Boost Your Skill Set in the New Normal With These 10 Courses

The new normal has introduced drastic changes to the workplace. The work disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the impending threats of automation worldwide are rapidly shaping the future of careers and industries.

This is evident in the shift to remote work arrangements. While Singapore is still a highly coveted city to work in, you no longer need to leave or uproot yourself to work for a global company. That said, all of these changes, including working with a cross-cultural team means that you likely need to upskill to stay ahead.

Transferable Skills and Emerging Skills

In order to keep up with the rapidly evolving times, learning transferable skills and emerging skills is essential. But what is the difference between both?

Transferable or soft skills are helpful for various careers and come in handy even when you need to change roles. While hard skills are important in a job, so are these versatile skills: leadership, creativity and time management. For example, having strong communication skills can be applicable to various fields, including marketing, human resources, and management.

Meanwhile, global trends have ushered in a demand for emerging skills. Technology and globalization are creating and shaping new industries. You may need to acquire emerging skills in order to take your career into the 21st century.

Top 10 Skills You Need in the Future Workplace

To help you gain an edge, JobStreet partnered with FutureLearn to bring you game-changing courses for free. By learning these top skills, which are linked to the courses, you can secure your spot in tomorrow's workplace.

1. Logical and Critical Thinking

Offered by: The University of Auckland

Why you should take it: Logical and critical thinking helps you make better decisions. When you are able to assess ideas and situations, you make sounder judgments. Moreover, critical thinking has become an even more crucial skill post-pandemic, especially in today's digital landscape where fake or filtered news abound.

What you will learn: Brush up on basic logical tools and how to apply them. You will also learn to avoid common thinking mistakes, and improve your ability to analyze arguments.

2. Public Speaking

Offered by: The Royal Observatory Greenwich

Why you should take it: Public speaking and presentation skills are vital at work - not only do they impress those in the boardroom, they also help you communicate your thoughts clearly and effectively. This applies to everyone but is especially important if you lead a team.

What you will learn: Boost your public skills online or in front of a real audience. Find your personal style in presenting, and engage your listeners. Learn to troubleshoot and improve your storytelling.

3. Work Resilience

Offered by: Deakin University

Why you should take it: Work resilience is a useful trait especially in the face of disruption and difficulty. Through this course, you will learn how to manage stress at work and in your personal life. Your mental health matters, especially during hard times. You may have no control over certain situations, but you have control over your response to them.

What you will learn: You will learn resilience, inner strength, and how to practice self-care in order to conquer any challenges.

4. Networking and Building Relationships

Offered by: CQUniversity in Australia

Why you should take it: Connections, whether they are business or personal, help you grow. In fact, according to statistics, talent who make an effort to spend 6.3 hours a week networking believe it is crucial in their success

Networking, however, does not come naturally for some. According to the same studies, only 25% of people actually network. But this skill can be learned. From relationships, you can gain info, close deals, and even land a job.

What you will learn: Make the most of social media or even virtual events. Know how to make good first impressions, and use proper etiquette. Build your confidence while building your contact base.

5. Being Open to Innovation

Offered by: Deakin University

Why you should take it: Businesses need to innovate to grow. The same goes for your career. When you are open to new ways, you also open up more possibilities for success.

What you will learn: Know the different types, stages and impacts of innovation. Learn how innovation and new knowledge can give you a competitive edge.

6. Digital Marketing

Offered by: Coventry University

Why you should take it: With technology shifting business trends, it is only natural for you to learn digital marketing. Companies all over the world know how important it is to have a strong online presence.

What you will learn: Know the important digital channels, and learn to find your way in e-commerce. Get to know your online consumers and their behavior.

7. People Management

Offered by: University of Twente

Why you should take it: People management is a useful skill not only for HR managers but also team leaders and employees. Technology is changing the way we communicate. By knowing new HRM strategies, you will be able to better collaborate at the workplace.

What you will learn: While this course covers basic people management themes, it also introduces HRM technology and innovations. By comparing different HR practices, you can create one that best suits your needs.

8. Web Development

Offered by: Raspberry Pi Foundation

Why you should take it: If you are a beginner programmer, taking a course that can better your web development skills can unlock more job opportunities. As services continue to rely on digital platforms for businesses during these times, having a user-friendly website has become necessary to stay afloat.

What you will learn: Learn how to build an interactive website using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

9. Leadership

Offered by: Deakin University

Why you should take it: Often, advancing your career means taking on leadership roles. To better manage team members, it helps to know your leadership style. This helps you to effectively address concerns.

What you will learn: From this course, you will learn the qualities of an efficient leader and the types of power. Know how to influence your employees, and how different personalities view leadership.

10. Cyber Security

Offered by: The Open University

Why you should take it: Cyber security skills have now become essential in the age of digitisation and automation. As we spend most of our time online, it is crucial to be able to protect your banking accounts, passwords, and other sensitive information that can compromise your safety.

What you will learn: Learn to spot online security threats such as malware. Minimize risks to improve your online safety, and know the legal issues related to cyber security.

Future-proof your career

Despite its uncertainties, the future workplace looks bright - and it's crucial to keep yourself updated and be open to change for the #JobsThatMatter. Equip yourself for new beginnings and sign up for a free FutureLearn course now.

Ready to start job hunting? Visit Jobstreet for the #JobsThatMatter to your career. For more tips and news, check out our Career Resources Hub.

At JobStreet, we believe in bringing you #JobsThatMatter. As a Career Partner, we are committed to helping all jobseekers find passion and purpose in every career choice. And as the number 1 Talent Partner in Asia, we connect employers with the right candidates who truly make a positive and lasting impact on the organization.

Discover Jobs That Matter. Visit JobStreet today.

About SEEK Asia

SEEK Asia , a combination of two leading brands JobStreet and JobsDB, is the leading job portal and Asia's preferred destination for candidates and hirers. SEEK Asia's presence spans across 7 countries namely Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam. SEEK Asia is part of the Australian Securities Exchange-listed SEEK Limited Company, the world's largest job portal by market capitalization. SEEK Asia attracts over 400 million visits a year.

About SEEK Limited

SEEK is a diverse group of companies, comprising a strong portfolio of online employment, educational, commercial and volunteer businesses. SEEK has a global presence (including Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, South-East Asia, Brazil and Mexico), with exposure to over 2.9 billion people and approximately 27 per cent of global GDP. SEEK makes a positive contribution to people's lives on a global scale. SEEK is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, where it is a top 100 company and has been listed in the Top 20 Most Innovative Companies by Forbes.