The Most Wanted Technical Skills in 2022
Publié le 4 July 2022
Get your chosen career on the path to long-term growth and success with the most wanted technical skills in 2022.
Want to learn new professional and technical skills in 2022 but not sure which to focus on? It’s understandable, knowing that if you pick the right ones you may open countless career doors.
The job market has significantly changed compared to four or five years ago. Soft skills like leadership are a must-have for many job roles, but there are numerous opportunities, sometimes high-paying ones, which require specific technical skills and abilities. By focusing on developing the most wanted professionals skills in 2022, your resume will immediately stand out to recruiters and hiring managers looking for the right candidate for the job.
Top Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Skills
You’ve probably heard the expression “the future is digital.” It’s expected that this digitalization will involve heavy use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. 18% of companies surveyed by the European Commission state that they plan to involve AI technologies, but for 57%, hiring new staff makes fast adoption more difficult.
Some of the AI and ML skills that would make you more desirable to such companies in 2022 are outlined below.
Programming Languages (Python, R, and Java Are the Most Necessary)
If you’re considering a career in Canada’s growing tech sector in areas of Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning, programming languages are a must. Python, R, and Java rank among the most highly wanted languages:
- Python was created in 1991 and has since gained popularity thanks to its simplicity and versatility in the development of AI technologies. This simplicity comes from several libraries that are prebuilt and lower the execution time. It makes scientific computations and working with data easier.
- For a more statistical use of data, R is used extensively. R finds use in machine learning, working with algebra to process datasets and clean them, as well as building machine-learning functions.
- Java is extremely sought for complex programming, neural networks, machine-learning solutions, and even search algorithms.
Linear Algebra and Statistics
Linear algebra makes it possible for data to be represented in machine-learning models and solve problems. Since machine learning relies on data, linear algebra is the core of building algorithms and working with vectors and matrices to process this data.
Linear algebra and statistics go hand in hand when it comes to producing computations and algorithms. Statistics include a broad range of professional technical skills, such as math, computer literacy, critical thinking, and data analysis.
Signal Processing Techniques
Signal processing techniques are used in machine learning, artificial intelligence, finance, health care, and many other fields to communicate information and make the functionality of different technological devices possible. Engineers and scientists make use of signal processing to interpret, analyze, and correct signals in digital audio streams, images, and videos.
Neural Network Architectures
Neural networks are essential for a career in AI and machine learning. They are complex structures based on the neural pathways of the human brain and aimed at processing a vast amount of input to produce a single output. Deep learning relies on neural network architectures. The basis of deep learning, neural networks also find use in other industries, such as banking, manufacturing, and even retail.
Top User Experience (UX) Design Skills
With rapid expansion of the digital marketplace as a chief source of business for companies across all sectors, knowing how to design an effective user experience (UX) is one of the most wanted technical skills in 2022 and will remain so into the future. Glassdoor listed UX design as one of the best jobs in the US for 2022, with a median base salary of approximately $97,047. But what are some of the skills you need to become a good UX designer?
Prototyping, Wireframing, User Flows, Mockups
As a UX designer, your job will be to design appealing products that are useful and practical to your target audience. Knowing how to build prototypes, wireframes, user flows, or mockups is essential to get an idea of the product before mass production. Let’s see what each of these elements involves:
- Mockups – a visual representation of what a final webpage, application, or digital asset would look like after development
- Wireframe – the layout of a web page without the visual design used to show its sections and how each of them will serve the user
- User flow – a step-by-step diagram that represents the user’s journey while using a product or service
- Prototype – a sample/simulation of the final product built on paper (low-fidelity) or a computer program (high-fidelity) to illustrate how the product will function and look
Visual Design and Design Software
UX design requires not only strong creative thinking and visual arts aptitude but also a good command of the visual design software used in the industry, such as Illustrator, Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Photoshop, and others. These tools are used by both UX and user interface (UI) designers, but they aren’t the only thing you need to succeed as a designer. You’ll first need a good grasp of the visual design basics, such as color theory, icons, layout, typography, and design theory.
User Research and Usability Testing
The market has become so saturated that building a good product is not enough. You have to build a product with a specific user in mind, and that’s where user research comes into play. Companies are understanding the importance of identifying their ideal user, and that’s why this skill is required. You’ll even find companies that hire a specific UX researcher role for one who deals only with this phase, which is important for testing prototypes before moving onto large-scale production.
Agile Methodology
With the complex number of processes that run within a company, there has been a need for swift and effective project management practices. Agile is a methodology used in the software development world, and since UX designers are constantly collaborating with this team, it makes sense for them to have a good grasp on it. Nowadays, this approach has overlapped the UX processes as well, leading to the coining of a new term: agile UX design.
