11 Skills to Look for When Recruiting in the Digital Transformation Era

It’s simple to judge that the recent working environment has undergone a digital transformation. Selling products is no longer door-to-door practice, and brand marketing has gone beyond the offline world. Therefore, companies must recruit employees with excellent digital skills to thrive in the global market.

Many work duties utilize sophisticated technologies, such as developing websites, creating apps, establishing online services, or doing social media marketing. As recruiting digital-literate candidates is necessary for companies, what would be the essential skills for today’s working environment?

We’ve pieced together 11 skills companies should look for when recruiting new members in the digital transformation era. We narrow them into two categories: entry-level and advanced level. Let’s discuss the two deeper below.

Entry-level jobs refer to those that require minimal education, including training and experience. This type of job is available in every industry and typically targets fresh graduates or those with minimum working experience.

Some of the entry-level skills that are highly needed by industries include data entry, social media, computer literacy, word processing, web-based research, and secure information processing. Let’s get more details in the following discussions.

Data entry is clerical work that typically involves transferring data to databases or computer systems. They can input data manually or using scanners. Some examples of data entry clerks include transcribing, inputting customer information, creating spreadsheets, updating accounting records, and more.

Data entry clerks must have a great understanding of database software like Microsoft Excel and Word. They should have the ability to collect and research data. Moreover, having excellent typing and transcription skills is mandatory.

Averagely, people spend two and a half hours on social media daily. Many value social media as a means of communication, source of information, and spring of entertainment. Moreover, social media is a marketing channel for companies to reach a broader audience and achieve business goals.

Social media specialists manage companies’ online platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and more. Their duties include planning, creating, and publishing content to build connections with audiences and raise brand awareness. They also need to understand content optimization to make winning content.

The digital transformation has made employees heavily rely on digital devices to do their job. Computer literacy becomes a fundamental skill that recruiters must check on a candidate, especially if candidates have to run specific software during their work.

Companies may also provide training sessions to new hires. It allows them to escalate their computer literacy and minimize the transition phase in a new work environment. Employees with incredible computer literacy can be a company asset to grow their business.

Web-based communication becomes vital if a company leverages the online space to run its business. Some duties relating to web-based communication include tracking and analyzing web metrics and statistics. Other skills required are social media mapping and analytic tools utilization.

Web-based research is also a natural need for companies. So, hiring someone who can collect data, conduct surveys, and gather information involving online resources is necessary.

Word processing jobs sound simple until you realize some skills required for them. Specialists in this job should be able to revise typed works, including making corrections, classifying files, and filling office support data. Therefore, a company should hire someone with above-average typing skills.

A company also needs a secure internal communication channel where they can share information and updates. Specialists with processing skills should be able to relay information within a department or company.

They are also responsible for more duties, such as gathering, verifying, processing, and analyzing data. They must create a secure environment for storing processing data from clients and internal departments.

Besides entry-level skills, recruiters should also look for advanced digital skills that require more significant studies and experience. Advanced digital skills play a vital role in a company to develop products and business strategies.

We’ve compiled eight advanced skills recruiters should look for in candidates amid the digital transformation. Let’s discuss them below!

Digital products such as websites, apps, and digital services must employ a friendly user interface. Therefore, the role of web designers is essential to manage a dynamic, intuitive, and practical user experience.

Employees responsible for digital design and data visualisation typically come from tech-related degrees, like web development, computer science, mobile computing, software engineering, and other related studies.

Coding becomes the heart of any tech products and digital services. Recruiters should hire candidates with a good understanding of programming core languages, including PHP/JavaScript, Bootstrap, Angular, jQuery, Angular, MySQL, and Codeigniter.

Employees with excellent coding skills can help build a brand image through app products, business websites, and other tech-related products. They make sure all companies’ digital assets run smoothly and flawlessly.

Companies need a solid digital marketing team to promote and market their products through online platforms. They can reach more audiences and get more prospects through social media, e-commerce platforms, and websites.

Recruiters should understand that digital marketing may consist of several focuses. Some skills required in digital marketing include SEO, UX, content marketing, social media marketing, analytics tools, and digital marketing tools.

Digital business analysis plays a significant role to a company in providing objective insights and data-driven techniques to grow a business. People with digital analysis skills help organizations and companies to build digital and tech-based ecosystems in their workplace.

Therefore, companies can catch up with the latest business trends. They can also reach audiences and potential customers better, faster, and more accurately, leading to business growth.

Digital product management is highly desirable, especially to tech companies. Brands that want to build an app or digital service should have digital product management specialists to create top-notch products according to customers’ and companies’ needs.

Recruiters should look for candidates who have an excellent understanding of methodologies such as SCRUM and AGILE. Moreover, those who belong to the digital product management department should be capable of ideating projects, building prototypes, and establishing products or services.

Data scientists and analysts are also natural needs for companies as they keep gathering big data over time. A data scientist is responsible for turning raw data into valuable information for a company to develop a data-driven strategy for their business.

Moreover, data analysts garner and scrutinize data using specific tools to help companies make accurate decisions. They are responsible for analyzing market trends, patterns, and anomalies that may impact a business.

With a rapid stream of technology improvements, recruiters must hire someone who can relate to the recent business trends. The new hires they recruit must be able to utilize software, apps, or other digital devices linked to their jobs.

Some skills mentioned above should be companies’ main focus when recruiting employees in the digital transformation era. Examining candidates’ prior education and experiences are crucial to ensure they can accomplish their responsibilities.

Andre Oentoro is the founder of Breadnbeyond, an award-winning explainer video production company. He helps businesses increase conversion rates, close more sales, and get positive ROI from explainer videos (in that order).