2020 has shown that we need to be prepared for anything the future throws at us. Not only the world, but the workplace, has completely transformed. Even post-COVID, being agile and flexible are crucial traits in order to succeed. 

For many people, adjusting and upskilling are already part of their work ethic. These are critical to survive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution – when change is the only predictable force. For anyone doubting the importance of this, it's worth noting that the shelf life of a skill used to be 30 years, and in today's fast-paced world, it may only be relevant for about 2-3.

That means in the time it takes you to get qualified, your skills might already need a refresh. 

So to keep up, we've put together a list of 5 skills to learn that will be useful no matter how far into the future we get. 

Let's get started!

Top-5 skills to learn in 2020

Сoding 

Technology runs the world. Coding is embedded everywhere – finance, health, entertainment, business, nutrition - name an industry!

You don't have to devote your entire life to code a whole new search engine like Google! You can start to learn the basics by dedicating 8 to 10 hours per week.

Start with the fundamentals of programming: Java, HTML, PHP, SQL, Python and Ruby. All of these are useful, depending on what kind of coding you prefer. There are plenty of free courses to get you started.

This is a future-proof career if you keep up to date with industry developments.

Writing 

In today's digital world where anyone can put anything out there, being able to grab attention and persuade someone to take action, is a highly sought out skill. To do this, you need to master the art of word – copywriting.

Honing your writing abilities is something you can take with you throughout any career path, and almost any industry. According to the Demand Metric survey, 70% of people would rather learn about a company through articles rather than an advert and 78% of CMOs see custom content as a future of marketing.

The best way to practice this is to keep writing, get your ideas out there and see how people respond. Consider creating a portfolio of your published work online. There are free online platforms like LiveCarta, where you can publish and develop your writing. 

Digital Marketing

Digital marketing, just like traditional, aims to attract an audience and generate leads. The difference with the digital space is that there is so much more data to analyze and you can clearly see which strategies are effective. This is great for those who are both analytical and creative. 

Career opportunities for digital marketing specialists are endless. Whether you’re creative or technical, there are many specialties to choose from – Search Engine Optimization, Email Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Analytics, Content Marketing – you’re bound to find the right fit for yourself in this field. 

Selling & Communication 

In any profit-driven industry, there is a product that needs to be sold. According to Salesforce, 92% of customer exchanges are made over the phone. Knowing this, it would be good to brush up on your conversation skills. In spite of the undeniable expansion of technological growth, person-to-person communication still  prevails.

Successful sales people have the gift of gab while still being attentive. Learning how to communicate with people is great for sales, and can be an important asset in many different fields. 

The great thing about this is it’s something you can improve on with every conversation. Mastering this skill will give you a strategic advantage, not just in business, but in life. 

Branding & Design

People are visual beings and in seconds we form opinions of people and products based on their appearance. Branding is how you present your business through visual messaging to evoke an emotional response and later, a transaction. 

There is an entire science behind branding – what colors, shades and fonts capture humans’ eyes best. All of these aspects are what designers and branding specialists consider in the work they create. As the world becomes full of visual clutter and every product and influencer struggles for your attention, brands need a clear and recognizable visual appearance to get their message across. This is where design specialists come in.

To learn the fundamentals or sharpen your skills, try online courses or start practicing along the way with easy online tools like Canva.

Bonus Skill: Meditation

While the pandemic has slowed down the pace of our world a bit, it can still feel overwhelming. In the endless race for money, fame, success, don’t forget to give your body and soul some time to be mindful.

Your success is not only determined by your ability to engage but to know when to disengage.

Bringing the practice of meditation into your daily routine, even starting with short 5-minute meditations, can improve concentration, attention, and reduce anxiety. 

Try apps like Calm or Headspace for guided meditations to work into your day-to-day.