IT AND DIGITAL SKILLS

 Overview
 Getting Started
 Getting Organised
 Communication Skills
 IT and Digital Skills
o Digital Identity and Digital Badges
o IT for Free
o Getting the Most from Blackboard and Outlook
 Reading and Research Skills
 Academic Writing
 Critical Thinking
 Mathematics and Statistics
 Assignments and Exams
Information technology (IT) and digital skills or digital literacy refer to a wide-ranging set
of skills relating to digital technology, including computers and computer applications,
tablets and smartphones, websites and other online platforms, and much, much more.
IT and digital skills are not just about knowing how to use certain tools or technologies,
but learning to harness them to enhance your learning and your success as a student.

To get started with IT at NUI Galway, take a look at these Quick Start Guides. They
cover a lot of the basics, including your Campus Account, Blackboard, Wifi, printing,
storage and support. 

Key IT and digital skills for University include, but are not limited to:

 Proficiency in key applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (and,
depending on your course and the technology that you prefer to use, many other alternative
or more specialised applications)

 Touch-typing skills (see our links to  typing resources in IT for free)

 Ability to navigate NUI Galway’s IT systems and processes,

including Blackboard and Microsoft Office 365, PC suites and printers, and various software
packages (see IT for Free for more information)

 Use of technology to conduct academic research

 Mastery of educational technology, including citation and reference management

software

 Building a digital profile, partly with an eye to your career after University

 For some courses, programming and coding skills

 Knowing where to get help with IT issues

Even if you feel that your IT and digital skills are very good, they can probably be
improved or developed to serve you better as a student. Also, technological change
occurs so rapidly that almost everyone can benefit from continuously up-skilling in this
area. Click on the boxes below for more. 

DIGITAL IDENTITY & BADGES

YOUR ONLINE PROFILE.

DIGITAL IDENTITY & BADGES

 IT FOR FREE
FREE SOFTWARE FOR STUDENTS

IT FOR FREE
 BLACKBOARD & MICROSOFT OUTLOOK
GET THE MOST FROM BLACKBOARD & MICROSOFT OUTLOOK

BLACKBOARD & MICROSOFT OUTLOOK

 PROGRAMMING & CODING
PROGRAMMING & CODING SUPPORT

PROGRAMMING & CODING

Recently a number of Irish higher education institutions (including NUI Galway)

collaborated together on a major IT and digital skills project called All Aboard. They
have produced a ‘metro map’ that maps out key IT and digital tools, technologies, and
uses in a higher education setting. Take a look at this as a first step to reflecting on your
own IT and digital skills. You can also take a digital confidence assessment on the All
Aboard website.

The All Aboard project has also produced a series of online lessons and resources (with
badges on successful completion) on a range of IT/digital skills-related topics – these
are well worth exploring.  Topics include blogs, screencasts, smartphones, digital
images, and much more.
The Library has produced a very useful guide on digital literacy that is packed full of tips
and resources to help you to upskill in this area.

For NUI Galway IT information and support, see the Information Solutions and
Services website. 

10 Digital Skills You Need to Master to

Become an Entrepreneur
Last updated on Oct 4, 2019 by Tomas Laurinavicius
Excel in your career by combining entrepreneurial mindset with digital skills.

Not everyone is destined to become the next Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg or
Elon Musk, but applying an entrepreneurial mindset to your work can work
wonders even if you work in a large company or are a freelancer with a
steady client base. You might already have a set of strong digital skills but
polishing them and adding a few more can take you to the next level.

I always wanted to become an entrepreneur. Not just because of the

opportunity to become financially independent, but also because of the
lifestyle and the possibility to have a positive impact on the world.
Entrepreneurs have ideas and go after them while changing the world.
Coming up with an idea for a business it’s not the hardest part, execution is.

Contents  show 
10 Digital Skills You Need to Master to Become an
Entrepreneur
Today I want to share ten digital skills you need to master to become an
unstoppable entrepreneur.

COMMUNICATION

Communication is the number one skill you must learn if you want to become
an entrepreneur. You’ll have to explain your idea over and over again.
Whether it’s to pitch to an investor, a potential co-founder or your customer,
being able to communicate on a personal and professional level undoubtedly
will save you a lot of time and stress.

