Companies, employers and job seekers have found themselves in a markedly different world to the pre-Covid landscape. Everybody has had to pivot to new ways of working. These shifts have resulted in a new host of skills which are now paramount for the working environment. Many workers are still having to work from home and it is very unlikely that the business world will return to exactly how it was before this crisis.

Looking forward to how things may change in a post-Coronavirus world, the skills you may need may also differ. Here are 12 skills you’re bound to need on your CV to survive in a post-pandemic world.

 

Flexibility and Adaptability

You would be hard pressed to find someone whose job has not been impacted in one way or another by coronavirus. It has required a level of flexibility and adaptability across the board, from where you’re working to how you’re working. And in some cases it has changed people’s whole job specification.

Unfortunately, the post-pandemic world will most probably continue to be one of uncertainty. Therefore, employers need to be sure that their employees can successfully and quickly adapt to new conditions and circumstances.

Be sure to show how you have been flexible regarding the programmes you’re using to communicate with colleagues and clients virtually, and show the ways and speed with which you have adapted to unpredictable circumstances in previous roles.

This flexibility also includes your approach to new directions a company may need to go in due to new circumstances outside of their control. Keeping an open mind and being prepared to shift strategies will be key in upcoming roles.

 

Being Tech Savvy

With a large majority of people working remotely during the crisis, even the most technically challenged people have had to learn how to use various platforms to communicate with their team and continue to successfully complete their work offsite.

Technology continues to be increasingly important across industries and roles. A level of computer literacy is essential and will be more so in a working world which is now predominantly remote. Companies are looking ahead at more hybrid models of working even when it is safe to return to offices. Remote working is here to stay, and the technologies that come along with it. You may experience this pretty soon in your job search, when they ask you to do a Zoom interview, instead of a typical face to face meeting.

To stand out from the crowd on your CV, list the programmes and software that you are adept in. Employees will most probably favor those who have experience with different software and technologies.

Companies hoping to stay ahead of the curve and on top of potential issues in the future will be looking toward technological solutions such as artificial intelligence, robotics, big data and augmented reality. Equipping yourself with this knowledge will keep you one step ahead of the competition and a valuable resource to employees as they look to the future.

Digital or coding skills

Linked to the above, concrete technological skills will also be in higher demand. 82% of job vacancies now require digital skills in some capacity. The coronavirus outbreak will accelerate this demand. Many companies who had not already adapted to an ‘online-first’ model of business had to shift to this model during lockdown.

With physical footprints at an all time low, they had to pay close attention to their online clients and their ability to sell and connect with customers online.

Moving forward, businesses will invest in more talent to help build optimized websites which are user friendly, and to ensure eCommerce is working as successfully as possible. There will be an increase in roles which require digital focused skills such as coding, website development, digital marketing and eCommerce experience.

Learning these skills will open your opportunities when applying for new jobs and make you more desirable.

 

Creative and Innovative Thinking

The unexpected onset of coronavirus caught the majority of companies off guard. The ones most successful in adapting and bouncing back were innovative in their response.

JD.com used autonomous robot vehicles in Wuhan to deliver food, medicine and over 100 million masks in a three day period. AVATOUR used an AR/VR collaboration to provide multiple people with the ability to virtually visit a real remote location in real time, which allowed an innovative alternative to physical business travel.

Innovation and creative response to the coronavirus crisis, and pivoting skills and resources into helping with the pandemic, highlights that innovative thinking is key in being able to survive unforeseen issues. Despite the resources you may have, it is the ingenuity of humans which can solve problems and find successful alternatives.

Employers will value creative thinking when looking for new joiners to help them through potential tricky times in the future.

 

Emotional Intelligence

The coronavirus crisis and the impact it has had on people’s working life and mental health has highlighted the importance of well being in the workplace. Companies have a requirement to look out for the health and well being of employees.

Whatever technical capabilities you may have, it is just as important to maintain the human element in teams and roles. Emotional intelligence will be greatly coveted in applicants. Demonstrate how you have effectively communicated in difficult circumstances and been understanding and in tune with your colleague’s needs. And do not forget to prepare for the emotional intelligence interview questions.

Commitment to Upskilling

A study carried out by the World Economic Forum found that in five years 35% of skills deemed to be essential today will have changed. That highlights the ever changing nature of the workplace. To remain relevant and desirable you must show that you are eager to learn and equipped in upskilling yourself frequently. Showing that you take the initiative to evolve and learn new programmes and skills will be a positive to your potential employer.

Equally, equipping yourself with these new skills will set you in good stead for future job applications – and let’s face it, lockdown is the perfect time to set aside the time needed for upskilling! There are various free courses or webinars available in a range of topics – search online for courses in areas you’d like to improve in.

 

Critical Thinking

In the last few years, across the media, social and political arenas, it has become increasingly hard to pick out fact from fiction, real news from fake news. The ability to critically reflect on what is being presented has been in short supply. The coronavirus pandemic has added to the cycle of misrepresentation and lack of trust in various sources.

Coming out the other side of this, the ability to think critically and assess sources and information to decipher what to believe will be greatly valued. Being able to evaluate information effectively to equip yourself with the most credible information will ensure informed decision-making, which is key to a successful business.

 

Leadership

The unprecedented times we find ourselves in has meant that managers have had to find new ways to manage from afar. They have had to get the best out of their team and keep up morale whilst facing very difficult conditions. This has emphasized the importance of good leadership.

Exhibiting your leadership abilities will impress employers. On your CV, demonstrate how you engage with colleagues, how you have steered the ship through difficult times and how you have got good work out of people who are not in the optimum environment or head-space for productivity. Your leadership skills will also be tested later in an interview, with some targeted questions.

 

Data Analytics

Data continues to be an invaluable asset to businesses. The ability to decipher and analyze this data, and turn it into information that businesses can use to their advantage is a major skill. Being data literate will be more important in the coming months and years as businesses look to understand more about their customers’ lives and habits to inform strategies and predict trends.

Invest in becoming more adept at understanding data and drawing conclusions from it to help inform company decisions, and you are bound to stand out to future employers.

 

Security Skills

With the majority of people working from home, in an increased online capacity, sensitive information is being increasingly shared via servers and cloud services. These are susceptible to hackers who can gain access to private information causing catastrophic data breaches if they successfully intercept those files. The need for cyber security knowledge and skills is higher than ever.

Jobs in this industry are bound to rise as companies take security more seriously than ever to protect themselves, their data and customer and client data. Companies will also want ensured security as more meetings and briefings that contain business sensitive information take place via virtual meeting software. Being skilled in company security solutions will be very valuable in a post-pandemic world.

 

Resilience

Employers will be on the lookout for candidates who are resilient when faced with obstacles, people who bounce back when issues arise and face them with positivity and ingenuity. Giving examples of how you have fought back in the face of adversity and successfully overcome challenges will be favorably looked on by prospective employers.

 

Problem Solving

A candidate who is solution focused and proven in their ability to problem solve will stand out in the future job market. Companies want employees who are fast-thinking, smart and solution orientated. In a post-pandemic world, companies need people who can respond intelligently to other unforeseen issues which may arise, and offer viable fixes.

If you hone your skills in a selection of the above areas, you will be a force to be reckoned with in the job market. Your CV will stand out with the mixture of hard and soft skills needed to thrive in a working environment post-pandemic…

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