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In today’s cutthroat job market, the right mindset alone doesn’t cut it – employers want to know the best technical skills you can bring to the table, too.
Technical skills are a key differentiator, setting top candidates apart. For new applicants, seasoned professionals, and anyone focused on steady career growth, honing these skills is vital to staying ahead of the industry curve. The new trend is all about depicting these new skills, so learn them and earn a digital certificate for your course completion!
This article will try to explain what are technical skills. Let’s explore technical skills across industries, why they matter, and how strengthening them keeps you competitive and ensures sustainable career success.
What are Technical Skills?
Compared to soft skills, like communication, technical skills focus on the unique expertise and knowledge professionals have. They define how well employees are trained to perform certain tasks and leverage tools to deliver top results in their professional roles.
Technical skills are necessary in every industry. They can be more generic and universal, like managing Gmail accounts and Slack channels, or more advanced, like technical writing, machine learning, or AI.
Soft skills, like problem-solving, require no special background knowledge, but technical skills are bound by respective qualifications and specialized education. They’re critical for every professional’s growth, multifaceted career development, and milestone completion.
What Technical Skills Are Employers Looking for?
Employers want the best of both worlds before hiring – strong communication skills, and technical background to go with it. Speaking of the technical part, job descriptions might feature “mandatory” technical skills, versus “preferable to have” technical skills.
- Mandatory technical skills are required to get the job. They are the HTML to every developer, the bookkeeping to every accountant, and are given for success.
- Preferable technical skills are an extension of the mandatory skills, but not required to have. For example, CSS developers who know UX/UI, or data analysts who also excel in data engineering might have the upper hand when being considered for a job.
What Technical Skills Are a Must for a Resume?
There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all technical skills for resumes. While there are more generic technical skills (e.g. Google Drive or Zoho management), most of them will vary depending on the industry you’re in. The most in-demand technical skills today stretch from software and web development to finances, marketing, machine learning, and data analysis.
Prioritizing the best technical skills for your resume is a must when applying. Perform in-depth research on the industry you’re in. This way, you can easily identify common skills in the provided job description, and narrow down the technical skills that best highlight your expertise.
Let’s go over some of the most common technical skills required in the biggest industries.
Industry-specific technical skills examples
| INDUSTRY | TECHNICAL SKILLS REQUIRED |
| Education | 1. eLearning tools, e.g. Adobe Captivate 2. eBooks/eCourse creation 3. Video production tools, e.g. Adobe Premiere |
| Software Development | 1. Programming languages, e.g. Python, React, 2. SDLC management, e.g. Agile, Scrum 3. Version control tools, e.g. GitHub 4. Cloud computing, e.g. AWS, Azure 5. Database management, e.g. SQL. |
| Project Management | 1. Project roadmaps 2. PM tools (JIRA, ClickUp, etc.) 3. Task/risk management 4. SCRUM principles 5. Budget planning |
| Healthcare | 1. Medical billing 2. Medical certifications 3. Electronic medical record software 4. Sonography |
| Marketing | 1. Digital Marketing Certificate 2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 3. Copywriting, e.g. Google ads 4. Social media marketing, e.g. LinkedIn 5. Automated marketing software 6. Content Management Systems (CMS) 7. Google Analytics/Search Console |
| Design | 1. CSS; HTML 2. Wireframing 3. UX/UI 4. Video design/editing 5. Brand coloring 6. Photoshop; Canva 7. User Modeling |
| eCommerce | 1. Point of Sale software 2. Webflow 3. Data Analysis & Business Intelligence (BI) 4. Cybersecurity tools, e.g. MFA, PCI compliance 5. Supply chain management, e.g. SAP. |
| Finance – FinTech | 1. Blockchain & DLT 2. Cybersecurity/Compliance monitoring 3. AI and Machine Learning 4. Bookkeeping & Data Analysis |
| Product management: | 1. Blockchain & DLT 2. Cybersecurity/Compliance Monitoring 3. AI and Machine Learning 4. Bookkeeping & Data Analysis |
How Technical Skills Benefit Professional Growth
Research indicates that 35% of employees fail to mention critical technical skills they have in resumes. Due to this gap, more companies end up rejecting talented applicants who might have otherwise been the perfect fit.
Be that as it may, technical skills are not only relevant to active job applicants. They also deliver value to trained professionals who want to expand their existing skills or branch out from their current careers.
Here’s how prioritizing the best technical skills can benefit your overall professional journey.
1. Job Performance Excellence
Employees who can grow their technical skills in the workplace, e.g. with online training, tend to excel at their roles. They essentially enjoy having the opportunity to expand their technical knowledge internally, without having to seek it out elsewhere. This ultimately leads to better performance, high-quality output, and streamlined role management–current and future.
2. Stronger Roster of Skills
Adopting technical skills doesn’t stop once you’ve ‘mastered’ the skill. By following trends and updates on your existing technical skills, you can easily expand them and become better equipped to use them. For example, if you’ve mastered Google Analytics, you might want to richen your expertise in Google Trends next. It’s a great way to upgrade surface-level skills and move up the knowledge ladder proficiently.
3. Improved Employability
For those looking for a new, or a more suited job to their experience level, the right technical skills can make all the difference. Today’s market is competitive and having related certifications and technical projects is the best way to guarantee interest from employers and become a more attractive applicant.
