5 Skills Employers Look for When Hiring in 2020

5 skills employer are looking for

5 Skills Employers Look for When Hiring in 2020

Charles Darwin quoteToday’s business landscape has changed dramatically over the past years and, subsequently, so has the job market. To put things in perspective, in the 1960s the most common jobs involved salons, factories, nursing, and teaching. There was no need for app developers, social media specialists, driverless car engineers, and Zumba instructors – which are jobs that essentially didn’t exist 10 years ago and were just conceived by the rise of new technologies and practices. One more comparison that can be made is how, in the past, so much weight was placed on a university degree for employability and workplace success, which is a credence surpassed by many accomplished founders who are college drop-outs. Of course, education is still respected in the labor market as a whole – but in the recent times, many employers are choosing to adapt skill-based hiring versus simply basing on educational attainment or experience, specifically indicating that soft skills are very important factors in making hiring decisions

Here are the top skills employers are looking out for (and if they aren’t, they should) when hiring for 2020:

  1. Decision Making and Critical Thinking

As organizations become more data-driven, there will be an increased need for people who know how to analyze information, draw reasonable conclusions, and use them intelligently. Employers want candidates who can think logically and offer sensible solutions.

  1. Collaboration and People Management

Even as most companies have evolved to relying on digital communication, being able to connect and work well in a team is still a key skill. The old adage, “No man is an island,” comes to mind – as a successful endeavor is highly dependent on how a team coordinates, motivates, and develops each other.

  1. Emotional Intelligence

This skill doesn’t just require being able to keep emotions in check, but also, more importantly, to be sensitive to others and of their own impact to their surroundings. When one is able to read and respond to colleagues’ and customers’ reactions, they are able to build better relationships.

  1. Creativity

Regardless of how many machines work beside us, they will never perfectly imitate ingenuity. While they may be able to work faster, they cannot think outside the box and imagine new ideas. Tomorrow’s workplaces would require innovative ways of rationalization and new ways of moving forward.

  1. Ability to Learn

Given that the nature of work is ever-changing, whatever skills are “hot” in the market today can easily become obsolete. According to a recent report from World Economic Forum, 35% of what is considered as ‘essential workforce skills’ will change in the next five years. Therefore, the ability and the drive to upskill is a prized aptitude. A learning mindset allows employees to be adaptable and to continue momentum, even when projects change direction or job functions deviate. Workers who possess this skill will never lose their currency, as they always seek ways to level up and become better.  An estimated 800 million global workers will lose their jobs to automation. But even with the inevitable integration of AI and machine learning, employers show an increased interest in soft skills. These emerging technologies have shined a brighter light into the value of the human element – something robots or computers cannot replace. As business conditions continue (and will continue) to shift, hiring for potential and other intangibles (like soft skills, grit, determination) is a much-needed adjustment to stay ahead of the times.

At FGC+, our meticulous recruitment process assesses soft skills, along with your technical requirements. We aim to match you with staff that will work best with you. Let us know what you need today.