As we find ourselves well on our way through 2021, we also find ourselves in the middle of a pandemic which has caused the loss of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of jobs. Once thriving companies are now struggling and a multitude of smaller companies were forced to close their doors due to the lack of operational funds.

This has caused a massive scarcity when it comes to available job positions. Unfortunately, the times are gone where you can simply drop off your CV and hope to be contacted for an interview – jobs are hard sought after and you need to up your game if you even to be considered for the position you applied for. The market we currently find ourselves in is a lot more competitive and you have to make sure that you’re in the running.

Due to the massive amounts of applications received when a new job opening or position is advertised, employers tend to go through the CV’s thoroughly, looking for the most promising CV’s and filtering out the best for the actual interview process. This is where skills and proficiencies can gain you the upper hand that you need to be taken into consideration.

Possessing the right skills will assist with making you a more attractive candidate for employers, while also improving your overall productivity, performance and efficiency at the same time. This being said, we take a look at some essential hard skills we find necessary to succeed:

First and foremost – what is a hard skill?

Hard skills relate to a specific set of competencies and technical skills that are necessary and required to complete specific, measurable and clearly defined tasks. Hard skills are acquired through training, schooling or short courses being reinforced and perfected through actual job experience.

Why are hard skills important?

Hard skills essentially the backbone of your skillset. They increase employee productivity, proficiency and effectivity, helping individuals to differentiate themselves from the masses. These skills can also be honed and fine-tuned via practice and repetition.

Examples of hard skills?

Hard skills focus on practical skills and abilities and are most often industry-specific. These skills can fall under various categories, such as:

Technical Skills

Technical skills represent specialized knowledge in certain areas such as engineering, Information technology, mathematics, science, etc.

• Programming Languages
• Data analysis
• Hardware & Software Knowledge
• Troubleshooting
• CRM Platforms

Computer Skills

Computer skills relate to the knowledge and abilities to operate and perform fundamental tasks on computers and related software.

• Microsoft Office
• Email
• Spreadsheets & database management
• Presentations & Slideshows
• Social Media

Analytical Skills

Analytical Skills refer to the ability to collect, analyze and interpret information sufficiently, make informed decisions, problem-solve an develop calculated solutions.

• Diagnostics
• Database management
• Research
• Forecasting
• Data interpretation

Marketing Skills

Marketing skills are tools and abilities that enable you to professionally excel in the field of marketing, including digital and technical skills required for success in today’s online era.

• Search Engine Optimisation
• Adwords and paid ads
• Social Media marketing & management
• Writing
• Data Visualisation

Management Skills

Management skills refer to certain attributes and skills that an individual need to possess in order to effectively manage and fulfil their appointed tasks within an organization.

• Finance
• Negotiating
• Budgeting
• Business development
• Project management