How Can Honing Your Digital Skills Improve Your CV?

Around 87% of senior business leaders prioritise digitalisation, as found by Pew research, while The European Commission has found that digital technologies are now important for all types of jobs - including those which are not traditionally related to digitalisation (such as farming, health care, and construction).

Some of the most highly demanded skills include having detailed knowledge of how to use computer technology, the ability to work with people from a wide array of backgrounds and knowing how to program. Being digitally savvy is no longer ‘a good investment’ for potential recruits; it has become an integral part of jobs in a plethora of industries - from e-commerce right through to logistics, science, and the arts and media. In what ways can acquiring these skills benefit you, and what type of training is most pertinent in your chosen sector?

The Digital Skills Gap Is Growing

The World Economic Forum reports that many European companies are already struggling to find digitally savvy workers, with the skills gap projected to grow in what is deemed to be the Fourth Industrial Revolution’. There will be a strong demand in skills such as user and entity big data analytics, app and web-enabled markets, the Internet of Things, machine learning, cloud computing, digital trade, and augmented and virtual reality. Not only will employees be required in specialised fields, but also in less technical ones that nevertheless involve reliance on these technologies. Cloud storage, encryption, and 3D printing are just a few technologies dominating in sectors such as media, banking and finance, and dental implantology, respectively.

Digital Skills for Social Media Usage

There are currently about 3.5 billion social media users worldwide, with 54% of social browsers searching for products on their favourite channels. Around 73% of marketers feel that social media marketing has been effective for business, while 715 of customers who have had a positive experience with a brand are likely to exercise the power of ‘word of mouth’ marketing, thus boosting sales of relevant products or services. In nearly every industry, staff may be asked to record or upload anything from reports to vlogs, podcasts, and imagery of work processes. In this sense, digital success can encompass not only technical aspects such as programming but also more creative ones. Knowledge of everything from digital photography right through to editing and the use of content programming/social media management apps and software such as HootSuite, Buffer Publish, and Zoho can help automate processes. Digital skills can enhance your entrepreneurial chances as well, since discovering and fostering a talent in a creative field can boost your chances of opening a visual arts studio, collaborating with other companies, or even working on a freelance basis.

Digital Skills Involve Lifelong Learning

There are many ways you can work on honing your digital skills, even if you are a full-time student or you have already commenced your working life. If you are employed, find out about opportunities for employee training. If there aren’t many being offered at your current workplace, take the initiative and find courses that will benefit both you and the organisation you work for, suggesting that your company help pay for it. You can also inquire at your local employment office since many offer free courses on specific topics such as Microsoft Office, use of the Cloud, and cybersecurity, all of which can make your CV more attractive. Check out online courses covering subjects such as IT, data science, programming, Photoshop, data science, and any other subjects that are relevant to your industry. Some organisations (including LinkedIn, Cursory, and Stanford University) offer free courses, while others offer more specialised courses for a fee.

There is no doubt that being digitally savvy can significantly increase your chances of being hired by organisations from a wide array of industries. Ubiquitous connectivity and the Internet of Things mean that regardless of one’s specialisation, knowing how to use, access, and share key technologies is holding an increasing weight in the recruitment process. To build up a skill set that will stand out on your CV, you can complete a host of free and charged courses in important areas such as social media, machine learning, and of course, the most-used text, data analysis, and documentation programs such as those contained in Microsoft Office.

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If you need any advice, guidance or just someone to take a look over your CV, MCS Group is more than happy to help. Our services are completely free and our team of specialist recruitment consultants are always on hand to help. Contact us on 02890 235 456 or email belfast@mcsgroup.jobs