Develop the ability to inspire and motivate others. Work on your vision

and make it so clear and inspiring that you don’t have to repeat it over and
over again. There will be times when you or your team doesn’t feel like
moving forward, so make sure you are ready for the crisis. Practice public
speaking and study communication to understand how you can transfer
information more efficiently. The most inspiring organizations have visions
bigger than any individual and possess the desire to improve your world.

Learn and understand cultural differences. After high school, I moved to

study in Denmark. My classmates were from 6 different countries. I had to
adapt and learn to collaborate with people from different cultures. Studying
cultures and international communication taught me patience, respect, and
active listening skills. Knowing where your team comes from makes team
building and training more natural and more efficient.

Show leadership and confidence. The more you grow as an entrepreneur,

the more trust and leadership skills you will need to keep up. You’ll have to
learn to say no, negotiate, hire and fire people. It’s not fun.

As a leader, you have to make tough decisions every day. You may need to
cut costs. You may need to fire someone toxic from the team or someone
who’s underperforming. You’ll be blamed for failure. It’s your job to toughen
up and lead by example.

Here are a few tools to help you communicate information more efficiently
and improve productivity at work.

Asana – Project management and communication within your company or

department.

Intercom – Automate and optimize prospect interaction and customer

support.

Trello – Personal project management or smaller team-based project

management.

Evernote – Personal project management and notes.

Slack – A messaging app for teams. Get focused on work and reduce email
communication.

G Suite – Formerly Google Apps for Work is a great all-in-one solution for
business.

Dropbox – Trustworthy cloud storage for personal and business files.

Docracy – Open source legal documents.

Prezi – A powerful cloud-based storytelling tool for creating engaging

presentations.

Skype – Free software for instant messaging and video/audio calls.

FINANCES

Mastering money and improving financial intelligence is essential to a

healthy entrepreneurial life. Most businesses fall off the rails because they
run out of money. Whether you’re a solopreneur, freelancer or run a large
enterprise, one of the critical metrics you must focus on is cash flow.

Learn to manage money. Successful entrepreneurs know the importance of

managing money. You must find out how to raise funds by selling your
services, product or an early prototype. You can head out and find investors
or venture capitalists, but you will have to learn to ask for money
comfortably. You’ll have to become critical, analytical, and be prepared to
cut costs. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s worth it.

Investing basics. Read about investing. One of the best personal finance

books out there, Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki, will teach you
how to acquire assets, avoid liabilities and start building your net worth.
Always invest in yourself, buy books, courses, and attend conferences,
seminars, and workshops. Whether it’s your business or personal money,
invest only in the field that you know the best. Always minimize unnecessary
risk. If you invest in something, make sure you can influence the outcome so
you can take action when things go wrong.

Accounting. Learning basic accounting and bookkeeping is not so hard, but

it will help you develop economic thinking and help you understand the pulse
of your business. Learning to read, analyze and manipulate spreadsheets can
give you a lot of valuable data to make hard decisions easier. Forecasting and
predicting will become more comfortable as you will have data to rely on.

Square – Accept payments from anywhere.

Xero – Professional accounting software with friendly interface.

Stripe – One of the best online payment processing solution.

Gumroad – Sell digital files like PDFs, graphic, videos and more.

Wave Apps – Free small business software including accounting, invoicing,

payments, payroll, and receipts.

You Need A Budget – Simple yet powerful personal budget and finance
software.

PayPal – Popular online payment solution for sending and receiving money
as well as selling online.

Revolut – An online bank that doesn’t charge you anything. Get a free
prepaid debit card for everyday use.

BRANDING

Every business has a face. Think of Apple, Facebook, Tesla and Virgin, and
Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Richard Branson spring to
mind. These companies are not only world-famous and influential, but they
also had a strong brand influenced by the founders. Everyone has a brand,
and everyone is a brand. The way you talk, the way you respond to emails,
the way you introduce yourself, the way you write is your brand.

How to build a personal brand. Invest in learning how to create a strong

personal brand. You’ll have to practice awareness to dig deep into your
subconscious to understand who you are, who you want to be and who you
pretend to be because of peer pressure, insecurities and aspirations. It all
starts with the vision, the grand plan for life. Then it comes to what you can
die for, your way of getting to that vision, your values. Is it stepping over
everyone to get to your goal or is it by lifting others to their goals and then
getting to yours? Finally, you’ll need an action plan and mantras for your
daily life, for the next year and ten years.

