How to upskill in the age of digital
Digital transformation and acceleration across industries around the world are no longer predictions for the future, they are the reality of now.
Through a combination of advanced technologies and necessities born out of the global COVID-19 pandemic, many industries have rapidly boosted their digital capabilities.
What this means for employees is that they need to be more technically savvy than ever to compete in this new digital world. If you want to be promoted, forge a new career or just land that dream job, you will need to upskill to be at the front of the pack.
Choosing the right digital skills to study and become proficient in can be challenging. But there are ways you can upskill and future-proof your career while still being able to put food on the table.
Learn new skills through online courses
The way we study has changed, thanks to advancements in technology and how education services are delivered. You can study a range of online courses to improve your design, technical and other digital skills without the need to physically attend classes at a campus or school.
Many of these online courses are flexible as well, so you can learn and upskill in your own time while you continue to work. This opens the door for people with families, existing careers and other life circumstances that would otherwise be unable to attend courses full-time at a brick and mortar venue.
Not only will these digital courses allow you to learn new skills, but they will also make you more comfortable and confident working in a totally online environment which many businesses are moving toward.
Becoming comfortable with digital work environments is imperative as well, with a KPMG 2020 global survey showing that almost 70 per cent of businesses have accelerated their digital transformation strategy as a result of COVID-19.
Learn digital graphic design
If you are struggling to think of an online course to take up, graphic and digital design is a good place to start. Programs like Adobe’s Photoshop should not be considered a great mystery and you can seriously boost your resume with design skills.
If you are planning a career in digital marketing, design goes hand in hand with this industry. Designing an image that stands out and gets shared is a key strategy for effective graphic design. Customer engagement is also enhanced by this. A well-designed image will influence customers to make an informed decision.
As almost all traditional media is shifting to online platforms, digitally-savvy designers are in high demand. This makes digital design a near essential skill, whether you want to be a standalone designer or use this skill to complement an existing role like digital marketing, web design and more.
Learn coding
More than $3.5 million has been invested by the Australian government in developing resources to teach children coding. But that doesn’t mean the next generation is the only one that should be considering learning this invaluable skill.
Developing software requires a fundamental understanding of coding. Learning to code is a good way to secure a job in a hot field due to the global shortage of software developers. Coding can also lead to job opportunities in other ways.
It may not be economically feasible to hire someone solely to handle coding and web design for smaller startups. Coding can be a useful string in your bow, helping you get work in fields like marketing, PR, and content creation.
It’s still well-known that coding is a useful skill, even if it has no direct relevance to the job you might be applying for. Therefore, if you have knowledge about it, you’ll automatically have an edge over your competitors. You can also be more adept at learning other aspects of technology, as well as be more comfortable with technology in general. As the job market becomes increasingly digital, this cannot be a bad thing.
Learn to understand and leverage data analysis
Big data is enormous for the success of businesses of all sizes. With so much data being generated in the digital world, knowing how to analyse and harness this data is the key to individual success as well.
Businesses use data analytics to build robust advertising campaigns, run digital marketing campaigns, increase customer satisfaction, and so much more.
Businesses have the ability to save costs, increase their competence, develop publicity strategies, improve marketing, and create an edge in competitive markets by using data and information.
The amount of data being produced daily is estimated at 2.5 quintillion bytes. This number is rapidly increasing as industries understand the emerging complexities of data management and the Internet of Things (IoT) takes centre stage. Globally, the data analytics market is predicted to reach US$105.08 billion by 2027, with a 12.3 per cent compound annual growth rate.
