Top Skills for Tech Professionals

Forget what you know about "must-have" skills. New Coursera data shows how to future-proof your career. 📊 New data shows that 70% of leaders would choose AI-savvy candidates with less experience over seasoned professionals who lack AI skills. A recent Forbes analysis reveals what actually drives success in the AI era: 🛜 Technical Foundation - AI fluency is becoming as fundamental as math or language skills. With an 866% surge in generative AI course enrollments, professionals who adapt early are pulling ahead. 🗣️ Human Skills Premium - While AI handles tactical tasks, strategic thinking and relationship building remain irreplaceable human domains. Top emerging skills include risk mitigation, assertiveness, and stakeholder communication. 🛡️ Cybersecurity Focus - 6 of the top 10 fastest-growing tech skills are cybersecurity-related, reflecting our evolving digital landscape. It's not about choosing between human skills and AI proficiency—it's about mastering both. The most valuable professionals will be those who can leverage AI while excelling at uniquely human capabilities. 🗝️ As Coursera's CEO puts it: "Generative AI will be important for anyone who thinks, anyone who makes decisions, and anyone who communicates." What's your strategy for developing this dual skillset? #artificialintelligence #changemanagement #futureofwork

Don’t make my mistakes all over again yourself. It took 2 layoffs before I realized that no matter how technical I was, technical skills alone were not enough. Ask people with the job you want, “What’s your biggest challenge?” Ask those who can hire you for that role, “What problems do you need people to solve?” It’s not technology. It took me 5 years to realize that business-facing consultants make 3X-5X more than technical consultants. I spent years grinding to get to $130/hr. then tripled my rate in a year by shifting to products and strategy. Technical skills are short-term #career accelerators, but their value plateaus after about 5 years. Value-centric business and technical capabilities are long-term career drivers. After seeing me on a recent Supply Chain Now podcast, I had two potential clients reach out. One said, “You simplified the tech and explained the direction of travel without jargon. I know what’s coming and what to do about it.” I used to think that the more technical and granular I got, the more competent I sounded. It’s actually the opposite. First principles are the expert’s language. Simplicity = mastery. Technologies come and go, but capabilities like communication skills, product monetization, #strategy, and go-to-market are evergreen. The recipe for success is pairing technical expertise with evergreen abilities. No matter what happens next in #AI, business leaders will always need people who can turn technology into new revenue, growth, and higher margins. Value-centric capabilities future-proof careers. Learn from people who’ve been there. Talk to people who are where you want to be. You’ll have fewer career setbacks and more opportunities to advance.

The World Economic Forum just revealed the top skills for 2030 in their Future of Jobs Report. Spoiler: the ones rising fastest are the ones we’ve been ignoring 👀 Here’s what the data from 1,000 top employers (representing 14M workers across 22 industries) tells us: 📍 Analytical thinking is the #1 skill employers value most. 📍 Career growth is shifting from credentials to capabilities. Employers care less about degrees and more about how you think, adapt, and solve real problems. 📍 Soft skills are rising faster than technical ones, including programming and design. If you want to stay relevant by 2030, these are the skills to master: 1) Analytical Thinking → Choose one business decision this week and list 3 things you're assuming to be true. Then challenge each with data before moving forward. 2) Creative Thinking → Take a current work challenge and ask, “How would a completely different team solve this?” 3) AI & Big Data Literacy → Pick one business workflow and explore how AI could reduce time, cost, or complexity. Then test it in a low-risk area. 4) Resilience & Flexibility → Write down the last thing that frustrated you. How could you respond differently next time? 5) Motivation & Self-Awareness → Track your energy for 3 days. Note when you're most focused vs. drained. Move one key task to match your peak zone. 6) Curiosity & Lifelong Learning → Set a 30-minute calendar block to explore a trend that will affect your industry but isn’t on your roadmap yet. 7) Technological Literacy → Pick one tool your team uses and explore a feature you’ve never touched. 8) Empathy & Listening → In your next 1:1, ask: “What’s something you’ve been holding back from saying?” Then listen without interrupting. 9) Leadership & Influence → In your next team meeting or Slack update, highlight a quiet win from someone who usually flies under the radar. 10) Systems Thinking → Pick one process that causes repeated friction. Map it end-to-end, and eliminate the one step that slows everything down. WEF’s data is clear: The skills rising fastest aren’t technical, they’re human. AI is already mastering the hard skills. But it still can’t lead a team, rethink a broken process, or earn trust in a room. 🤝 By 2030, those who master soft skills with strategy won’t just survive the shift, they’ll lead it 