Create a blog. Writing is one of the oldest forms of communication and

influence. Learn to write well. Clear writing touches people. Always provide
value, serve your tribe and be yourself. It will take the time to find your
voice, but once you do, it will be worth it.

Curate great content. Your time as an entrepreneur is minimal. Creating

content might take too long so you can start curating it. Create a newsletter,
become an active curator on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or any
other network. Once you’ve established your brand, you will know the right
platform to focus on.

Buzzsumo – Identify and curate top-performing content.

Mailchimp – Email marketing software suitable for smaller projects, an

account with up to 2,000 subscribers is free.

MailerLite – Email marketing software with super easy to use interface and
affordable pricing.

Hemingway – Use this app to make your writing bold and clear.

Grammarly – Check your spelling, grammar and get suggestions for better
writing.

Feedly – News feeds from a variety of online sources you can customize and
share.

Google Alerts – Monitor the web for interesting new content. Get
notifications when someone mentions you.

Medium – Beautifully designed online publishing platform.

Brand24 – Social media monitoring and analytics tool.

MARKETING

Marketing is one of the most critical aspects of business growth. You can
build the best product in the world, but if nobody knows about it, it’s
worthless. Gain an in-depth understanding of the various digital marketing
disciplines such as search engine optimization (SEO), social media
marketing, pay-per-click (PPC), conversion optimization, content
marketing and email marketing.

Learn how to identify your target audience. If you try to appeal to

everyone, you serve no one. Learn to ask smart questions and perform initial
audience surveys.

Learn storytelling. Storytelling is a powerful tool you can use to engage

your audience and get press.

Learn to drive traffic. Study the basics of content marketing, social media

and SEO. Don’t try to game the system as you can’t outsmart big business.
Read blogs, enroll in digital marketing certification training and join
marketing communities.

Adwords – Promote your business on Google through advertising.

Quuu Promote – Promote your content to a targeted audience.

Hootsuite – Widely used social relationship platform that empowers you to

execute social media strategies.

Kickstarter – Kickstarter is the world’s largest funding platform for creative

projects.

Hello Bar – Convert more visitors into email subscribers.

Mixmax – The productivity suite for sales. Track, automate and enhance
your emails.
SumoMe – Online software for growing your website’s traffic and
subscribers.

NETWORKING

Your network is your net worth. From the beginning of humankind, evolution
has favored people capable of forming strong social ties.

Build your tribe. Form a group of well-chosen entrepreneur friends. You’re

the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Make sure you
surround yourself with visionaries, executors and champions. It may look
scary to cut off toxic people, but you’re growing, or you’re shrinking. You
choose.

Connect with people on social networks. Practice proactivity. Become an

active listener and ask questions. Read an article? Send an email with your
opinion, say thanks and start a conversation. Not all interactions will be
fruitful, but over time you will be making connections that matter.

Develop a habit of reaching out. If you don’t ask the answer is always no.
Practice the art of reaching out to influencers and fellow entrepreneurs. Offer
your help for the opportunity to learn from them.

Nomad List – Find the best cities to live and work remotely and meet fellow
nomads.

Clarity – Connect with your favorite entrepreneurs for mentoring and

coaching.

AngelList – Social network for startups, angel investors and skilled

professionals.

CoFoundersLab – Online matchmaking service that connects entrepreneurs

with compatible co-founders looking to join a startup.
Meetup – Social network for offline group meetings around the world.

AUTOMATION

Doing the same thing over and over again doesn’t make you productive.
Doing the thing that can be done by software is a waste of time that will
cause huge regret. If you can’t execute something using software, learn to
delegate it.

Maximize your workflow efficiency. Review your digital habits. I can bet

there are ways you can use your time online more efficiently. Research
alternatives for the tools you’re using at the moment. Learn new software and
workflow if necessary.

Learn to delegate. Being an entrepreneur means balancing multiple

priorities. Investing time in providing clear guidelines and training may look
daunting at the beginning. But doing simple math will show you that your
investment will pay back dividends sooner than you expect to give you more
time to focus on the important stuff. If you want to become an effective
leader, you need to learn how to delegate.

Automate tasks that can be automated. There is software for nearly

everything you can imagine. Making coffee,  turning off lights, unlocking a
car, accounting, payroll, sales, email, marketing, content promotion and so
much more. Embrace the digital workforce and make technology work for
you.

