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So, what skills can you learn to make money right now as well as in the future?
With technology, a lot of traditional jobs are disappearing.
According to the Future of Jobs Report by World Economic Forum, by 2020, 75 million jobs will be displaced, 133 million new digital roles will be created, 47% of jobs risk being automated and no less than 54% of people will need to either learn a new skill or upgrade their existing skill.
So, what you don’t want is to sit around and do nothing and wait for your jobs to get automated.
Instead, what you want is to find out what new skills you can start to learn to prepare yourself and help you stay relevant in the new job market.
Skills That Are In Demand Now (& In The Future)
So, what skills are in demand right now and also in the future?
To answer this question, let’s look at what jobs will be made redundant and what new job roles will be created as companies start to adopt technologies to run their business.
Generally, jobs that are repetitive will become automated while jobs that require creativity or human empathy will be hard to get replaced by robots.
For example, cashiers’ jobs are already getting replaced by self-checkout machines at supermarkets.
Soon, bank tellers’ jobs might be gone too.
On the other hand, artists and poets will never get replaced by robots and teachers and therapists’ jobs will not be threatened by robots.
Now that you know what jobs are likely to be at risk, let’s look at what new job opportunities will be created in the new digital era?
Here is a list of in-demand jobs that are significantly based on and enhanced by the use of technology:
- Data Analysts and Scientists
- Software and Applications Developers
- Ecommerce and Social Media Specialists
Here’s a list of new in-demand future jobs that are related to understanding and leveraging the latest emerging technologies:
- AI and Machine Learning Specialists
- Big Data Specialists
- Process Automation Experts
- Information Security Analysts
- User Experience and Human-Machine Interaction Designers
- Robotics Engineers
- Blockchain Specialists.
So, what skills can you learn right now to help you get a job?
As you can see, employers are increasingly looking to hire people with the skills to deal with new technology.
So, exactly what specific skills are employers looking for?
To answer that, let’s match the in-demand jobs with the skills that are required to do the job.
1. Data Analysts and Scientists
So, what are the skills required for the job?
First of all, what data analysts do is to sift through data and seek to identify trends and also provide reports to explain what insights the data is hiding.
What data scientists do is to collect and analyze data, garner actionable insights, and share those insights with their company to help them make important business decisions.
Data scientists can do what data analysts do and even more.
Both need to be good at mathematics and statistics.
But for data scientists, they often hold advanced degrees and also have a background in computer science because their job requires coding.
How much can you make?
According to Glassdoor, the national average salary for a Data Analyst is $62,453 in United States and the median starting salary for a data scientist is $95,000.
Where can you learn the skills?
Coursera is one of the best online learning platforms that helps you build skills with courses, certificates, and degrees from world-class universities and top technology companies.
Most of its courses are accredited and recognized by employers, so it will make your resume look good and stand out.
Check out Coursera now.
2. Software and Applications Developers
So, what skills are required for software and applications developer job?
As a software and application developer, you are responsible for developing and modifying source code for software applications that are aimed at helping customers with computer tasks or programs.
So, a degree in Computer Science or a related field is almost always a requirement for application software developers.
How much can you make?
According to Glassdoor, the national average salary for a Software Developer is $76,526 in United States.
Where can you learn this skill?
Codecademy is an online learning platform that is specifically for people who want to learn how to code.
But, what if you have absolutely no coding knowledge?
Don’t worry.
Because Codecademy is designed to help anyone of any skill level.
So far, it has taught over 45 million people .
Even if you are a complete beginner and not sure where to start, it has a quiz to help you get started without feeling lost or overwhelmed.
If you are interested to learn how to code and pursue a career in this field, then I highly recommend it because learning to code might be the easiest way to change your career and get a high paying job in the future world.
Are Codecademy courses free?
Codecademy offers two plans:
- A free Basic plan
- A paid Pro plan
If you are strapped with fund, you can go with the FREE basic plan where you get 180 hours worth of interactive lessons and daily practice.
But if you are willing to invest in yourself, I recommend the PRO plan which gives you the best value and prepares you to get a job in the IT field.
Try out Codecademy for free now.
3. Big Data Specialists
So, what skills are required for big data specialist job?
As a big data specialist, you review, analyze and report on big data stored and maintained by your company.
Big data analyst’s job is similar to that of a data analyst, but they specialize in the analysis of big data.
Generally, you will need to have at least a degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related fields.
An advanced degree would be a plus.
On top of that, you would need to be proficient in using software tools such as Hadoop that help in big data processing.
How much can you make?
According to Glassdoor, the average annual pay for a Big Data Specialist in the United States is $107,901 a year.
Where can you learn this skill?
Coursera offers a series of online courses (i.e. Coursera Specialization) in big data, taught by experts from the University of California San Diego.
The best part is that you don’t need any prior experience to enroll.
So, it’s open to everyone.
All the courses are 100% online, so you can learn at your own pace.
For this specialization, you will also be asked to complete a hands-on project to apply the skills you have learned.
Upon completing the courses, you will be able to process, analyze, and interpret massive and complex data using current big data technologies. You will also have the basic skills to model, manage and process big data of various sources and formats.
Lastly, you’ll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and on LinkedIn.
Check out Coursera now.
4. Information Security Analysts
So, what skills are required for information security analyst job?
As an information security analyst, you are responsible for providing information security solutions for your company.
Here’s a list of duties that you will be expected to perform:
- Do research, collect data, develop strategies to enhance security
- Implement security principles while following strict privacy policies
- Document, prioritize, and analyze security threats, incidents, and key metrics.
