5 Professional Skills to Develop during a Job Search

Looking for a new job is always stressful, even without a pandemic! Wading through pages of job listings and writing endless cover letters is exhausting work. And the job search is not easy on employers either—each corporate job attracts an average of 250 resumes that they have to evaluate! 

While you’re waiting for responses to your job applications, you might want to try supplementing your existing experience by learning a new professional skill. Not only might a new skill help your resume stand out in job applications, but it will also provide you with evidence of your proactivity that you can reference in your next job interview. Here are five skills for your resume that could help land you your next job!

In 2019, companies spent more than $89 billion on social media advertising and marketing, and that number is expected to grow in the coming years (Statistica). Companies now rely on social media platforms to promote their products and services, so a demonstrated understanding of successful social media practices can give your job application an edge in the hiring process. 

Relevant industries: digital marketing, customer service, communications, quality assurance, small businesses

Web design is also a crucial skill for a company and its hiring managers, as a poorly designed website can destroy a business. According to researchers at Stanford, 75% of users make judgments about a company’s credibility based on the visual design of its website. The ability to design a website to be user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing appeals to employers, especially if the open position involves uploading or editing content on a website.

Relevant industries: Web development, communications, digital marketing, digital publishing, small businesses

A recent report by Upwork predicts that 73% of all teams will have remote workers by 2028. Remote workers are happier and more productive, and companies are looking to hire more of them. However, supervising and managing these remote employees involves different challenges from leading on-site workers, and your ability to overcome these challenges might be just what your next employer is looking for!

Relevant industries: Any

Data analysis drives every decision using collected information. Employers are increasingly interested in candidates who can demonstrate an ability to make effective decisions through data analysis, and so far there aren’t enough of them! According to a Modis survey, 42% of employers complain of a lack of profiles qualified in data analysis in the labour market. A proven understanding of data analysis can be the skill that singles you out in a job application.

Relevant industries: Management, marketing, sales, quality assurance, nonprofits, insurance, healthcare

Especially since so many companies are hiring more remote employees, cybersecurity is becoming a larger and larger concern for companies. According to a White House report, cybercrime cost the U.S. economy between $57 billion and $109 billion in 2016. Employers want to know that their employees won’t be a liability, even unintentionally, and look for a job candidate who knows the appropriate procedures for preventing cyber attacks.

Relevant industries: Any

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