Even though most people don’t know it, the American job market is hybridizing. This trend is changing the way employers view job seekers in ways few have yet adapted to. Many previously non-technical positions now have some technological component due to the rapid growth of technology in the last fifteen years.
Hybrid skills combine both technical and soft skills. What qualifies as a hybrid skill depends on many factors such as the job, company or industry.
For example, take administrative assistants. This position was traditionally about answering phones, taking notes, filing, greeting clients, and so on. An administrative assistant today will need to have a mix of digital and traditional skills. They may be able to design presentation materials, handle database programs, generate reports and spreadsheets, use social media, update websites, and more.
People in technical positions, such as IT networkers and security specialists, will need to use soft skills (communications, decision-making teamwork, critical thinking, management of time, etc.). To adapt to and thrive in today’s competitive job marketplace.
What are Hybrid Jobs?
Research shows that approximately one in four jobs has strong signs of hybridization. A high level of hybridization is also found in around one-eight positions. This trend is driven by five main areas. One hand we have completely new skills and the other is traditional skills that are used in new ways. These areas include:
- Customer Service and Sales
- Innovating compliance and regulatory systems
- Emerging digital technologies
- Design and Development
- Big Data and Analytics
It is important to emphasize the benefits for people who are looking to improve their hybrid skills. People who are used to working in soft skills-oriented positions will reap the benefits of learning hard skills. This will allow them to show their employees that they can adapt to technological changes.
However, workers and job seekers from technology-oriented backgrounds will be able stand out by improving their soft skills. They will be able to add value beyond the specific applications of their tech specializations.
When hard and soft skills are combined
LinkedIn recently released a report that highlighted the most valuable hard and soft skills in 2019 and what they are currently most desired.
These soft skills include:
- Creativity
- persuasion
- collaboration
- adaptability
- Time management
Employers are looking for hard skills such as:
- Cloud computing
- artificial intelligence
- Analytical reasoning
- people management
- UX design
- mobile applications development
- Video production
- sales leadership
- Translation
- audio production
- Natural language processing
- Scientific computing
- game development
- Social media marketing
- Animation
- Business analysis
- journalism
- digital marketing
- industrial design
- competitive strategy
- customer service systems
- Software testing
- data science
- Computer graphics
- Corporate communications
There are many sub specializations and specializations available for each of these hard skills. You can combine these skills with the soft skills mentioned to create many hybrid jobs.