Must-Have Skills To Pursue For 2023

Believe it or not, we’re just over two months away from 2023. With a new year comes the chance to work towards new objectives. If you’re interested in advancing your career in the near future, you’ll want to make sure your “new year, new me” includes embracing trending skills.

We’ve previously covered some of the best skills to learn for 2022, along with which skills to leave off of your resume. While many 2022 skills are still highly relevant and transferable, the ever-evolving business world requires new skills to stay up to date. Join us as we examine Forbes’ Jack Kelly’s list of competitive skills to master in 2023 and add some insights of our own!

Adaptability

Adaptability was one of our top recommended skills for 2022, and it’s no surprise to see it topped Jack’s list for 2023. While adaptability has always been a prime trait, the speedy advancements in technology and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have further increased the importance of this skill.

Jack mentions the uncertainty of the job market, corporations having massive layoffs without replacing their workforce, and the inconsistency of remote and office jobs as rising traits that look to continue in 2023. The constant uncertainty, and the idea that you may need to switch jobs due to outside circumstances, means that those who can adapt and go with the flow will have the most success.

“To adapt to changes, you may need to continually reinvent yourself and pivot to new career directions.” -Jack Kelly

If you’re looking to become more adaptable, Harvard Business Review’s Michael Mankins recommends showing a willingness to adapt in the first place, working on your flexibility, and learning how to plan for multiple outcomes. You can learn further strategies here.

Coding

You may not work in software development or be a coder, but almost every job requires working with ever-evolving technology. There are so many quality-of-life enhancements brought about by new technology, and to get the most out of them, you’ll want at least a basic understanding of the underlying technology.

Jack says that building a comfort level is immensely helpful, and having a basic understanding of coding, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, or cybersecurity will give you an excellent foundation.

If you wish to take things even further, many of the most predicted in-demand skills over the next ten years involve different forms of technology. Maryna Zavyiboroda lists cloud computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and blockchain as some of the most profitable skills in the tech world.

Kool Stories mentions that learning coding, already a profitable skill, also enhances your problem-solving, mathematics, communication, and creativity skills.

Communication skills

Communication is another evergreen skill we should always be working toward, but it’s still one that many struggle with. Almost every job requires communication with other human beings, so this is one of the most-transferable skills.

This goes beyond your basic written and oral communication skills as well. As should be apparent, our use of technology will only keep growing, so knowing how to communicate digitally is key to successfully expressing yourself. Without body language in the mix, you need to make sure you quickly and efficiently convey your message to avoid confusion and get the desired outcome.

Jack mentions how vital these skills are to your own marketability. Even if you’re highly skilled or experienced, if you can’t communicate that, you’ll find it hard to get an audience.

Resilience

Rectec found that seven of the top ten skills employers desired were soft skills over hard, or intelligible and highly transferable skills. We’ve discussed many of them at length in prior posts, but at the core of each one lies the need for resilience and grit.

“Soft skills are nothing new, and they’ve been a major driving factor behind rebuilt interview strategies in the wake of COVID-19.” -Rectec

Jack says that times may be tough, and things may not go our way. Job seeking is much more complicated than it was 20 years ago. If you can teach yourself to be resilient, it will be much easier to not only roll with the punches but also to develop any other necessary skills to get ahead.

“Teach yourself how to be self-resilient, and build the confidence to pursue what you want. It’s okay to have fear and trepidation, but you must keep forging against all odds and obstacles.” -Jack Kelly

Wrap up

The job market is always uncertain and constantly shifting. But if you’re willing to get ahead of the curve, you can work towards highly-transferable skills that will serve you no matter which job title you pursue. Adaptability, communication, and resilience will always be valuable, and in today’s world, the most you understand technology, the better your baseline will be. Start mastering these skills now to be prepared for the future!

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How To Not Be Annoying On LinkedIn

No matter what industry you’re in, networking is the supreme principle in advancing your career. In most cases, modern networking means a strong LinkedIn presence. LinkedIn has cornered the market as the prime social media option for the professional world, and proper LinkedIn etiquette is a skill every professional needs to learn.

