Technology is omnipresent and ever-changing. Long ago, it was sufficient to have Microsoft Office Suite and maybe Facebook listed on your resume. Now, having certain technical skills can significantly approve the way you do business — which is why we’ve talked about tech boot camps in the past.
Even if you’re not a mobile startup or seeking a job in Silicon Valley, knowing a few basics will make you a well-rounded candidate in your field. Whether it’s coding or mobile marketing, consider mastering some of these cool robot moves to help reach your career goals.
Graphic Design
Whether it’s figuring out your way around Adobe Photoshop or using Canva to create simple designs, take the time to learn graphic design. Learning the basic principles of design will help you take your website to the next level, create a unique logo that perfectly encapsulates your brand and develop eye-catching signage that draws customers into your establishment.
One of the best things about graphic design is that it’s one of those technical skills that’s easy to teach yourself. There’s no end to the online courses that can help you learn new skills without needing to go back to school. Did I mention that many of them are free? See, there’s no excuse not to learn in your down time.
Coding
Code is the foundation of the apps and products that you and your customers interact with on a daily basis. Even if you’re not an engineer, learning some basics with courses like Microsoft’s Minecraft Hour of Code can give your career a boost.
Organizations like Codecademy and Treehouse have made it easier than ever to learn these valuable technical skills. This could mean learning the ins and outs of HTML and CSS in order to spruce up your industry blog, or diving into the inner workings of Python to build your consumer’s online experience.
You won’t just earn new technical skills — you’ll also learn how to troubleshoot and solve problems, start new projects and collaborate with a team.
Mobile Marketing
How close is your smartphone at the moment? A 2015 Gallup survey found that 81 percent of American adults keep their devices by them at all hours of the day, with nearly 75 percent checking them at least once (if not several times) an hour.
While this shows a slight (obsession) tech dependency, it also means that your business is behind if you can’t be in the palm of your customer’s hand. Even if you don’t know how to optimize your website for mobile or build an app, you should be up-to-date on the latest mobile marketing strategies. This could mean targeting nearby consumers with a coupon or offering in-store mobile payments.
Easy Adaptability
Technology is constantly changing, and next year this list of must-have technical skills might look completely different. That’s why it’s important for workers to be able to easily adopt new technologies. While you’re not expected to be a hardcore computer wiz, make a point to continuously learn new programs. By keeping yourself constantly learning, you’ll always be one step ahead.
Lead image via Getty