Whatever industry you work in or strive to work in, it is important to have the skillset needed to succeed. While it has become pertinent to have a stronger focus on soft skills and the influence they play in your working life, it is not yet the time to give up on the hard (technical) skills.

Technical skills are the professional knowledge and abilities which are specific to an industry. Unlike soft skills which are created through life experience and emotional awareness, technical skills are obtained through formal training and education.

In a technology-driven world, there is a never-ending supply of technical skills to be learnt. However, there are a few key skills that will allow you to stand out from the crowd in any job market or industry.

Coding and Programming

With technology becoming unavoidable in the corporate world, it is important to have someone on your team (whether in-house, external, or agency-based) who can perform basic-to-intermediate coding and programming duties. Your business can then feel safe and secure should technical issues emerge. From fixing a line of code to updating your website’s firewall, one’s ability to code transcends any other all-rounded skills looked for in the hiring market.

Data Analysis

Data is everywhere. Every time you visit the shops or check your phone, data is being collected in some form. Having the ability to interpret the data available to you and your company will enable you to better position the business in the corporate landscape. Data analysis provides the business with information and feedback from current clients or customers. It helps to improve the overall user experience. It’s all about making the customer happy, right?

Budgeting and Planning

Budgeting is essential for any business in the early stages. When a business’s capital is low and they are yet to expand, a business must carefully allocate their money, ensuring their expenditure does not exceed their investment capital. This is a lot more difficult than it sounds for many. Fortunately, through Hippo’s SOS Framework, you will be able to invest your money and happiness by hiring a well-educated and motivated virtual assistant at a price that accommodates all businesses budget.

Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing has become one of the most sought-after skills. Many think it is an easy skill to attain. Contrary to popular belief, digital marketing is quite difficult to master! Marrying soft with hard skills, digital marketing experts must display a thorough understanding of digital programs and their audience to correctly promote each product or service. With many programs falling under the digital marketing category, it is almost impossible to be a master of it all. This has led to many digital marketing experts focusing on different areas of interest (SEO, Social Media, Content Creation, PPC, Sponsorship and Influencer Marketing, etc), whilst maintaining an average understanding in all other areas.

Technical Writing

Technical writing is an often-overlooked skill that provides many advantages to any growing business. Every procedure manual, process, or document within your business is considered technical writing. However, if those documents were not written effectively, could you imagine the communicative chaos that would ensue? How can one successfully systemise a business if they cannot produce an SOP manual that enables them to delegate tasks efficiently? Fundamentally, an SOP manual provides both business owners and managers the opportunity to instruct how they would like a given task to be completed by staff

Industry-Specific Technical Skills

Each industry has skills that can only be mastered through thorough education and training, whether that be a trade, a degree, or self-taught skill. It is important to not downplay the skills that set you apart from the rest. Whether you are a tradie who has mastered their craft, or an accountant who can finalise a balance sheet at record speed, your skillset is unique to you, and only you! You don’t need to be an expert in every technical skill out there, but you should strive to understand the skills inside and outside of your industry to gain a better appreciation for the work it entails.

You may be wondering why we are focusing on technical skills. Well, we believe it is crucial that each of our hires has a healthy mix of soft and hard skills, ensuring they have the skills to achieve any task that we throw their way. Every virtual assistant that we work with has a tertiary education in their area of expertise, and an array of work and life experience that empowers them to thrive in their chosen field.