5 High-value Skills for Success in Your Career

“Master high-value skills and your life will be settled” is a common phrase we hear throughout our academic and professional journey. However, this might not be the complete truth. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are essential skills for success in both academic and professional journeys. Mastering these skills can lead to job creation and job elimination. Start with Python and explore various libraries like NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, and TensorFlow. Salesmanship is crucial for success in any career, as it involves selling oneself through speech, attire, salary expectations, and personal relationships. Effective writing differentiates brands from mediocre ones, and social media and personal branding are essential for gaining attention and advancing in your career. Focus on discoverability and mastering these skills to succeed in your professional journey.

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

The ability to use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools in your workflow is going to be crucial in the next five years. Regardless of your field, understanding the basics of these tools can help you accomplish more in less time. Job descriptions will soon include the requirement of knowing AI tools and prompt engineering.

The demand for AI and ML skills is skyrocketing across the globe. While AI is predicted to eliminate about 8.7 crore jobs in the next five years, it’s also expected to create 6.9 crore new jobs. To seize these opportunities, start with Python as your programming language, then learn about different Python libraries like NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, and frameworks like TensorFlow and Scikit-learn.

Once you’ve mastered these, move on to understanding different types of models, neural networks, deep learning, and how to create deep neural networks to solve specific problems. If you’re unsure about where to start, AWS offers a free Machine Learning Basics course that covers essential concepts, terminology, and phases of the machine learning pipeline.

2. Salesmanship

The second high-value skill that most people neglect is salesmanship. Consider two individuals: one holds the Guinness World Record for being the best salesman in the world, and the other is Jordan Belfort, the infamous salesman portrayed in “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Both excel at persuading others to take action, a skill that many college students and early-career professionals lack.

We are all salespeople in some way or another. We sell ourselves for opportunities through our speech, attire, salary expectations, and even in our relationships. Unfortunately, many of us are poor at selling ourselves. This skill can set you up for an amazing career if you master it. Start by striking up conversations with strangers and reading books like “Influence” and “48 Laws of Power.”

3. Effective Writing

The third skill is effective writing or copywriting. This skill differentiates the best brands from mediocre ones. Clever ads stick in our minds because they have an effective copy. If a Google search of your name doesn’t yield your blogs, Instagram, or LinkedIn profiles, that’s a problem.

People spend about seven seconds on your LinkedIn profile, so having a captivating headline is crucial to stand out from the crowd. The same applies to cold emails and DMs. The only way to get better at copywriting is through practice and studying successful examples.

4. People Management

The fourth high-value skill is people management. Until now, you’ve been working independently – studying alone, writing exams alone, reading books alone. However, your career will involve working in teams, possibly leading people and persuading them. This skill is crucial for advancing to higher executive roles.

Pranav, a staff engineer at Facebook, shared that the most important skill he uses every day is the ability to work effectively with people. He spends most of his time assigning tasks and working with his team to achieve goals. The only way to improve this skill is by working with teams in clubs and societies in your college.

5. Social Media and Personal Branding

The fifth high-value skill is social media and personal branding. Most people learn a skill, send out applications, and then just wait. They keep waiting, keep getting rejected, and feel sad every time. The problem is that they’re not focusing on their discoverability.

The minute I started sharing my journey and learnings on LinkedIn, I got a ton of opportunities while just in the second year of college. So put yourself out there, share your learnings, and see the magic that happens as a result.

When you combine all these five skills with your core skill – knowing how to effectively use AI tools, selling something effectively, persuading people, writing effectively, managing people, being discoverable, and having a strong brand on social media – you become unstoppable. People would want to work with you and will pay you 10x more than what others are making in your same industry.

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To wrap up, don’t forget to check out the free AWS Machine Learning Basics course. It’s a great resource to help you get started with the field of AI.

How can I improve my branding?

To enhance personal branding, follow key steps: define your attributes, invest in professional photos, create a unique brand look, document and share experiences, learn to speak on camera, test different platforms, create a schedule, connect with your audience, keep social accounts relevant, and build credibility. Engage with your audience, respond to comments, participate in relevant online groups, and stay ahead of the competition. Remember, personal branding is about projecting yourself to the outside world, so be proud of your story.