Buffer – For scheduling your social media updates.

Fiverr – Get anything done from just $5.

Upwork – An online workplace where businesses and freelancers meet.

CoSchedule – Smart blog post headline analyzer.

Typeform – Free beautiful online survey & form builder.

IFTTT – Use digital recipes to create if this, then that automations.

Zapier – Easily automate tasks between web apps.

DESIGN

The design is what differentiates good products from great products. Many
companies these days overlook design and rush into the market to face an
epic failure. The design is not only how it looks but how it functions.

Prototyping. Learn to quickly prototype your ideas and bring it in front of

potential users to get feedback. Prototyping digital skills will make excellent
presentations and product validations.

Have the plan to beat procrastination. Once you burn out and can’t think
creatively, spend your time watching TED talks and reading great books.

Learn Photoshop. There are dozens of free design tools that can transform
your business from average to world-class. Photoshop is among the most
popular.

Canva – Online design editor for creating graphics for social media, blog
posts and more.

Sketch – Professional digital design software for Mac.

Pixel Buddha – Free and premium resources for the professional community.

Freebiesbug – Latest free resources for designers.

Behance – An online platform to showcase and discover creative work.

Pttrns – Gallery of mobile user interface patterns.

Marvel – Turn sketches, mockups and designs into the web and mobile
prototypes.

InVision – Transform your web and mobile designs into clickable,

interactive prototypes and mockups.

Dribbble – Network of elite designers sharing their work.

Unsplash – High-quality free (do whatever you want) photos for your
projects.

Stock Up – Best free stock photo websites in one place.

Design for Hackers – 12 weeks of design learning, right in your inbox.

ANALYTICS

Learn to analyze everything. No matter how great of a gut feeling you have to
make data-based decisions. Just because you prefer something, doesn’t mean
it’s the right thing.

Learn to read big data, patterns and behaviors. Take a course on big data,
learn about economics, behavioral psychology, and statistics.

Identify trends and predict the future. Always follow your industry news
and science behind it so you can bet and win by predicting the next big thing.

Learn the 80/20 rule. The Pareto principle states that for many events,
roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Use data to figure
out what works and what doesn’t. Do more of what works.

Kissmetrics – Increasing conversion rate and track analytics.

Optimizely – Run A/B tests to optimize your website for more conversions.

Google Analytics – Arguably the best analytics tool online.

RescueTime – Track your time and everything you do on your computer.

Toggl – Tracking time and optimize productivity across your team.

Google Keyword Planner– Powerful keyword research tool.

Google Trends – Real-time trends of public search results.

TECH

Everyone is completely hyped up about learning to code. It’s one of the most
potent digital skills. The world doesn’t need 7 billion programmers, but
coding literacy or simple understanding can benefit everyone as it develops
logical thinking and complex problem-solving.

How to create a website. You don’t have to understand how to code your

website from scratch but using website builder like Squarespace or CMS like
WordPress will save you tons of time as you build your business empire.

Learn to code and work with the code. Coding is the new reading. You
must learn basics to understand how it’s done so you can better communicate
with developers. Start with front-end web development skills including
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Build an online store. Even if you’re new to tech you can easily build an
online store without ever touching the code. Start by evaluating the best
ecommerce platforms for your niche.

WordPress – A blogging platform that powers over 25% of the internet. This
blog is built on WordPress too.
Github – Repository for your source code and collaboration with your
developers.

Squarespace – Website builder with amazing themes and powerful

integrations.

Strikingly – Website builder for landing pages. Ideal for the validation

process.

Shopify – Build functional eCommerce stores.

ThemeForest – The biggest template and themes marketplace.

Codecademy – An interactive platform for learning to code for free.

TinyJPG & TinyPNG – Compress images to speed up your website.

ImageOptim – Optimize images take up less space and load faster.

SELF-EDUCATION

Learning online is undoubtedly one of the crucial digital skills that can help
you to reach the next level. As Ev Williams says, “there’s always another
level.” You can learn in so many ways: books, documentaries, one on one
mentoring, conferences, trial and error and so on.

Start reading faster and dedicate more time for reading. In the past year, I
began to promote reading. It is one of the most powerful ways to access
hundreds of years of experience, research, and wisdom from the world’s
greatest minds.

