Within a few years, information went from being stored in file cabinets, to floppy discs, to flash drives, to shared servers and now to clouds. Today employees are being laid off in large numbers, not because of the bad economic times, but mostly because of technology shift.
Think about this statement by Bill Gates while speaking at The American Enterprise Institute, Washington D.C. Economic Think Tank –
Get Up to $100,000 Student Loan for Your Master in US or Canada - Apply before 31 December 2024 to get as low as 9.99% interest rate
Big changes are coming to the labor market that people and governments aren’t prepared for. Technology over time will reduce demand for jobs… I don’t think people have that in their mental model
Whatever business or profession you are in right now, some persons somewhere out there, right now are trying to figure out how to do your job faster and more efficiently with technology. And the more they breakthrough, the more people will lose their jobs.
Employers are no longer looking for a large work force to fill their payroll. They need people who’ll be more efficient, productive and deliver measurable value to the company. With this atmosphere in the workplace, the new rule is “adapt or be left out”.
Fortunately, you can upgrade these highly relevant technology skills at your own pace through online learning and be more valuable in today’s and future business world.
We’ve recommended Udemy online courses with certificate of completion to learn these skills.
- Web development & design
Almost every business needs a website. IT companies continuously needs the service of web developers. And businesses will continue to require website services. Web development skills will add to the value you bring to your workplace. You can even start your own Web development Company.
Online course: The Complete Web Developer Course – Build 14 Websites
.
- Mobile App development
More people access the web on Smartphone and Tablets than on PC. And companies are not reluctant to embrace this trend. App developers are in high demand. Mobile app development skills can open doors for you in the job market, and even empower you to build your own app development Company. The two most popular app marketplaces are Apple’s app store for iOS devices and Google Play store for Android devices.
Online course: Complete iOS8 and Android Development course for beginners.
- Adobe Creative Suites – Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator
Graphic designers are valued for their ability to create concepts that communicate ideas and win over audiences. Whether for image enhancement, logo or graphic design for website, advertising or entire branding, knowledge of Adobe Photoshop (and other Creative Suites) will enhance your proficiency in graphic design. You can perform professional graphic related tasks for your company and even earn a living as a freelance graphic designer or photographer.
Online course: Photoshop Course.
- Digital Marketing
Small to large companies are now turning to digital media for measurable and cost-effective marketing. They realize that great product and offline sales people are no longer enough in this technology driven society. And considering the cost of traditional media (TV, Radio, and print media), digital media is the next big thing. This has caused a huge demand for Digital marketing managers. You help companies acquire leads, increase sales, create brand awareness and grow their business using digital technology.
Online course: Digital Marketing Management
- WordPress for Blog publishing
WordPress is a Content Management System – CMS – for building websites, blogs, membership sites, ecommerce stores and just about any kind of website, without knowledge of coding. Once you know WordPress, you can do in a weekend what could take months to code from scratch. Powering 22.5% of all websites on the internet, a good knowledge of WordPress will be an added value to your organization. You can help your company redesign its website, troubleshoot issues and update content. You can also offer your WordPress skill as a service.
The best way to learn WordPress is to setup a WordPress blog, read WordPress tutorials and learn on the job.
- Microsoft Excel
In business, speed and accuracy makes all the difference. Microsoft Excel is the world’s most used business intelligence spreadsheet tool. Its knowledge is even compulsory for an MBA degree, and the business world depends greatly on it. MS Excel skill is highly required by employers to increase business productivity.
Online course: Microsoft Excel 2013 Course Beginners/ Intermediate Training.
- Video Production
YouTube has more than 1 billion users. Every day people watch hundreds of millions of hours on YouTube and generate billions of views. More than a million advertisers are using Google YouTube ad platforms to reach customers, the majority of which are small businesses. Video sharing is a fast-growing part of social platforms. You may be the one to jump start your organization’s video production by bringing these skills in house.
Online course: How to Create Video for Your Business
Are You Upgrading Your Tech Skills?
Just 5 years ago, no one ever thought companies will go out of their way to engage on social media. Today, even CNN ask viewers to ‘Like Us on Facebook’, ‘Follow Us on Twitter’, ‘Subscribe to our YouTube channel’. Amazing how fast the business world is changing. To stay on the winning side, embrace this inevitable change.