4. Seamless Career Switch
The great thing about technical skills is that you aren’t obliged to stay in your professional lane. With the right training and certification, you can easily gain valuable new skills to help you transition into new roles. For example, if you are a Copywriter but want to venture into Visual Marketing, adopting skills such as video editing and visual ads can help you prepare for the role.
5. Salary Increase Potential
Gaining more skills opens more doors for professional recognition, resulting in bigger salaries. Not only that but having specific, essential technical skills results in high-paying jobs. The more eligible you are, the more employers are willing to invest in your growth and skillset.
How to Develop Technical Skills for Professional Development
The global market will only continue to expand, with more job openings, but also more competition. Keeping up with the times and presenting yourself as a desirable candidate boils down to building technical skills. They’re vital to furthering your career and aligning your goals with your capabilities. Simplify the skill-building process with these handy steps:
1. Identify Career Goals
What do you want to achieve in your career? How deep are you ready to commit to it? Which milestone can you tackle first? Answering these questions helps estimate the technical skills you have, and those you need to accomplish your long-term goals. Two tips to do it easily:
- Build technical skills in your existing workplace, ones that lead to promotion and growth.
- Consider a side career–something you’re passionate about–and nurture those skills.
2. Identify ‘Must’ Skills
Technical skills vary, even in the same industry, so prioritize which skill you’ll invest in next. Pick something that follows your career goals, fits with your current professional landscape, and is worth completing. Whether switching careers or upgrading skills, here are easy two ways to get started:
- Research sites like LinkedIn to see any projects you like to commit to.
- Shortlist the skills you prefer. How long will learning each take? Which tools you’ll need? Document the process in a sheet, and start small, but bold.
3. Learn, Adapt, Overcome
Building technical skills means you should never stop learning. New job qualification trends are popping up every few months, and it’s vital to keep track of where you can improve. Attend seminars or undergo online courses regularly to sharpen your skills–plus you’ll learn something new every time. Here are some handy tips to help you maintain efficient skill-building:
- Learn through projects: assign them to yourself, ask to be included at work, etc.
- Ask for mentorship, so you can leverage their expertise and get some feedback.
How to Include Technical Skills in Resume
- Target relevant skills for each position. Tailor and update your resume with relevant technical skills for the positions you apply for. Analyze each job’s requirements and use specific terminology so your top technical skills easily match the role description.
- Zoom in on each skill. Listing a technical skill alone won’t do much – you need to provide accurate context of how each skill made you an efficient professional. Include relevant projects, tools, and results to better showcase your proficiency and success.
- Formal certifications. Include relevant training, degrees, or certificates you earned, to support your technical skills experience, and expertise. Certifications demonstrate your commitment to ongoing learning and highlight your capacity to take on the role.
- Speak in numbers. Include quantifiable markers to showcase how each technical skill helped you reach your role’s goals. For example, rather than simply writing “Ran successful HubSpot email campaigns,” try “Increased email campaign conversion rates via HubSpot by 35%.”
How to Include Technical Skills in Cover Letter
- Keep it sweet and targeted. Technical skills aren’t as crucial for your cover letter. Cover letters are brief and introductory, demonstrating your knowledge of the role and industry while explaining how you can support the company’s values and long-term goals. For the best output, feature a few technical skills that helped you grow professionally, but keep the main focus on the bigger picture, a.k.a who you are as a whole.
- Practice the same logic during interviews. Before scheduling an interview, employers will ask for your resume and get familiar with all your skills. Therefore, unless asked, there’s no need to further elaborate on them. Of course, you should highlight the specific skills you have for the particular role but don’t overwhelm interviewers with numbers. Remember, personal skills also matter in becoming the right fit for a role.
A handy tip – rather than stuffing your cover letter with technical skills, save them for your portfolio. Include links to your work where employers can see how your technical skills and knowledge helped achieve a milestone, complete a project, etc.
Technical Skills Drive Success – Your Move
Technical skills are the backbone of any successful career, highlighting your readiness and ability to excel. Investing in the right technical skills paves the way for a dynamic, ever-evolving career that grows with the job requirements and industry trends.
Growing your technical expertise never stops. Whether you’re starting a new role, switching paths, or applying for the first time, staying diligent in building technical skills is pivotal for impressing employers and shaping a resilient career profile.
Best Technical Skills for Professionals – FAQ
How can technical skills benefit professionals?
Acquiring the best technical skills has crucial benefits for employees and job applicants. The right technical skills help professionals transition into new career paths, improve workplace productivity and satisfaction, and earn salary increases. Meanwhile, technically skilled job applicants can become more employable and land higher-paying jobs.
What is the best way to learn technical skills?
There are various ways to learn technical skills, it all depends on the available options. Many professionals might acquire new technical skills at the workplace, through targeted training or working on skill-based projects. Other professionals might invest in online courses or digital workshops to elevate their skills. Mentoring is another option for learning technical skills, as are traditional education and certification programs.
Are technical skills enough for your professional development?
Technical skills are vital for professional development, however, they are not enough. Employers don’t just want you to do good on paper. Professionals also need a good mix of soft skills thrown in there. This creates a balance of professional and interpersonal skills, both vital for efficient career growth. By aligning your current and desired technical skills with your professional development plan, you can efficiently meet your career goals.
In a resume, are technical skills more important than education?
It depends on the industry and role. Technical skills demonstrate one’s ability to perform successfully in their role, but having relevant education for that role also counts. Some employers believe that the right education delivers the required technical skills. Although technical skills don’t require having a degree, for roles where formal education is crucial, like engineering, it might be a bigger priority.