Part of that etiquette is knowing what NOT to do on the platform. LinkedIn isn’t the same as other social media platforms, and if you annoy your network, you’ll find yourself alienating your potential allies.

Your personal brand is important, and you don’t want that brand to be “an annoyance.” Unless you’re looking to be a nuisance, avoid these annoying LinkedIn behaviors.

Don’t spam

LinkedIn is a fantastic tool for getting in touch with people you otherwise may never speak to. You can research prospective employers, find informational interviews, reach out to those in new industries, or look into those previously employed at companies you’re interested in.

But you can’t simply fire connection requests and cold messages to every person on the website. You should take time to carefully craft any requests and take time to explain who you are and why you’d like to connect. Quality leads are better than quantity.

Josh Steimle uses mass tagging connections in posts as another type of spam to avoid. If you’re constantly looking for attention by overly tagging people, you’ll soon find yourself blocked.

LinkedIn itself, a pretty credible source on this particular topic, says to avoid coming across as “salesy.”The platform may be designed for professional development, but no one wants your service shoved in their face immediately. Treat your potential connections as actual people rather than pure customers.

Don’t be generic

Hand-in-hand with the above point, the more generic you are in your efforts, the less interested people will be in interacting with you. As Forbes’ William Arruda reminds us, spammers and bots are a plague on LinkedIn, and it can be detrimental to your efforts if you sound like one.

On paper, a high volume of messages sounds like a good way to get at least some positive responses. But like with applying for jobs, spray-and-pray techniques rarely work. Any pitch you’re planning on sending should be carefully thought out and provide value to your target. Make an effort to reference something they’ve done or how their experience inspired you. A generic pitch is wasting their time and yours.

“For some reason, people think it is effective to cold pitch people without any preparation or research. The funniest is when someone sends me a message on LinkedIn offering their totally irrelevant service and says something along the lines of “We see that at your company you do XYZ and thought you could use my product.”” -Hillel Fuld

Be honest

It should go without saying, but don’t lie to your potential connections about what you can do for them. While your pitch should have value to the connection, it needs to actually be something you can deliver.

Trickery on LinkedIn isn’t just lying about your skills, experience, or connections. William Arruda uses the example of deceiving your new connection by asking for time to get to know them or claiming you’re doing research for a project when in actuality you’re trying to make a sale or ask for a job opportunity. Once it gets out that you’re taking advantage of the generosity of others, you’ll find it harder to make connections.

“If your true intention is to make a sale, don’t imply it’s about the joy of just getting to know and learn about people. This subterfuge is beyond annoying.” –William Arruda

Don’t overshare

“Weird Al” Yankovic once wrote a song called “Stop Forwarding That Crap To Me” regarding chain emails and overshared images that plagued the early internet days. Unfortunately, the song is relevant once again as LinkedIn spammers fill your feed with unwanted content.

Alexander Krastev notes useless polls, irrelevant tear-jerking or viral videos, cringey memes, and overly shared stories as the types of eye-rolling content plaguing the platform. While it can seem cruel to vilify this type of content, a good deal of it is fake and overshared simply to generate clicks and engagement.

LinkedIn is supposed to be a place for professionals to connect and share relevant content. While it doesn’t hurt to have some fun, save the off-topic content for Twitter and Instagram.

Don’t use it as a dating site

Speaking of keeping it professional, while LinkedIn is a social media platform, it isn’t meant to be a dating pool. Save the cracking on for Tinder or Bumble, and let LinkedIn remain a safe place to grow professionally.

Wrap up

Good LinkedIn etiquette shares much in common with good social media etiquette, or just good manners in general. Treating your future connections like actual human beings and not just avenues for gain goes a long way. Be authentic and offer value to others, don’t bombard the platform with irrelevant content to get attention, and keep things professional and you’ll be viewed as someone people wish to connect with. Happy connecting!

