The 7 In-Demand Employee Skills During Covid

A number of job opportunities are beginning to emerge with a revised list of skills needed due to COVID. If you’re a job candidate, now is the time to take stock of your skills to ensure you’re a strong candidate when navigating today’s job market. A report by Deloitte Access Economics considers two-thirds of all jobs by 2030 will be made up of soft-skill-intensive occupations, so developing and enhancing these skills is key.

Soft skills are also referred to as employable skills and are transferable between industries and occupations including professionals within the Senior Living Industry. People with good soft skills tend to have strong situational awareness and emotional incalltoligence to navigate challenging working environments, while still producing positive results which is exactly what employers are looking for right now.

These 7 skills will help you find your next job in due to COVID:

• Leadership. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow will make new demands on leaders and therefore, organizations will seek employees who can supervise and direct people while under fire. Throughout the pandemic, leaders with cooler heads prevailed. Strong leaders can create a vision and motivate people to achieve their very best even during the worst of times.
• Flexibility & Adaptability. Being flexible and adaptable have been paramount over these past 17 months. We’ve had to break away from business as usual, change course, and unlock new perspectives and solutions. Moving forward, flexibility and adaptability are skills that every employer will be keeping an eye out for.
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that a high percentage of employers consider problem-solving and critical thinking among the top soft skills candidates need. Employers want workers who can think clearly as they evaluate and sort through information and data to make informed decisions. A crisis such as COVID brings to light the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Teamwork. Even though a high percentage of the workforce worked remocalltoy over these past months, all employees are still part of a team or department. While you may prefer to still work from a remote location, it’s very important to show that you understand and appreciate the value of working and collaborating with co-workers to accomplish organizational goals.
• Communication. Strong communicators have always been valuable assets to employers but even more so since COVID.  The pandemic taught us that amid a crisis, stress, and emotions, communication requires a great deal of effort to ensure that misunderstandings are minimized.  Strong communication skills can easily set you apart from the competition when applying for jobs. In fact, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 73 percent of employers want candidates who possess strong written, verbal, and digital communication skills.
• Tech-Savviness. The pandemic highlighted the importance of investing in new technology, facilitating remote work, conducting video job interviews, and maintaining a tech-savvy workforce. Per the McKinsey Group, the pandemic sped up the adoption of digital technology by several years. Organizations are now rethinking the role of digital technology in their overall business strategy and how they need workers with digital skill sets to keep pace.
• Creativity. Innovation and creativity can’t grind to a halt due to a pandemic or any unexpected event. In fact, LinkedIn called creativity “the most important skill in the world.” Now more than ever, organizations are giving people the freedom to think creatively and take risks.  They’re looking for professionals who have bold ideas and new approaches without a fear of failure.

ABOUT JULIE RUPENSKI

Julie Rupenski is the Founder, President & CEO of MedBest, opening the doors in 2001. Since then, Julie has gained national recognition for providing top talent solutions exclusively for the Senior Living Industry. Her specialties include filling C-Suite, Vice President, Regional, and Property level positions.

Julie has an in-depth knowledge of the Senior Living Industry.  She previously worked in operations for both Senior Housing and Senior Living prior to founding MedBest. Today, Julie makes it her personal and professional mission to place qualified people in health care positions where they have the greatest impact.

(Julie’s industry articles and interviews have been published in Provider Magazine, Argentum Quarterly, LeadingAge Magazine, Florida Health Care Association, Florida Assisted Living Association, Florida Senior Living Association, LeadingAge Florida, LeadingAge Indiana, Pennsylvania Health Care Association, Oregon Health Care Association, and Virginia Assisted Living Association.)

Julie earned her degree in Gerontology at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida and continues to cultivate her career through senior living conferences, forums, trade shows, and expos.

Contact Julie Rupenski at jrupenski@www.medbest.com / 727-526-1294.

ABOUT MEDBEST

MedBest is an award-winning national Executive Search Firm exclusive to the Senior Living Industry established in 2001.  We recruit and acquire exceptional senior care talent, permanent and interim executives, for the full continuum of LTC facilities across the US including Assisted Living, Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Independent Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing Facilities, and Home Health Care.

Contact us at 727-526-1294 / info@www.medbest.com