- Review daily and periodic data to identify, report, and remedy vulnerabilities.
- Configure and analyze security tools and software
- Coordinate with IT and end users to minimize disruptions and protect assets
Generally, you will need a bachelor’s degree in information technology or network security for this job.
Additional knowledge and skills in cybersecurity, risk management, and information technology infrastructure will be a plus.
For example, cybersecurity skills include ethical hacking, penetration testing, and data recovery.
Risk management focuses on identifying security risks and addressing them effectively
How much can you make?
The average salary for an Information Security Analyst is $71,747.
Where can you learn the skills?
Coursera offers a series of online courses (i.e. Coursera Specialization) in cybersecurity, taught by professors from the University of New York.
All the courses are 100% online, so you can learn at your own pace.
For this specialization, quizzes and projects are included to help you develop the habit of properly assessing and improving cyber risk posture in real computing, networking, and software systems.
Authentic scenarios are also included based on practical enterprise and infrastructure deployments to enhance the learning experience.
Lastly, you’ll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and on LinkedIn.
Check out Coursera now.
5. Robotics Engineers
So, what skills are required for Robotics Engineers job?
As a Robotics Engineer, you research, develop, design, and build mechanical devices, robotics systems, and applications.
Generally, you are required to have at least a degree in automation, mechanical, robotics, or electrical engineering.
How much can you make?
The average salary range for a Robotics Engineer is between $76,892 and $136,151.
Where can you learn the skills?
Coursera offers a series of online courses (i.e. Coursera Specialization) in Robotics, taught by professors from the University of Northwestern.
All the courses are 100% online, so you can learn at your own pace.
For this specialization, you will also be asked to complete a hands-on project to apply the skills you have learned.
Lastly, you’ll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and on LinkedIn.
Check out Coursera now.
6. Blockchain Specialists
So, what skills are required for blockchain specialist job?
As a blockchain specialist, you develop blockchain-based solutions for business purposes.
Generally, you will need to have software engineering experience and be proficient in at least one coding language.
Also, you must have an excellent understanding of the working of a blockchain and its architecture and cryptography.
How much can you make?
The average salary of a Blockchain specialist is between $150,000 and $175,000 per year.
Where can you learn the skills?
Coursera offers a series of online courses (i.e. Coursera Specialization) in Blockchain technology, taught by professors from the University at Bufflo.
All the courses are 100% online, so you can learn at your own pace.
For this specialization, you will also be asked to complete a hands-on project to apply the skills you have learned.
On completion of this specialization, you will be able to:
- Have an understanding and working knowledge of the emerging blockchain technology
- Design and program smart contracts and decentralized application
- Evaluate the applicability of the blockchain technology to their current business problems
- Think of innovative application models leveraging the blockchain technology
- Contribute to protocol improvement of the blockchain
Lastly, you’ll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and on LinkedIn.
Check out Coursera now.
7. AI and Machine Learning Specialists
So, what skills are required for AI and Machine Learning Specialists job?
As a machine learning engineer, you run machine learning experiments and deploy machine learning solutions into production.
Some other duties include optimizing solutions for performance and scalability, data engineering, and data science.
Generally, you are required to have a degree in computer Science or related technical field and some experience in Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence.
You also need to have software development experience and must be proficient in at least one general-purpose programming language.
How much can you make?
The national average machine learning engineer salary is $114,121.
Where can you learn the skills?
Coursera offers FREE online courses in machine learning, taught by professors from Stanford University.
All the courses are 100% online, so you can learn at your own pace.
This course provides a broad introduction to machine learning, data mining, and statistical pattern recognition.
Lastly, you’ll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and on LinkedIn.
Check out Coursera now.
Skills That You Can Learn To Get A ‘Secure’ Job
Just now, we talked about what new jobs are being created because of the increasing adoptation of technology by businesses around the world.
But, what about the other type of jobs that are difficult to get replaced by robots.
Generally, these jobs are what I call ” secure” jobs.
So, if you are looking to learn a skill to help you get a “secure” job, then here is what I recommend.
These skills that I am going to talk about are skills that you can learn to help you land a “secure” job.
First, what do I mean by a “secure” job?
Look, no jobs are really 100% secure, but there are certain jobs that are much much more secure than others.
For example, teaching jobs are relatively more secure than a retail job, especially when the economy is not doing well.
Do you really see your kids being taught by robots any time soon in the future?
To be considered a ‘secure’ job, the job must be very difficult to get replaced by robots or must not be made obsolete in the future.
Here’s a list of jobs with the most job security:
- Jobs in the medical field (e.g. doctors, nurses, medical assistants, veterinarian, etc)
- Therapy & Counseling jobs ( e.g. marriage therapy, physical therapy, substance abuse counseling, etc)
- Teaching jobs (e.g. kindergarten teachers, school teachers, etc)
Professions that require enough degree of human empathy will leave robots useless.
So, what are the skills required to get paid for the jobs mentioned above?
When it comes to the hard skills required, it’s really obvious and straight forward.
For example, to work in the medical field, you will have to obtain the required certification or license.
Doctors need to get a medical license before you can practice medicine while nurses must obtain a nursing license .
What about soft skills?
Here are some core soft skills you need for all the jobs mentioned above:
- Listening skills
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Compassion
- Empathy
Summary
When you are deciding what skills you can learn to make money, it’s important to look ahead and think about what jobs are going to be there with technology revolutionizing everything around us.
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