi! My name is Nadia Ibrahim-Taney and I help people design happy and fulfilling careers through authentic career coaching. My expertise includes career exploration guidance, resume writing, interview prep and LinkedIn profile optimization. My pronouns are She/ Her/ Hers and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I focus on how diverse identities impact and influence folks holistically and professionally. Please connect with me on LinkedIn or at Nadia@beyonddiscoverycoaching.com