Many organisations across the globe have had to make drastic changes to survive in a post-coronavirus world. This has resulted in an unprecedented number of job roles being made redundant. The World Economic Forum predict that unemployment rates will soar. Human Resource teams are faced with the task of supporting multiple employees exiting whilst simultaneously settling survivor employees into a new working rhythm and environment. The job skills which were once important have shifted and new hiring processes will be put in place.
Exiting employees will find themselves in a new job-seeking world. Many organisations are hiring, indeed many absolutely must hire, in order to have the new set of skills necessary for their restructured businesses to thrive. The traditional skills once desirable now take a backseat to softer skills. Here are some of the most important job skills employers are looking for in a post-COVID-19 world.
Flexibility and Adaptability
As organisations adapt to fit the new post-pandemic world, they will need a flexible workforce to match. New employees will be adaptable and open to change as the organisation changes and evolves.
Prior to the pandemic, very few people remained employed at one company for life as they once did. People would naturally move between organisations for better pay opportunities, a better work culture or work-life balance and so on. This trend will long continue. Employees are starting to understand that job roles themselves are also becoming more fluid. New starters with the ability to move seamlessly from one skill to another will be extremely important.
Job seekers must also understand the importance of reskilling. Career management is far more fluid these days. No longer will you take a linear path in your career. Sometimes you may change paths entirely, or take a ‘side-ways step’ in a job role, but work for an organisation aligned more closely to your values. Reskilling, upskilling and understanding the skills needed to remain useful in work is vital.
Team Building and Leadership
Effective and successful leadership is incredibly important for organisations. However, the very notion of leadership has changed. Leaders are required to have a far deeper understanding of the individuals within their teams. Communication keys are key. Understanding of the emotional well-being of teams and the ability to provide assistance. Of course, being able to manage a team remotely will be an incredible asset to your skill set. You may have recently been working in an office to working from home during lockdown. Key to the success of this transition lies with the leadership providing support and adapting their expectations and communication. The trend of working from home will not disappear. Many organisations are decreasing their office space and understanding that remote work can be highly productive.
Creative and Innovative
Human creativity is something truly special. If we look back over the past few months our creativity has produced incredible things – new virtual business services, apps to track our health, rival companies working in tandem to produce ventilators for hospitals, virtual community events, even virtual hot air balloon rides and zoo visits. Organisations need creativity to thrive to aid their progress. Having the ability to think outside the box is a great skill that will always be desirable to hiring managers.
Tech Guru
The list of innovations above all relate to technology. Technology drives the future. The digital transformation of the world of work has been fast-tracked by coronavirus, forcing organisations to adopt technologies and new delivery methods. Being tech savvy is a very desirable skill. Employers need employees who can move from one technology to another and understand how to use each platform and innovation quickly and proficiently.
Digital and analytic skills such as coding, development, programming, digital marketing, digital analysis and cyber security are highly sought after skills which will remain useful long-term.
Emotional Intelligence
With the pandemic, communication has changed and the boundaries between work and personal lives have blurred. Leaders in particular have had to adapt and become far more emotionally concerned for their teams and colleagues than before. The question has changed from ‘what are you doing?’ to ‘how are you doing?’ This requires a high-level of emotional intelligence. You must be intuitive to your team’s needs and feelings, and importantly your own. Candidates who have a high level of emotional intelligence will be desirable to future employers.
Read more about the Importance of Caring in the Workplace
Working with a professional coach to help you highlight your soft job skills may be vital. Job interviews have previously focused on displaying your professional and measurable achievements. Proving you are emotionally intelligent or flexible is quite different.