In just a few years, digital marketing will look very different than it does today. In fact, there are some skills you’ll need in the coming years that don’t even exist yet! So which are the skills you should have in 2022? Let’s take a look at 7 digital skills you’ll need in 2022 to make sure your business stays competitive—and profitable!
1) Digital Media Literacy
Having at least a basic understanding of how to create, edit, and publish your own media is an essential skill for anyone interested in future careers. As automation and artificial intelligence continue to transform industries across all sectors, one thing will remain constant: human beings are emotional and expressive beings that crave information delivered in a way that speaks to them individually. The ability to create content that delights people will be as important as ever, even if it means learning new tools and platforms with every new career opportunity. Understanding how web development works is also key—it might not be enough to know what WordPress is anymore. The list below is by no means exhaustive, but it’s a good place to start; these are some of today’s most-in-demand digital skills.
2) Network Security
Network security is an enormous field with many, many specifics that can be drilled down to a level so granular it will make your head spin. The main takeaway from network security is that there are a lot of ways for hackers to get into your system, and all of them are bad. You should aim to lock down your network as tight as possible, starting with user training (if users don’t know not to click on everything they see on their screen then it’s not a matter of if but when they get hacked). There are many other things you can do from there like making sure each user has an individual login account or that access is given based on what employees need access for, but at its most basic network security means keep out hackers by limiting access.
3) Internet Law
By 2022, we’ll be living in a world where billions of people have internet access—most of whom will have been born since 2000. Because of that surge, privacy will become more and more important; international laws are already being created to protect personal data. To stay out of trouble, it’s crucial to know how to properly store and protect your customers’ information, especially given how easy (and fun) it is for internet-savvy millennials to poke holes into even well-intentioned security strategies. You can also bet there will be at least one major security breach by then—so knowing what legal recourse companies have if they get hacked is a good idea too.
4) Cyber-Conflict Resolution
In 2013, more than 10 million people were victims of cybercrime. By 2016, that number is expected to rise to 27 million. The frequency and severity of these attacks—as well as their devastating effects on our health, finances, security and reputation—means that individuals, businesses and governments around the world are looking for new solutions for cyber-conflict resolution. In 2018, courts across Europe will begin to require companies to disclose how they are able to handle cyber-security risks. Firms without adequate prevention measures will be held responsible for any damages caused by a data breach or other form of cyberattack.
5) Cyber Threat Awareness
As our devices become more interconnected, so do our vulnerabilities. In 2017 alone, more than 300 million records were breached. Knowing how to stay safe online is increasingly essential for securing your personal information—and for working with employers, who are increasingly looking for cyber security certifications on resumes and applications. For example, employers often look for Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or CompTIA Security+ certification as part of their hiring process because these cybersecurity certifications provide valuable insight into an applicant’s knowledge of IT environments and ability to anticipate potential cyber threats to keep sensitive data secure.
6) Creative Thinking/Thinking Outside The Box
Creativity is a great way to look at things from a different perspective, which can help when trying to solve problems. Creativity also helps us connect new information with existing knowledge, resulting in innovative solutions. Finally, creativity can be used as an outlet for stress; research shows that people who are artistic are better at problem-solving than those who aren’t. The importance of creativity is growing—especially as AI takes on more and more tasks—which makes creative thinking a crucial skill to have going forward. So how do we increase our creative thinking? In short: read books and write poetry. Both activities make our brains more creative by forcing us to pay attention to details, recognize patterns, and think outside of whatever box we’re currently trapped inside.
7) Data Visualization/Storytelling
Data visualization is a broad term that refers to using graphics and other images to convey data (i.e., statistics, research information). By understanding how to design effective visuals, you can provide your audience with new insights into complex problems and tell stories with data. Web development: Even if web developers aren’t technical directors or CTOs of their organizations, they will become more in-demand as companies look for ways to integrate web interfaces into devices across all industries. Employers will demand candidates who can code a variety of platforms from HTML 5 to CSS 3. To remain competitive, be sure your resumé mentions any experience with WordPress or Drupal websites. It’s also important that any aspiring developer has programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, PHP and Ruby on their resume.
