To build a successful business, you need great people—and also great skills. Especially now, as AI stands to transform entire industries, companies are taking inventory of their talent and ensuring employees have the capabilities needed not just to survive, but to thrive.
Technical skills are a crucial part of that puzzle. In a world where AI is projected to displace upward of 14% of existing roles, per Goldman Sachs, organizations must fundamentally rethink how jobs—and the people in them—will evolve moving forward. As those job descriptions evolve, so do the technical skills needed to keep pace.
But what exactly are technical skills, and which are the right ones to pursue in today’s climate? In this article, we’ll explain the importance behind technical skills, explore key examples, and share tips on how to develop technical skills across your organization.
What Are Technical Skills?
Technical skills refer to the abilities, tools, and knowledge needed to perform a specific role. As opposed to “soft skills,” which tend to encompass behavior, problem solving, leadership, and other highly transferable skills, technical skills are far more specialized, often falling within a particular industry or trade.
With that specialization comes a barrier to entry. Developing technical skills often requires a level of investment not necessary for other, more innate skills. At a marketing agency, a visual designer might attend the latest Adobe conference to discover new Photoshop workflows and best practices. At a consulting firm, an associate might take time to earn their MBA, allowing them to progress to more senior ranks.
Whether you invest in training, education, or some other form of learning and development, you’ll find that specific technical skills have a high floor—and an even higher ceiling.
Why Are Technical Skills Important?
According to the World Economic Forum, 63% of companies consider a lack of skills their biggest barrier to business transformation today. Add on the fact that 40% of current skills are set to change by 2030, and the mandate is clear: Businesses need to reskill now or find themselves at a talent deficit in the future.
Technical skills are a crucial part of that reskilling process. While soft skills are generally evergreen—an emotionally resilient leader won’t suddenly lose that edge due to a market shift—technical abilities are in constant flux. New tools are developed; new efficiencies are found. With these innovations come technical challenges that require skills to match.
AI is the perfect example. According to the International Monetary Fund, 40% of global jobs are being influenced by AI—not in the future, but right now. Knowledge of AI trends and tools isn’t relegated to the tech industry; it spans practically every sector, from finance and healthcare to hospitality and retail.
No business can predict the future. But by training your workforce on relevant technical skills now, you ensure they’re equipped to carry your strategy into that future with confidence.
Examples of Technical Skills
Deciding which technical skills to pursue can be a daunting effort. By definition, technical skills are tough to learn and even tougher to master. They can also be industry-specific, limiting their appeal to niche audiences. Ultimately, the decision comes down to your organization, your people, and your needs.
Need some ideas to help kickstart your search? Here are just a few examples of in-demand technical skills for different fields.
Business intelligence
- Data architecture
- Data modeling
- Data visualization tools (e.g., Domo, Tableau)
Finance
- Accounting software (e.g., Oracle, QuickBooks, SAP)
- Data analysis
- Financial modeling
- Spreadsheet software (e.g., Microsoft Excel)
Information technology
- Cloud computing
- Data security
- Database management
- Hardware installation
- Tech support
- Troubleshooting
Marketing
- Analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics)
- Artificial intelligence optimization (AIO)
- Blog writing
- Brand design
- Content management system (CMS) proficiency
- Digital marketing tools (e.g., SEMRush, Ahrefs)
- Graphic design
- Social media strategy
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Webinar hosting
Product management
- Collaboration tools (e.g., FigJam, Lucidchart, Miro)
- Project management
- Requirements gathering
- Resource planning
- Risk management
- Task management software (e.g., Asana, Jira, Trello)
Programming or engineering
- API writing
- Debugging
- Documentation
- Knowledge base writing
- Machine learning
- Programming languages (e.g., C#, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python)
- Technical writing
Sales
- Cold calling
- Customer relationship management (CRM) proficiency
- Email writing
- Negotiation
- Prospecting
UX or product design
- Design tools (e.g., Figma, InVision, Sketch)
- Prototyping
- Responsive design
- User validation
- UX research
- UX writing
- Wireframing
Web development
- Back-end languages (e.g., PHP, Python, Ruby)
- Database management (e.g., SQL)
- Front-end languages (e.g. CSS, HTML, JavaScript)
Tip: Intellum has partnered with Udemy and OpenSesame to bring thousands of relevant technical skills courses directly to the Intellum platform. Upskilling and reskilling have never been easier.
How to Build Technical Skills in the Workplace
Too many organizations treat technical skills like a checklist—one-and-done exercises that help mitigate risk and ensure compliance. In reality, building technical skills is anything but linear; it requires constant evolution and consistent execution.
Make sure you’re taking the right initiative for yourself and your people. Here are four essential steps for improving your technical skills:
1. Identify desired outcomes.
Technical skills only provide value if they’re helping to propel your organization forward. Otherwise, they’re just words to include on a resume.
Meet with senior leaders to discuss strategy. What are the company’s current initiatives, and how might those goals evolve over the next few quarters? Where does leadership feel most confident in the strategy, and what are the biggest roadblocks they anticipate?
By understanding the outcomes that are imperative to the business, you can begin to map those outcomes back to the skills needed to see that strategy through.
2. Perform a skills gap analysis.
Having a strategy is one half of the equation; executing it is the other. Take inventory of your current talent capabilities. This starts with your employees, but it may also extend to channel partners, resellers, and even your clients.
Perform a skills gap analysis that identifies the current technical skill sets within your talent pool (e.g., tools, proficiencies, other work experience) and compares it to your strategic outcomes. Where there’s overlap is great, but most important is where there are gaps—that’s where you’ll focus moving forward.
Tip: Curious what a great skills gap analysis looks like? Check out these examples of skills gaps in the workplace.
3. Bridge the gap with education.
Once you’ve identified those skill gaps, you’re well positioned to address them. Together with your L&D team or equivalent education arm, create a curriculum that prioritizes the most critical technical skills that your organization lacks.
No two learners digest information the same way. Thankfully, you have a wide range of tools at your disposal, from in-person training to online courses, webinars, and podcasts. Consider your options, then design personalized learning that caters to the diversity of your audience.
4. Reassess continuously.
Even after you launch a new training or course series, the work has only just begun. Building technical skills at work is only sustainable if you treat the process as a cyclical journey. New market trends will emerge, and new skill gaps will appear. Listen for those changes, so you can gather data, iterate on your existing education materials, and launch new training as needed.
The world is moving fast, but your organization doesn’t have to get swept up in the scurry. Stay the course and let learning data be your north star.
Upskill Any Audience at Scale With Intellum
In the age of AI, skills on a resume won’t stay relevant for long. Enter Intellum: an education and learning development platform built for the future. Designed from the ground up with AI in mind, Intellum gives any team—from L&D to HR—the tools to upskill with confidence.
Use Intellum to design engaging courses for any audience, from employees to channel partners to customers. Craft content using our in-app authoring suite, Evolve, or generate a draft in seconds with our Creator Agent and iterate to your liking. Each learner even has their own AI tutor to help reinforce the skills that matter most—so your people are always prepared.
Interested in kickstarting your Intellum journey? Schedule a quick demo.
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