Improving your branding entails a few crucial steps:

Define Your Attributes and Strengths: Recognize what makes you special and how you can differentiate yourself from others.
Invest in high-quality photographs that represent you and your brand.
Create a Brand Look and Feel: This encompasses everything from your logo to your color palette.
Document and Share Experiences: Share updates, observations, or tales that are relevant to your brand regularly.
Learn to Write and Speak in Front of the Camera: Being comfortable in front of the camera can substantially increase the reach of your business.
Explore multiple social media channels to see where your target audience is most engaged.
Make a Schedule (and Stick to It): Building and maintaining a strong personal brand requires consistency.
Connect & Socialize: Interact with your audience, respond to comments, and join relevant online communities.
Keep Your Social Accounts Current and Relevant: Update your social media profiles regularly and share content that is relevant to your target audience.
Create credibility through building trust with your audience, listening to your followers, and staying ahead of the competition.

Remember that personal branding is all about how you present yourself to the world. It is the story that is told about you when you are not present. As a result, make it a story you’re proud of!

How can I improve my writing skills?

Improving writing skills involves reviewing grammar and spelling basics, reading what you want to write, practicing regularly, making sure you’re clear on the concepts you’re writing about, outlining complex messages, anticipating readers’ questions, and not over-explaining. Regular practice can help you communicate professionalism and attention to detail. Creating an outline or taking notes can save time and answer clarifying questions later. Practicing writing requires empathy, understanding your readers’ context, and avoiding over-explaining. Researching basic writing principles can help you begin improving your writing skills.

Improving your writing abilities entails several crucial steps:

Review Grammar and Spelling Fundamentals: Grammar and spelling are the cornerstones of successful writing. Writing with perfect grammar and spelling indicates to the reader your professionalism and attention to detail.
Read What You Want to Write: Knowing what a polished piece of writing should look like will help you steer your own.
Regular writing practice is one of the finest strategies to develop your writing, as it is with many other talents. Start a journal or a blog, enroll in a class or a writing workshop, practice free writing, send letters to friends and family, or write an opinion article for your local newspaper.
Make Certain That You Understand the Concepts You’re Writing About: Albert Einstein famously stated, “If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.” Take a moment before you begin writing to mentally describe the topic.
Outline the Message If It Is Complex: Making a plan, or even just quick notes about the themes you want to address, will save you time later when answering clarifying questions.
Predict your readers’ questions: Improving your writing requires you to put yourself in the shoes of your readers (a process known as empathy). Is there enough background for them to grasp what you’ve written for them? Fill in the blanks if necessary.
Don’t Over-Explain: If you’ve taken the time to plan ahead of time, you should be able to keep things simple.
Investigate Basic Writing Principles: One of the finest methods to start improving your writing skills is to investigate some of the fundamentals.

Remember that improving your writing abilities requires time and practice. Good luck with your writing!

What are some other high-value skills?

The Future of Jobs Report highlights the increasing demand for IT, UX, and AI skills across various industries. Data analysis, software development, UX design, networking development, soft skills, coding, cloud computing, digital marketing, SEO, copywriting, and machine learning are among the top skills forecasted. These skills are crucial for businesses to make informed decisions, maintain technological systems, and enhance user experience. The best high-value skill depends on individual interests, goals, and the industry they aim to work in.

These high-value abilities are in demand across a range of industries:

Data analysis: The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report lists analytical thinking and creativity as two of the top skills. Businesses in all sectors depend more and more on data to guide their decisions.
Software Development: As businesses increasingly rely on technology to advance their capacities, they require specialists in the design, upkeep, and advancement of technological systems.
User Experience (UX) Design: UX designers enhance how well a user interacts with a company’s services and its products.
Networking Development: The internet’s power has made the entire planet into a single entity. Additionally, you require personnel who can maintain the online infrastructure.
Communication, problem-solving, teamwork, computer and social media literacy, learning, personal management, and organizing abilities are examples of soft skills.
Coding and software enhancement: Tech and IT firms provide big compensation to individuals with strong coding abilities.
Cloud computing: As more companies shift their infrastructures to the cloud, there is a growing demand for experts in this field.
Digital marketing and SEO are now essential for reaching clients as more firms move their operations online.
Copywriting: Effective copywriters may influence readers to act, which makes this talent important for sales and marketing.
Machine Learning: With AI gaining popularity, machine learning is a highly sought-after expertise in the computer sector.

Remember that these are just a few examples. The best high-value skills for you will depend on your interests, goals, and the industry you’re aiming to work in.