Develop a desire for self-education. Read biographies of the people who

inspire you. Research how they learn and dedicate time for self-education.
Understand your weaknesses. Develop self-awareness and understand your
strengths and weaknesses. Don’t forget to learn general basics but keep your
focus on mastering your core digital skills.

Scribd – Books, audiobooks, and more for just $9.99 per month.

Coursera – Online courses to expand your knowledge and train your team.

Simplilearn – Improve your career by taking online training and

certifications.

Udemy – One of the biggest online course marketplace to learn anything at

your pace.

Skillshare – Global learning community to create, connect, and collaborate.

Treehouse – Entertaining technical and creative courses for smart

entrepreneurs.

Product Hunt – Daily hottest products curated by tech enthusiasts.

Blinkist – Read the critical lessons from 1000+ nonfiction books in 15

minutes or less.

Conclusion
We are all born entrepreneurs. Some of us have more of the entrepreneurial
DNA than others, but it’s there. Mostly, it’s a set of skills, values, and the
right mindset. And all of these things can be learned, acquired and shifted.
Entrepreneurship is for everyone, but not everyone will sacrifice to do what it
takes.
The Importance of Digital Skills in
Today’s World

We are living in a digital world. As technology advance and consumers are

becoming more switched on than ever before, it's never been more
important to understand how to harness the power of digital technologies to
help improve your career prospects, boost brand awareness, and branch out
to your target audience in a way that commands results.

As the world evolves, most businesses and organizations have gone through,
or are at least preparing for, a certain degree of digital transformation. In
fact, 27% of senior executives rate digital transformation as now being ‘a
matter of survival’. What's more, a third of CMOs say that digital marketing
will account for 75% or more of their spending within the next five years.

It's plain to see that acquiring digital skills and gaining new qualifications is
the key to success in the modern age - and whether you're a young upstart
looking to climb the career ladder, the founder of a startup, or a senior
executive in charge of a large team, a failure to keep up with the times could
prove disastrous.

The digital skills gap

In today's world, people like to consume content, make buying decisions,
stream music, complete banking transactions, share their thoughts, and do a
host of other stuff on the go. The contemporary consumer is also immune to
plastic sales pitches and cheap marketing ploys.

Considering 78% of internet users carry out product research online, it’s hard
to understand why so many companies are lagging behind when it comes to
savvy digital marketing skills.

It's clear that there's still a huge digital skills gap across a broad range of
industries - and it needs to be closed. Those who take measures to upskill
themselves and offer skills that no one else can will be the ones will reap the
benefits of long-term success. That said, the true key to success isn't just
taking a one-off course, but by committing to the notion of lifelong learning.
And it's easier than you think.

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Due Digital.com: Your Specialized Digital
Skills Portal
We've established just how important lifelong learning is in today's digital
world, so let us tell you a little more about Due Digital. In a nutshell,
DueDigital.com is a specialized informational hub dedicated to building and
enhancing your digital skills and expertise.

Whether you work within the realms of IT, software development, online
marketing, business development, UX/UI Design, or any other digital-based
discipline, Due Digital's user-friendly platform offers an experience tailored
to the individual, providing updates on the latest conferences, networking
events, courses, and job opportunities.

As a platform dedicated to helping businesses and individuals step into the

digital world and invest in a brighter future, DueDigital.com works to help
people save time, streamline their efforts, and stay one step ahead in a
digitally transformed world.

Here's what you can do with Due Digital:

 Find your dream job in the digital industry using a real-time job board
 Boost your CV and skill sets with relevant training opportunities
 Connect with individuals and corporations that will help you achieve
your goals
 Follow topics of your interest and see what's new in the world of digital
innovation

Plus, if you're hiring or looking to collaborate, DueDigital.com can help to find

the right candidates to work, study or partner with you, and your institution.
Networking is priceless in this day and age, and Due Digital's platform makes
it simpler for users to forge connections with people that will make a
difference.

Time, tide and digital transformations wait for no one. To thrive, and
indeed survive in this day and age, networking, training and lifelong
education are the core ingredients to success - start learning today and
make sure you don't get left behind.
Today’s generation of students are at risk of falling victim to the
digital divide. However, the divide is no longer about access to
technology, but the ability of young people entering the labour
market to use Information and Communication Technologies
(ICT) intelligently and creatively to become individuals who
flourish in an increasingly digital world.
 

