Every year, the job market is becoming more and more competitive. Fresh graduates enter the job market, and seasoned veterans are looking for better opportunities. New skills always come up, and job seekers need to learn and possess the in-demand skills if they desire to be competitive. In this article, we’re going to take a look at skills that can add value to your CV or find a way to earn more money.
Learn a New Language
With how interconnected the world is becoming, learning a new language will open up your world even more. Knowing how to communicate with other nationalities in their native tongue is a feat that can help you in both life and business. And it will do wonders for you when traveling abroad or taking part in international events such as conferences and meetings with colleagues from different countries. Learning languages might seem like an impossible task at first glance, but there are many ways to achieve this goal, and most of them are pretty simple and easy to use (even if you have no prior experience!). There are many classes and courses available, and you only need to find a language that interests you.
Be a Project Manager
Every business and venture needs a reliable person who can plan, oversee, and manage the different parts and aspects of a project- all within time and budget, of course. This is where a project manager comes in; they have good ideas, leadership, and communication skills and can lead a project successfully- luckily, these can all be learned and trained. Project management is a burgeoning field that’s expected to grow in the coming years, with many fields embracing it as a necessity for certain projects or businesses to succeed, so anyone interested in learning this can expect a steady stream of jobs in the near future. But the catch is you have to be quick. So make it a target for yourself next year.
Learn to Make (and Sell!) Handicrafts
People like handmade items, as not only is it of better quality (most of the time, at least), but it’s also filled with personality and love that machine-made devices rarely have. However, if you don’t have the skills to create anything handmade, there’s very little to worry about. There are a lot of courses you can try, such as online candle-making courses, sewing and crocheting, cooking, and even making art. The items that you’ve created and made can then be sold on handicraft marketplaces like Esty or even on your regular marketplace. You’ll be surprised by how many people appreciate handmade items, and if you’re interested in doing them while needing to make extra cash, this could be a new skill to learn for you.
Hone Your Public Speaking Skills
Before you start thinking that public speaking skills are out because many face-to-face events are canceled, start thinking of the very skill you need to talk to people, even online. That’s right; public speaking skills are still very much relevant in this day and age- perhaps even more so. Even if we’re making online presentations via video conferencing software, knowing how to communicate your ideas clearly and in a compelling manner is still invaluable. It doesn’t matter whether you’re speaking to a room filled with thousands of audience or into a Zoom call of five people. When you know how to talk in front of the public, you can explain your thoughts better and do it entertainingly and convincingly. Invest in your public speaking skills, and your career (and life) will benefit as a result.
Get into Software Development
Everyone uses some form of software every day. Especially with our reliance on our smartphones and laptop computers, software has become an integral part of our daily lives. This is why software development will remain a relevant skill regardless of the demand- and that’s also why it’s about time you learn software development. The best way to do this is by starting off with a project that involves programming. Learn how to code in Python (a program that’s good for beginners) by creating a project that interests you first. Once you get the hang of things, you can proceed by joining a program or a course that teaches programming.
Staying updated in industry-relevant skills and knowing what industry is going to experience a boom next is important if you want to be competitive. Always being open to new skills and learning moments is the key to always being capable regardless of the job market’s situation.