A new dawn for workplaces has evolved in recent years, with creatives and start-ups paving the way for change when it comes to our 9 to 5 duty. Gone are boring office designs and regimented working days, and in its place are energetic, fun, and most importantly engaging workplaces and job roles which are making waves across a number of industries.
But, along with these new office trends comes a new skillset. With a record number of students applying to university in 2015 (a 2% increase on 2014) according to UCAS, savvy graduates know that when it comes to standing out, just having a degree doesn’t cut it. It’s about going that little bit further to help make you the WOW candidate. The best way? Improving your skill set through self-development.
Digital skills are key to employment prospects, with those who lack these putting themselves at risk of being left on the scrapheap. Whilst these digital skills naturally lead themselves to the arts or more creative industries out there, there really are no limits when it comes to the industries they reach.
But with creative industries contributing around £84.1 billion to the UK economy in 2014, and the number of jobs in the sector growing by nearly 9%, double the rest of the economy, the creative sector is clearly going from strength to strength. So, what is it that makes this sector the most successful over any other?
Our reliance upon the digital world could be to blame, as could the new roles being created which allow ever changing technologies to be created. Either way, it’s clear that creatives are a force to be reckoned with and we could all learn something from them.
Digital Skills
How many jobs rely on a decent internet connection and some form of digital device? A lot, in fact, tech has created more jobs than it has destroyed in 140 years. We could be searching for our next job role using social media, creating our CV on PhotoShop, having a video interview over Skype, before we begin a job which revolves around the internet.
Digital has given the world more accessibility and creativity than ever, but the downside? It’s so fast paced that in order to keep up you have to be on the ball. Here’s where a drive to learn comes in. There’s only so much someone else can do for you before it’s time to help yourself. Do you want to work in digital? Then you need to make sure you can keep up with the industry.
Taking pride in self-learning is nothing to be ashamed of, but it is something we can all easily forget when we become comfortable in the workplace. Investing in a training course will allow you to develop your skills, and you’ll certainly see the value both personally and professionally.
Development Prospects
If there’s one thing prospective employees want to see when they interview for a new role, it’s the opportunity for development. We all know the goal of working is ultimately to be paid at the end of each month, but when we spend most of our lives working it’s important we’re in a job that we love, not loathe.
Whilst this is often easier said than done – sadly sometimes you have to take a job you don’t always enjoy when there are bills to be paid – but taking the time to develop your skillset can greatly improve your prospects going forwards.
Whether this is part of your employment package or not, creatives know that the changing job requirements mean they need to be able to adapt to any new digital tools or trends at a moment’s notice. The best way to stay abreast of these new changes? Training.
Improved Staff Value
For employers the question often raised is: ‘where’s the return on investment for me?’, but once employee potential is unleashed the business rewards can be easily reaped, and any seeds of doubt buried.
Take pride in developing your employees, remember they are what makes your business, and taking the time to improve their skill sets not only helps to make them feel valued (something which can go a long way in increasing their loyalty to you), but also improves the quality of their work and in turn the business.
Creative thinking isn’t something which is easily cultivated, but once you’ve cracked it you’ll see employees and your business flourish. Those at the top aren’t always the sole decision makers when it comes to making business choices, opening up the floor to input from employees can help to highlight another avenue of problem-solving.
Encourage creativity. Whilst the phrase ‘think outside the box’ is a little past it, it really does ring true when it comes to making the workplace a successful one. Creatives know that a little imagination can go a long way when it comes to good business sense.
The New Skills
CVs have come a long way since the days of simply being proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, whilst these skills are undoubtedly necessary to many roles, the digital skills now required mean you need to go a lot further than adopting the basics.
There may be things that you don’t necessarily class as ‘work’ skills, but can actually help you be the top candidate. If you’re a social media whizz (make sure it’s professional though) or have your own blog, these can both go a long way in showing you’re not only great at running your own platforms but you really know your stuff.
When it comes to the bigger picture, basic coding knowledge is one of the top job requirements as it was recently found to be one of the fastest growing keywords in job applications. In the world we now live in, there really is no limit to the digital skills required, so make sure your skills are up to scratch before you hit apply.
Workplaces are welcoming the new change in employees and new candidates, so make brushing up your digital skills a priority – it’ll be worth it.
Contributed by: XChange Training
