Retail, manufacturing, and other industries have been showing impressive growth, creating space and requirements for more manpower. Interestingly, these industries have been hiring non-conservatively based on skills. The shift in priority has been primarily caused by upgrading requirements and increased demand.
In early 2024, several dailies and other news sources reported a sharp decline in hiring for the IT sector in India; the trend remained the same worldwide. This was primarily due to reduced demand in the international market, especially in Europe and the US. Several tech giants in the US and Europe curtailed their workforce, and the ripples were felt across the globe.
India shifted its hiring focus from the IT industry to potential sectors such as auto, electric vehicles, manufacturing, retail, and FMCG. Over the last few years, these industries have shown promising growth and scope for expansion. Thus, they needed more manpower to make it happen, which is why hiring for these industries soared higher.
Around the same time, the demand for automation, digitization, and digital skills also increased. Different industries are also adjusting their teams according to the evolving needs and thus transforming their hiring requirements. The hiring trend is based on skills rather than educational qualifications. Quick adaptation to changing requirements has become the need of the hour, especially after the tech bubble burst and the intervention of Artificial Intelligence. Hence, industry experts are stressing learning new skills for the much-needed upgrade, especially role-specific skills. For instance, if you are looking for a manager’s role, then technical skills and expertise aren’t enough. You must have a growth mindset, identify the skill gaps, and be open to learning them according to the industry you are operating in to be counted as a valuable asset for any organization.
The Skills That Must Consider Learning
Data Science
Data is the new oil that keeps economies functioning and growing. Hence, professionals are needed to identify data from organized or unorganized pools of information. Their skills are required to filter out knowledge and insights using scientific methods, algorithms, and other systems. In the years to come, the demand is expected to soar higher; thus, data science is counted as a precious skill to learn.
Analytics
Data is useless without proper analysis. Thus, the role of an analyzer is crucial, mainly because of the data-driven world we inhabit now. An analyzer gathers proper or relevant data. Not all information is helpful for an organization. The analyzer knows which data would be appropriate and hence collects them from authentic sources, sorts them out, and interprets them in the context of the data’s purpose.
Project Management
Completing a project within the given deadline is a crucial responsibility, and highly proficient professionals are trusted for that responsibility. Project managers lead projects end-to-end to ensure they meet the deadlines and individual project goals and deliver quality without letting the constraints affect them. This role calls for extraordinary diligence, communication, negotiation, exemplary leadership, agile risk management, smart problem-solving, meticulous time management, high motivation and adaptability, software-proficient, sharp with managing costs, updated policy knowledge, and a great team person.
Cloud Computing
Tech evolution has led to utilities that never expected; cloud computing is one such breakthrough. Shifting from physical storage devices to clouds offered flexibility and convenience which got everyone to take the queue. The number of cloud computing users grew massively, especially after 2020, because more and more businesses shifted to remote operations. Even though several organizations have resumed on-site operations and gone into hybrid mode, they continue to use cloud computing for its sheer convenience, flexibility, reliability, and efficiency. An individual proficient with cloud computing is seen as a good hire because businesses are migrating to the cloud.
Content Creation & Management
Content is at the heart of every business – whether to sell its products or services, promote the brand, collaborate, expand, or diversify. The ability to create and manage content to meet organizational goals is also appreciated. To write effectively, you must understand the brand, its audience, industry, and market. It is this understanding coupled with creative writing skills that makes you a competitive content creator. It’s an advantageous skill.
Problem-Solving
In the complex structure of organizations and their multiple departments with a large workforce, problems are a perennial issue. Hence, one with the capability to solve these problems would be an organization’s cherished resource. Problem-solving skills are one of the top-ranking skills; they are even tangibly rewarded. Interestingly, it is not associated with any particular designation but with resources of every rank – from a team lead, manager, or general manager to a trainee. The complexity of the problem entrusted to solve only varies. For instance, a trainee might be expected to solve his insignificant issues while, a manager would be asked to manage any significant event or mitigate a crisis with his problem-solving skills.
Communication
Communication is an art and candidates who are good at this art can expect to get noticed faster and grow prominently. Communication skills are one of the most valued, in every industry. So, hone your communication skills to remain edgy in whatever role you are working or willing to work.
Cyber-Security
As dependence on computers and computer-aided technologies, increases the demand for cyber-security also increases proportionately, or a degree more than that. Over the years, specialized skills for ensuring cybersecurity have multiplied to prevent devices and networks from malicious attacks by cybercriminals. In the next few years and more, the demand is set to rise, and this skill is to stay relevant for a longer time.
Machine Learning
Machine Learning is behind the marvel and brilliance of Artificial Intelligence. It is the statistical study of algorithms from data to form an understanding of any given topic and perform tasks automatically. Machine Learning is highly applauded for its power to transform every industry. It is one of the most valuable and hence highly paid kills now; experts believe it to remain the same in several years to come.
User Experience
Customers prefer to pay for unique and better experiences. So organizations have been paying exclusive attention to creating favorable user experiences and deploying skilled professionals to do the job. User experience designers enjoy excellent compensation for creating smoother, more interesting, and more engaging user experiences while interacting with an organization’s products, services, applications, or systems.
Upgrade your skills if you are looking for a career upgrade. Recruitment managers are more interested in your skills. Your skills will help achieve organizational goals, increase revenue, and scale up businesses. So, make sure you upgrade your skills from time to time.