You definitely don’t need to be an expert, but having a general idea of agile development will be a bonus skill on your resume and help you integrate faster with the teams. It is as important as being proactive at work so you can contribute to finding fast solutions.
Information Architecture (IA)
Information architecture is concerned with the organization and structuring of the content. As a UX designer, you help users find the information they need and complete their tasks easier by having a clear idea of where they are and what step comes next.
Learning IA begins by studying simple concepts, like website IA patterns, before moving to more complex ones. It’s important to approach this skill with a growth mindset since there will always be something new to learn.
Application Development
The sole role of a UX designer is to deal with the interface design, which is not coding, but still requires having a good understanding of coding languages, such as CSS, JavaScript, and HTML, is helpful. This allows you as a designer to have a better grasp on the possibilities you have within your design. Collaborating with the development team is easier, and you’re more likely to be hired by startups that look for versatile skill sets.
Top Video Production Skills
Video production is another highly sought profession that includes many of the most wanted technical skills of 2022. While team building and being a good communicator are two of the soft skills that can make your career as a video producer easier, you also need to have specific technical skills.
Video Production
The moment you start assembling a video, you should have a clear purpose in mind and be able to create the whole video specifically designed to reach this goal, be it promoting a product or connecting with an audience. Having your own YouTube channel or working with freelance clients is a good way to build your portfolio as a video maker as you develop your technical skills and find a niche in which you can excel.
Graphic Design
Having a good grasp on graphic design skills is going to boost your chances of working in video production. An understanding of the graphical elements, such as fonts, typography, and color theory, helps you create visuals that are appealing and effectively convey the desired emotions and information.
Adobe Creative Suite
In your work as a video producer, you are likely to use apps from the Adobe Creative Suite, such as Premiere Pro or After Effects, to edit and create videos. You should have a good command of the basics, such as knowing how to edit clips, create short commercials, export footage, etc. Other apps from this package include Photoshop, Encore, and Audition, which can help you create appealing video content.
YouTube, Instagram, Facebook
In the digital age, besides being able to manage multiple email accounts, crafting effective resumes, and staying updated on the digital job market, you should also maintain an active and professional presence on social media or at least stay aware of its ecosystem.
You can build a reputation on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube and other video sharing platforms by uploading videos about your career and lifestyle. Assemble videos for these platforms in the proper format by using free stock materials from Pexels or Unsplash or filming the materials yourself.
Other Technical Skills
Video production offers a versatile number of roles, and the more skills you add to your resume that are related to the field, the higher your chances of getting accepted for a particular role. For instance, good photography skills and experience with shooting live events or creating instructional videos will be a big plus for your resume.
Top IoT (Internet of Things) Skills
The internet of things (IoT) is developing at a fast pace in smart cities, gadgets, and futuristic technologies, and the future definitely needs more IoT experts. Its unlimited potential resides in the use of many devices together. Each of them requires attention and expertise to install and maintain the sensors that allow the exchange of data. If you prefer a role in the creation of smart cities and hopefully a smart world, having a real impactful, you should consider a career related to the IoT and learning the most wanted technical skills in 2022 which relate to this field.
Node.js Development
JavaScript has been used for a long time in many mediums, including web development, application, and now IoT applications. Node.js is an open-source development platform that functions by executing JavaScript code on the server side and allows you to build real-time applications appropriate for IoT systems.
Mobile App Development
A recent Gartner survey states that over 20.7 billion devices were part of the IoT ecosystem, and that number has been increasing. The IoT relies on mobile applications to give users the option to interact with their smart devices (e.g., security appliances, smartwatches, smart locks). Knowing how to program and develop mobile apps increases your chances of finding a job in the IoT field.
API Automation and Testing
The wide range of applications created needs to go through QA testing before entering the market, and even when an app stops working, it would be impossible to fix it fast enough to handle real-life operations. This is why API automation is necessary, but you will have to learn both skills if you want to create automated API testing tools.
Information Security
In an interconnected world, information is the greatest asset, and it needs to be protected from hackers, viruses, data breaches, and related security issues. IoT companies pay special attention to building secured infrastructures, and that’s why this remains one of the professional technical skills you should add to your resume for an IoT job.
Cloud Computing
Before you quit your job to consider a career in IoT, you might need some other skills under your belt for the positions you’re applying for. For instance, cloud computing is a highly sought skill in the IoT market. Cloud computing is prioritized in IoT companies to handle all the generated data and make sure all devices run smoothly.
Conclusion
Trailblazing a profitable and enjoyable career in 2022 is possible if you focus on markets where you find roles you’re passionate about that are related to your desired career path. It is clear that the expanding digital workplace will have a large impact on many different job types and industries. By developing some of the most wanted technical skills in 2022 and adding them to your resume, you will be in a better position to react and adapt to coming changes.