This divide occurs partly because skills development lags behind the very fast moving
pace of technological development but also because of the obstacles to the adoption of
ICT in our HE institutions, for reasons such as:
  STEM subjects have diverged sharply from humanitarian subjects, with digital skills
enclosed in computer science and engineering faculties;
 pressures to conform to strict evaluation criteria and detachment from employers and
businesses, leave little space for transversal ICT skills despite being essential to student
success when they seek employment;
 ageing teaching staff who have built their careers in pre-digital academia are change
resistant – unaware and/or disinclined to introduce digital aspects to their teaching.

The Digital Skills Accelerator project overcomes these obstacles by creating and
marketing skills training opportunities directly to students across participating countries
in the form of an online assessment tool and open online training course called the
Essential Digital Skills Toolkit.

6 Digital Skills that will

Future-Proof a Workforce
AuthorContributor

TopicDigital & Social Selling

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What are the Benefits of Digital Transformation?Digital Skills Digital Transformation Industry Corporate
Once a niche skillset, digital skills are now a workplace essential.

Within Europe and across sectors, at least 80% of managers and professionals need basic digital
abilities. In larger workplaces, as many as 50% are required to have specialist digital skills.
Digital technologies are now commonplace in daily life and becoming embedded into working
culture. Having a workforce that knows how to use them efficiently is key to a company’s
success.
But which digital skills will be essential in the coming years? Each year, new technologies are
developed, many gaining media attention. With so many buzzwords to keep track of from VR to
AI to cryptocurrency, how can companies know what’s prudent to invest time and money into?

1. Expert Data Analysis

In this era of big data, many companies are sitting on a mountain of untapped information about
their customers, process and workforce.
As digital transformation advances, the data recorded will continue to increase. Knowing how to
harness this data is crucial to understanding your business and its future. Employees who can
extract, analyze and translate useful information from your company’s data set will be essential,
and the skill will integrate into more and more roles within teams.

Done effectively, data analysis can give you essential business and customer insights. It can also
be used to inform campaigns and content.

Currently, there are four main types of data analysis used by businesses.

 Descriptive analytics - often combined with other analytics, this practice brings together
raw data from multiple sources to give valuable insights into the past.
 Diagnostic analytics - requires more detailed data to identify patterns and provide
insights into specific problems.
 Predictive analytics - uses the findings of descriptive and diagnostic analytics to detect
tendencies, clusters and exceptions, and to predict future trends.
 Prescriptive analytics - requires historical data plus external information, and uses
machine learning, business rules and algorithms to prescribe what action to take.
The current trend, as highlighted by a recent BARC survey, is recognized by executives as the
growing importance of predictive analysis and data mining. As sophisticated technologies and
tools are further developed, the more important the role of the advanced analytics of predictive
and prescriptive will be.

2. Advanced Social Selling

As the social media boom of the 2000s settles and matures, so have its users. This means
that sales teams of the future will need to adapt too. According to today’s most successful social
sellers, the trend is moving away from the cold call and the hard sell, towards value-based
selling.
At the heart of value-based selling is trust. To create this, advanced social sellers need to equip
themselves with content and conversation, so that they can build more meaningful relationships
with their customers. 

A recent State of Sales Report by LinkedIn showed that 77% of buyers won’t engage with a
seller without reading up about their company first. If you consider this with the fact that 80% of
buyers reviewed 5 or more pieces of content before their purchase, it is clear that quality online
content around your company and about your product will be essential for all future sales teams.
Good content can assist social sellers in starting conversations and building relationships. “Put
relationships first,” advises Phil Gerbyshank to ambitious social sellers. 

It is crucial to make a connection with your audience and then maintain it by adding value in the
way of sharing content. Social media is much more an opportunity to educate and become a
resource for your potential customers, rather than to sell directly - that’s for further down the
customer journey.

3. Mobile Expertise
Smartphones are now more common for online use than a desktop (51% vs 42%). And, with the
digital native Generation Z set to make up 40% of all consumers by 2020, organizations will
need to adjust their own expertise to survive in the coming years.
The rise of mobile means that businesses must adapt their strategy accordingly. This means
adopting a mobile-first approach, in which comms, content and customer journey are optimized
for mobile. 