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What To Do If You’re Overqualified For A Job

At some point in your job search, you’ve likely felt unqualified. Maybe there’s a required skill you’re lacking, or perhaps you simply don’t feel like you have enough experience. In those cases, you’ll have an idea of what you need to achieve to reach your dream job. But what do you do when you’re overqualified?

Surely employers would love the chance to hire someone that exceeds their wildest expectations, but the opposite is often true. Hiring managers may think you made a mistake or that you won’t be fully engaged and invested in a position seemingly beneath your experience level.

There are a myriad of good reasons to apply for a job you’re overqualified for, but there are many more reasons employers will be wary. If you wish to proceed regardless, we’ll analyze what these employer fears are and how you can quash them.

“For overqualified applicants, an impressive résumé might sometimes be the reason for employers to say, “Thank you, next!”” –Hire Veterans

Why apply for a job you’re overqualified for?

Being overqualified simply means you far exceed the education, experience, and skill level of what a job description is seeking. For example, if you’re applying for an entry-level sales role after leading a sales team for ten years, you’ll be viewed as overqualified.

While an employer might question your reasoning, there are plenty of good reasons to proceed. Maybe you want more meaningful work in your industry and need to seek a lower position to find it. Maybe despite your experience, you’re looking for new challenges or opportunities within the role. Or you may simply need a job in your industry. Layoffs and relocation happen, and sometimes you need the work.

Whatever your reason, you’ll need to be conscious of it, because employers will be asking.

The problems of overqualification

So why is being overqualified actually a problem? While companies want the best hire for the job, there are plenty of questions surrounding why someone with your qualifications would want to stay for the long term.

Madeleine Burry lists four principal problems with being overqualified: fear you’ll be bored, concern you’ll be temporary, the uncertainty you’ll follow directions, and nervousness that the pay won’t be enough.

The main fears are if this appears to be a step backward at this stage of your career, will the work and benefits be enough? The work may not be challenging enough for you, leading to boredom with your daily duties. For someone used to more responsibilities and a higher salary, potential employers will worry what they offer isn’t enough. Because of your experience, you may not follow their directions if you’ve done things a certain way or the person training you is less experienced. These factors lead to the idea that you’ll quickly move onto another position, costing the organization time and money.

Shonna Waters of BetterUp adds that employers can be guilty of age discrimination and use overqualification as an excuse to not hire you. They may fear you won’t be quick to adapt to new ideas or try new ways of learning.

“Whether they say it or not, they may also want someone younger for cultural reasons or training purposes and pass on you.” –Shonna Waters

Indeed also believes that these factors can lead to a negative work environment. If a person isn’t feeling engaged or challenged, it could create a toxic work environment.

What to do if you’re overqualified

If you’re set on a job you’re overqualified for, don’t let these common objections stop you. You’ll just need to do a bit of extra work and be ready to answer the questions when they come.

Shonna Waters says to make your resume “pop,” but not necessarily explode. Tailor to the position as always, but feel free to downplay your accomplishments or leave off irrelevant positions (obviously, be truthful). You still want to prove you have the skills needed to succeed in the position—you don’t want to take off too much and appear unqualified! But you can certainly downplay just how experienced you are.

Feel free to rip the Band-Aid off early and address the overqualification issue in your cover letter. Emily Morrison thinks this is the best way to get ahead of the question and express your genuine interest immediately. You can tell the recruiter you’re looking into a new industry or that you’re excited about the chance to learn new skills and have new experiences. This allows you to showcase your passion and express your desire for growth.

“You can make sure that they look past your qualifications by emphasizing two different things: that you’re looking for an opportunity to learn beyond what you already know, and that you’re looking to stay somewhere for a long time.” –Emily Morrison

Wrap up

Only you can decide if a job position is right for you. There are plenty of reasons one might seek a job they appear overqualified for. Hiring managers may be skeptical, and often for good reasons, but if your heart is truly set on a position, go for it! Take the extra time to tailor your documents and position yourself as a passionate person eager for new experiences and you’ll put the opposition to rest.

