The Hottest Business Skills You’ll Need in 2019

By Susan Hoffman
Contributor

When it comes to searching for a new job, it isn’t always easy to know what the hottest business skills are. Some job ads, for example, are a long wish list of the skills and knowledge that companies seek in new hires.

To find what specific skills are most wanted in your industry, you often have to dig deep into a job ad and compare the job description with similar ads for the same type of job. This process can be time-consuming and laborious.

While the hottest business skills vary by industry and era, some hard skills are adaptable to multiple industries. According to Greg Lewis, content marketing manager at LinkedIn, here are the business skills companies value right now:

Technology Skills

• Cloud computing
• Artificial intelligence
• User experience (UX) design
• Mobile application development
• Natural language processing
• Scientific computing
• Game development
• Animation
• Customer service systems
• Software testing
• Data science
• Computer graphics

Corporate Skills

• Analytical reasoning
• People management
• Sales leadership
• Translation
• Business analysis
• Journalism
• Industrial design
• Competitive strategies
• Corporate communications

Marketing Skills

• Video production
• Audio production
• Social media marketing
• Digital marketing

Sometimes You’ll Have to Research Job Ads for the Hottest Business Skills Businesses Require

Unless you’re willing to move out of state to find a new job, chances are you’re probably seeking a job within a reasonable commuting distance. Be sure to do your research on local employers by checking their job ads. For instance, if you’re an IT professional and see several local employers regularly asking for knowledge of Hadoop software or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification, get that knowledge before you start actively seeking a new job with one of them.

Don’t Forget Soft Skills, Either

In addition to gaining hard business skills, ensure that you work on improving your soft skills as well. Careers reporter Abigail Hess of CNBC notes that there are five soft skills many organizations want for 2019:

• Time management
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Persuasion
• Creativity

Concentrate on Staying Employable

Staying employable requires constant learning. It isn’t always easy to find time to research the hottest business skills in your area, but it’s worth the effort to remain informed about what organizations want in their candidates.

Also, be sure to keep your resume and LinkedIn profile up to date. When the time comes to look for a new job, you’ll be better prepared for job interviews.