Leverage mobile-optimized video communications throughout the sales process and add video-
building abilities to your sales teams to better engage the next generation of consumers. This will
prove essential to all communications through native apps, such as Snapchat and Instagram.
The predominance of apps also means that businesses will need to stay abreast of the trends to
make sure that their app remains relevant - and more importantly - discoverable. Intelligent, AI-
powered marketing platforms can translate the vast troves of daily created user data into
actionable updates to how your app is marketed. 
The information is out there, future-proofing your workforce will simply be a matter of
developing the right skills to be able to harness it effectively.

4. Multi-platform UX design
As more of your customer base spend time online, moving between different devices, your
company’s digital presence will need to take centre stage.

The key to this is to ensure your app or website is easily navigable is at the heart of UX (user
experience) design. And, with 79% of internet users admitting to searching for another site if
they can’t easily use one they landed on, it’s essential to invest in this digital skill.
Importantly, websites and apps will need to be responsive to give users a consistent feel across
different devices. Not doing so will create an impasse between brand and user, that will
encourage consumers to look elsewhere.

Consider how to make design teams agiler. To speed up the process and to allow creativity to
flow, divide up the work for different features. If individuals have more independence, they will
have clear ownership of their section and are more likely to feel creatively satisfied. This agile
framework will lead to more productive workers and more flexible design necessary to keep up
with tomorrow’s digitization.

5. Network and information security

This skill, while on the surface seems the least glamorous, is one of the most important.

Cybersecurity is one of the biggest issues of today and will continue to be as digital
transformation advances. With recent controversies about cyber security in high profile cases
like Yahoo, Sage and Hilary Clinton's email, ensuring business data is kept secure has emerged
as a top priority.

As security methods evolve and develop, so do the threats against it. And the more connected
your workforce, the more the whole company is at risk from one employee’s oversight. Even
something as simple as using social media at work can be a risk.

Having a workforce that understands the basics of online security – and the steps they can take to
defend it – will keep your company, and its sensitive information, away from prying eyes and
breach scandals.

6. Creative thinking
Arguably the most important digital skill for the future doesn’t relate to a specific device or
software.

For 6 in 10 occupations, 30% of tasks are automatable. As technology rapidly evolves,

previously revered breakthroughs are quickly forgotten, and specialized skillsets become
obsolete.
Therefore the most important skill for any employee in the face of automation is creative
thinking. To ensure the longevity of a workforce, they must be able to do what machines are
unable to.

For example, VR and AI are fascinating developments, but may not yet be relevant for your
company. It is important to invest in creative, versatile workers that are keen to learn and will be
flexible through each technological advance.

As machines become more involved with daily tasks, the more we will need to have creative,
versatile workers whose skills transcend what the machines can offer.

When it comes to digital transformation, it’s crucial to have a workforce that has a grasp of the
complexity of the digital world, and the new stages of a customer journey. 

From making the most of big data to staying on top of how consumers are using technology are
all essential skills for tomorrow’s workforce. Making sure they have the right expertise to adapt
as the technology evolves will help to future-proof teams as time marches on.

The Top 10 Digital Skills Tech

Companies are Looking for
Today
DIGITAL SKILLS DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

Tech companies, and indeed all organizations in the digital economy, are coming to
realise that a company full of specialists is not an ideal situation. It is more important
than ever that new employees are cross-disciplined. Whatever the specific job you are
interviewing for, recruiters will be looking out for a wider skill set and broader
experience in their new hires.

This list covers ten of the top digital skills employers are looking for today and in
the coming years ahead. 

1. Programming, Web and

App Development
At the heart of any tech product or digital service is coding. The core languages that
most programming and web and app development positions need include Bootstrap,
jQuery, Angular, Code Igniter, PHP/JavaScript and MySQL. These skills are listed on
a regular basis in the top 10 most in-demand by employers on LinkedIn. Having a
portfolio of projects demonstrating your coding skills can also help to validate your
knowledge and expertise and help you land your dream role. Examples of mobile and
responsive web development experience will give you an edge over other candidates. 
Find out how you can learn the very latest programming languages.

Find out how you can learn how to build world-leading websites and apps and
accelerate your career as a Developer.

2. Digital Business Analysis

Digital Business Analysis helps organizations to make the right choices by providing
an independent and objective mind set and applying a range of proven analysis
techniques to make a convincing business case for investment in a digital solution.  As
digital transformation is central to all organizations in the digital economy, digital
business analysis skills have become the hottest skills to have on your CV in the 21st
Century.