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The Pros And Cons Of One-Click Apply

For job seekers, technology can be a wonderful thing. You can apply to jobs almost anywhere from the comfort of your home, you can stay in touch with your network easily through social media, and, thanks to the rise in remote work, you can even do a job from home.

But because of the ease of access, it can be much harder to stand out thanks to the high levels of competition. Experts say it can take 100-200 applications to get just one job offer, and your average job search could take up to nine weeks. To get a job in the traditional way, you’ll need to send a high volume of resumes.

That’s why job search websites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter offer “easy” or “one-click” apply options. For someone looking to get as many resumes out as possible, these features are a massive boon!

Or are they? Despite the convenience, using these features may not make you stand out from the crowd. We’ll cover what easy apply systems actually do, their faults, and when they can help your search.

What do they do?

The name sells the basic function well enough—an easy or one-click apply skips through much of the traditional application process to quickly get your documents into the hands of recruiters. They may or may not offer the chance to attach relevant documents like a copy of your resume or cover letter.

In most cases, this allows you to quickly submit a generic, multi-use resume. In LinkedIn’s case, you’ll instead be submitting your LinkedIn profile. This allows you to quickly scroll through online job boards and apply to anything that strikes your fancy.

The problem

Bypassing the conventional application process, which is often time-consuming and tedious, is an amazing idea, but it has its drawbacks.

“As with all quick fixes, the easier option has its drawbacks. Primarily, you’re trading customization for simplicity.” – Jaclyn Westlake, The Muse

This convenience leads to a lot of applications being submitted. In spite of this volume, you may think having the right keywords will get your generic resume picked by the applicant tracking system, but Mac’s List says that may not be the case. Around 40% of companies don’t use ATS, and if your resume isn’t tailored it will struggle to get noticed by the person reading it.

Data shows using one-click apply methods doesn’t have an impact on whether or not you’ll hear back from the employer, according to SmartRecruiters. Your resume will be added to a large pile of applicants regardless, and your content will have to speak for itself.

In LinkedIn’s case, the Easy Apply puts a lot of pressure on your profile. Regardless of whether you attached a resume and cover letter, your profile is the first thing the hiring manager will see. If you’ve been neglecting your profile or hoping your resume will carry you, you may be disappointed when your application is quickly discarded.

You can help alleviate this by having a well-developed LinkedIn profile, which is good to have regardless. Lewis Parrott says having a professional photo, strong headline, relevant details in your job history, and interesting personal details can help alleviate some of the issues with using Easy Apply.

When can it help?

While network connections and carefully customized resumes are a superior job search strategy, one-click applying does have its place and can help lead to a well-rounded search.

Volume does matter in your job search, especially for entry-level roles. The application process is often tedious, and constant rejection after spending significant time applying is discouraging. Quick applies can help you cast a wide net. You may not always bring in the best jobs this way, but it can help build momentum. Career Sidekick does recommend at least tailoring your resume for a specific industry if you choose this route.

If you’ve already tapped your network and carefully applied to your dream companies, then using easy apply functions can be a way to supplement that search. Use them to compliment your job search, not to be the heart of it.

Relying on one-click apply is NOT recommended if you’re looking for your dream job, but sometimes you just need a job. Whether you need a source of income, you need to learn a skill, or you’re just looking to get your foot in the door, these functions are a great tool to find a low-stakes job.

Kindra Cooper believes if you have a top-notch LinkedIn profile already their method can work. In fact, if you’ve spent time adding URLs, displaying endorsements, highlighting your skills, and you have a strong summary, your profile may be even better than your resume. But this requires you to have done all the work beforehand, and it’s best not to put all your eggs in one basket.

Wrap up

Job searching can be a long and arduous process, and any tool that can make the journey easier is appealing. But while they offer additional assistance, it’s imperative to understand the pros and cons of using one-click apply methods. There are times to use these features, and they can complement a thorough job search, but they shouldn’t be relied upon as your only job-searching strategy. For more in-depth job search strategies, check out our other great articles!

