Today, there are countless careers that require at the very least a workable digital skillset. For people entering the job market, choosing some digital skills and becoming proficient or experts in them can be exactly the sort of boost that will set you apart from other applicants. Even for jobs that are outside of the digital realm, displaying a working knowledge of digital skills can stand applicants in good stead.
In the digital age we live in, having some digital skills can be an integral part of impressing recruiters and ensuring that you stand out among applicants for jobs. Many roles have partly or wholly digital elements that necessitate successful candidates to have at the very least a working knowledge of several digital skills. This means that in addition to other qualities that jobseekers should exhibit as listed by Northwestern Mutual, they should also display some level of aptitude with a variety of digital skills. This article will look at why people in their late teens and otherwise new to the job market should prioritize developing some digital skills to stand out, how to develop them and how to display them to employers and recruiters.
Table of Contents
Do digital skills really make a difference?
Yes, absolutely. For starters, most of the places that you will typically find yourself applying for jobs will be online. You will also find that there is a growing proliferation of remote work and AI-based roles that require you to be somewhat proficient in having a flexible digital skillset. Some of the key things that employers will be looking for, for all roles, not just for those that are digitally based, are applicants who show that they can communicate effectively online, are flexible and can adapt to new technology, and can easily navigate different digital tools.
Digital skills
This list is by no means exhaustive, but this is a good slice of some of the most useful and sought-after digital skills that employers will be looking for.
Basic computer literacy
No employer wants to hire someone who’s living in the last century. You need to display at least a basic level of computer literacy to even be able to apply to most jobs in the world we live in, and just the fact that you are reading this article means you probably meet that qualification. Being able to use the Microsoft Office suite or comparable programs is good, the same goes for the Google Workspace suite. You should also be comfortable using email services and different sorts of communication tools such as Microsoft Teams or Slack.
Social media proficiency
This is not as true for every role, but a certain level of proficiency with social media tools can be absolutely crucial for some roles, especially marketing ones. Being able to recognize and produce engaging content, analyze metrics obtained from said content and manage an online community are all skills that some roles will look very favorably on.
Digital communication skills
Just like face-to-face interactions, employers will expect a certain level of professionalism with your digital communications. Being on time and participating in video call meetings, writing emails in a professional non-casual way and being able to collaborate effectively with online tools like Slack are all things that employers will be looking for. All of these and any other communications you have can be wrapped up under the umbrella of practicing online etiquette.
Cybersecurity awareness
Just like proficiency with social media skills, cybersecurity awareness isn’t something that all employers will prioritize highly, but it is nevertheless, excellent practice to be safe. Cybersecurity awareness incorporates everything from safe browsing habits to the ability to recognize attempted phishing scams to being aware and practicing password security techniques. Some roles will only want employees who display excellent knowledge of data protection and cybersecurity measures.
Adaptability
we mentioned earlier that many employers prize adaptability pretty highly. The reason for this is pretty simple, the digital world we live in can sometimes move in giant leaps and bounds and having employees who are able to flexibly transition to new tools and methods of working can be very valuable.
How to train yourself in digital skills
There is no right way to learn any skill, be it physical or digital but the two of the best ways to learn any digital skill, in no particular order, are:
Online training and courses
There are many and more online platforms that will offer you courses and training in different digital skills. There are free options and ones you can pay for. A good rule of thumb here is to look for reviews from previous students and see what the scuttlebutt is online about these courses. Some examples of online platforms offering courses are Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Khan Academy and Udemy.
Learn by doing
One of the most tried and true methods of learning any skill is practice. This might be hard with some digital skills, but looking for opportunities to volunteer, join an internship, or even do some freelancing at a basic level can all be excellent ways to build the muscle of that skill. Remember, no one starts out an expert at anything and practice makes perfect.
How do I show an employer my skills?
Okay, you’ve spent some time figuring out what sort of skills your chosen profession might value, you’ve done the hard work and spent some time practicing and learning said skills. How do you show an employer that you aren’t just some random bozo, but that you actually have the skills that you want to use to pay your bills?
The simplest way to tell your prospective employer anything about yourself is to put it in your resume. There are lots of different bits of advice about how to properly stand out with a resume, like the advice you can find at this link https://careers.northwesternmutual.com/blog/hiring-advice/tips-and-tricks-for-your-hiring-journey/, which states that you should keep things simple and clear, which is good advice for most of the communication we do as humans.
Conclusion
For most employers, digital skills are absolutely critical for employees to have. The type and level of digital skills will vary widely from role to role, but almost every role will require some specialization and expertise in a digital skill or two, and every role will require prospective employees to have a good baseline of basic digital literacy.
For people that are looking to put themselves ahead of other potential applicants, engaging with online courses or practicing digital skills on your own can stand you in good stead. When it comes time to showcase what digital skills you may have, keeping it simple and direct in your resume might be your best bet. Being able to showcase proficiency in the right digital skills can easily be the difference between landing a role and being a runner-up, so invest in your future and spend some time learning.