3. Digital Design and Data

Visualization
Websites, Apps and Digital Services have one thing in common; a user interface. Any
designer with experience creating effective, dynamic user experiences will be in high
demand with most tech companies. Designers can also visualize complex data to help
management make vital business decisions. 
Learn more about Data Visualization here.
4. Digital Project
Management
Project management is by no means exclusively desirable to tech companies but it is a
vital part of developing digital products and services in a timely and cost effective
manner. An understanding of a range of methodologies such as SCRUM
and AGILE will stand out on any CV.
Find out why digital project management is essential for professionals in the digital
age. 

5. Digital Product
Management
Another skill that is not unique to software development but one that is particularly
valuable nonetheless is Digital Product Management. Software services in particular
need to have a lifecycle management plan put in place. The continued growth of
Software as a Service will make Product Management ever more integral to the tech
sector.
Learn more about this in-demand digital skills below. 

6. Digital Marketing
To promote their products and services tech companies will look to digital marketing.
Understanding of how to get the most value for money out of the broadest range of
networks will be key here. 
Find out how Graduate, Bella Jasani, Executive Director of Global Marketing at J.P.
Morgan has benefited from upskilling with digital marketing skills. 

7. Social Media

Today’s PR is carried out almost exclusively through social media. Twitter, Facebook,
Reddit, Instagram and countless other platforms give tech companies direct access to
customers, thought leaders and evangelists. The best Tech PR managers are Social
Media managers.
8. Data Science and Data
Analytics
Companies gather huge amounts of data that can be immensely valuable to them if
they have an Big Data Analyst who can make sense of it all. Data Scientists are in-
demand by employers across the world. Glassdoor constantly feature Data Scientists
in their Best Jobs Listing .Not only is Data Science an excellent career path for
professionals in the digital age, but demand far outweighs supply, making Data
Scientists highly employable. A recent McKinsey report showed that “The United
States alone faces a shortage of 140,000 to 190,000 people with analytical expertise
and 1.5 million managers with skills to make decisions based on the analysis of big
data.” As data science becomes a minimum requirement for more and more manager
level jobs, learning data science will help you position yourself ahead of the curve. 
Learn more about our data analytics program here and our data science program here

9. Decision Making for

Leaders 
Decision making is a critical for leaders in the digital age. According to the World
Economic Forum, for those looking to future proof their careers, building
competencies in areas that machines will be unlikely to tackle effectively (i.e.
complex problem solving, creativity and problem solving) is likely the best recipe for
success.
Organizations need leaders who can tap into their knowledge and experience to make
rapid decisions.  Behavioral economics is one route for professionals to improve their
decision making abilities. Behavioral economics studies the effects of psychological,
cognitive, emotional, cultural and social factors on the economic decisions of
individuals and institutions.  Learning this skill will improve your decision-making
skills by gaining insights from the fields of cognitative and social psychology. 

Find out more about behavioral economics here.

10. Something They Haven’t
Seen Before
When an employer has to decide between a dozen or so equally qualified candidates
they will want to see something to help them make a decision, something unique that
a candidate can bring to the team. It might be work on an emerging technology or
something completely out of left field. Our programs provide this element of
uniqueness with each participant on our Professional Certificate programs gaining
experience working in international cross-functional teams to develop a prototype of a
digital product. Experience working in international cross-functional teams is highly
sought after by tech companies worldwide. Communicating clearly to team members
around the world and across multiple time zones helps organisations to operate more
effectively and efficiently. 

The project provides participants with an open-ended challenge in an international,

cross-functional team setting. Participants will learn the processes and methodologies
needed to address the uncertainty of a high-level digital project brief and to
successfully develop a prototype that demonstrates an understanding of user-driven
design, user experience, and lean user experience (UX) methodologies.This
experience is invaluable for your CV and will be a major bonus in any interview
situation.

Learn more about our unique learning experience from our graduates. 

“I recently achieved my Media and Digital Strategist role with Reckitt Benckiser, a
multinational company. The experience I gained during my time with Digital Skills
Global helped me gain this position. I went through three different stages of tough
interviews and a senior HR business partner from the head office in the UK gave
me a final assessment before I got the job. The  project we did on the program was
a game changer for me…everyone in the organisation is deeply interested in me
because of the experience I gained and I will be the one to champion the newly
formed department of digital technology for the company.”
- Samson Soeso, Digital Skills  Graduate