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Defining and Presenting Your Personal Brand

Branding is a powerful tool that allows consumers to anthropomorphize different companies. Some of the most successful companies stay in the public eye because of their strong branding and iconic imagery. But this isn’t limited to large companies. With some careful planning, you can create a curated digital presence through personal branding.

Using technology, potential employers and customers can learn all about you without ever meeting you. With that in mind, it’s better to control that image yourself. How do you want to be viewed? No matter where you’re at in your career, controlling your own narrative can be the key to living the life you desire. We’ll explore why it’s so important to build your brand and what you can do to present yourself in the best possible way.

Why does it matter?

Think of a celebrity, whether you like them or not. Think about the traits you associate with them. You’ve likely never met this person, but you have an opinion of them based on these perceived traits. That’s the power of personal branding, and it’s reasonable to assume you’d rather have people thinking positively about you.

Harrison Monarth sees the difference between reputation and personal brand as intentionality. Your reputation is based on first impressions and the relationships you’ve formed. Personal branding is about creating your narrative and deciding what you want to present.

Renderforest lists three keys benefits of having a well-defined personal brand:

Raising self-awareness: Taking a look inward will give you a deeper understanding of your strengths and weakness and the value you can bring to others. Once you understand this yourself, you can better market what you have to offer.

Build trust and credibility: If you’re putting forth a consistent and accurate message, you’ll appear much more credible. With the traits you’ve chosen to define you at the front, people will look to you as an expert where it matters.

Grow your network: If you’ve built trust and credibility, you’ll come to be viewed as an expert in your niche. This will lead to others reaching out to you and looking for your expertise.

Finally, according to Medium, as of 2020, 43% of the workforce in the US is made of freelancers and contract workers. If your name is your business, it’s crucial to have a strong personal brand to keep growing.

How to build your personal brand

You already have a personal brand whether you realize it or not, but it’ll take some self-scouting to craft the image you want. Mac Prichard suggests doing a self-audit and asking others for objective feedback. Do a deep dive on search engines to see what pops up when you search for yourself and make sure your social media pages are “clean.” Then, talk to people you know and see what you’re known for. You can use anonymous tools to make sure you get honest feedback.

“You may be tagged in a video on Facebook where you’re singing Happy Birthday offkey. Funny and harmless—except if that’s the first thing an employer sees when searching for a serious, competent business leader.” -Mac Prichard

Next, decide how you want to be defined and what your goals are. How do you want to be known? Whether you’re a charismatic salesperson, a master of a specific technology, or an expert in handling conflict resolution, you want to have a clearly defined niche. The more specific that niche, the better. We recently covered the idea of the elevator pitch—a short summary of who you are and what you can offer. This is the core of your personal brand.

After these steps, you should have an idea of how you’re currently viewed and how you’d like to be viewed. The next step, according to Anders Hjorth, is to build your assets. What resources do you need to increase your visibility and your credibility?

You can not like social media, but it pays (sometimes literally) to have the right profiles. Depending on your industry, you may also want your own website to showcase your work or a portfolio filled with previous projects.

Make sure those profiles are working for you through careful design. Make sure your profiles will get noticed and make people want to contact you.

At the end of this process, Mac Prichard says to go all out. Once you’ve built a brand you’re happy with, steer into it. Exude confidence and don’t be afraid to show off your personality.

“You’ve done the work to know who you are and what you bring to the workplace. When you are clear and convinced that you’re a valuable and effective contributor, that message shines through. Your professional brand should convince others that you think you’re the best candidate for the job, and they should too!” -Mac Prichard

Wrap up

Standing out for the right reasons is the key to succeeding in the business world. Creating a clearly defined niche and becoming an expert will grow your network, help build great relationships, and assist you in finding your dream career. Playing an active role in crafting your personal brand is the first step, and the benefits are endless!

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