These are the skills you'll need in 2030, And how to start mastering them today: The future of work has never been evolving faster. In just 5 years, the entire landscape will change. Use this sheet to learn: ↳What skills will matter most in 2030 ↳Why they'll be so important ↳And how you can start learning them today Don't wait to get started, or you'll be left behind: 1. Analytical Thinking ↳What: Breaking down problems and making clear, logical decisions ↳Why: AI will flood us with data - clear thinkers will stand out ↳How: Practice taking a messy work problem, and mapping out causes, patterns, and next steps 2. Empathy and Active Listening ↳What: Understanding others and making them feel heard ↳Why: As automation spreads, human connection will matter more ↳How: In every conversation this week, ask more questions than you answer 3. Curiosity and Lifelong Learning ↳What: Exploring new ideas, skills, and perspectives ↳Why: Skills will expire faster - curious learners will stay relevant ↳How: Spend 20 minutes each week learning a topic you know nothing about 4. Resilience, Flexibility, and Agility ↳What: Staying calm, adjusting quickly, and bouncing back ↳Why: Disruption will be constant - adaptability will be survival ↳How: When plans shift, pause and ask, "What's my best move now?" 5. Motivation and Self-Awareness ↳What: Knowing what energizes you and how to use it ↳Why: Self-directed people will thrive in hybrid, fluid work ↳How: Rate your energy daily and track what boosts or drains it 6. Creative Thinking ↳What: Solving problems in original, non-obvious ways ↳Why: When AI does the obvious, humans must bring the unexpected ↳How: Pick a problem, set a 10-minute timer, and brainstorm 10 unconventional solutions 7. Leadership and Social Influence ↳What: Inspiring others and driving action ↳Why: Leading across remote teams will demand influence, not authority ↳How: Volunteer to lead one small piece of a project this week 8. Technological Literacy ↳What: Understanding how digital tools work - not just using them ↳Why: Every job will require tech fluency to stay competitive ↳How: Watch a 10-minute explainer on a technology you don't fully get 9. Systems Thinking ↳What: Seeing how choices affect people, processes, and outcomes ↳Why: The future will reward people who see the ripple effects ↳How: Ask "What chain reaction could this cause?" on every project 10. Talent Management ↳What: Growing, supporting, and retaining great people ↳Why: The global talent squeeze will make people your edge ↳How: Schedule time to check in with someone junior about their growth [See sheet for number 11] Change this fast can be equal parts exciting and terrifying. But with the right focus,  You can plan for the future now, And set yourself up to thrive. Are you ready? --- Source for the 11 skills: The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025. ♻️ Repost to help others stay ahead of the game. And follow me George Stern for more.

Here are some essential skills I suggest mastering to differentiate yourself in today's tough tech job market, especially in prompt engineering: 1. Cloud Computing and Containerization: - Get to know cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud - Gain experience with containerization tools such as Docker and Kubernetes 2. Data Analysis and Business Intelligence: - Become proficient in data analysis tools such as Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau, or Power BI - Learn to extract insights from data and present them effectively 3. Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking: - Understand network security, penetration testing, and incident response - Familiarize yourself with tools and techniques used in ethical hacking 4. DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering: - Hands-on experience with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines - Know infrastructure as code, monitoring, and automation 5. Full-Stack Web Development: - Master both front-end (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Angular) and back-end (Node.js, Python, Ruby on Rails) technologies - Grasp web application architecture and design patterns 6. Mobile App Development: - Specialize in building native or cross-platform mobile apps for iOS and Android - Understand mobile-specific frameworks and best practices 7. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence: - Experience with machine learning frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn - Know data preprocessing, model training, and deployment 8. Prompt Engineering: - Develop the skill to craft effective prompts for language models like GPT-3 or ChatGPT - Understand prompt design principles and techniques to optimize model outputs 9. Soft Skills: - Cultivate effective communication and presentation skills - Sharpen problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability - Foster teamwork, collaboration, and leadership abilities Focus on developing a mix of technical skills and soft skills that are highly sought after and match the current tech industry needs. Stay updated with the newest technologies, trends, and best practices, including prompt engineering, to stand out and boost your chances of landing a rewarding role in this competitive job market.

Most ERP and PeopleSoft Pros Think AI Will Replace Some or Part of Their Jobs. But Here's The Truth... 𝗔𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲: - Soft skills are the new hard currency. - Human thinking beats memorized knowledge. - The best-paid pros by 2030 will master both tech and people. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺: Most ERP and PeopleSoft professionals rely too much on legacy knowledge. You got certified years ago. You know the interface inside-out. But you haven’t adapted how you think or work. I’ve worked with dozens of teams frozen in time. ↳ No systems for learning. ↳ No new skills. ↳ No sense of urgency. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗘𝗙 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲: ↳ Analytical thinking ↳ Resilience and self-motivation ↳ Systems thinking ↳ Tech literacy and AI fluency ↳ Leadership and influence Notice something? 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗘𝗥𝗣-𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰. Because whatever platform you're on—PeopleSoft, Oracle, Workday, SAP—technical knowledge alone won’t matter. Platforms evolve. Your human edge is what stays. 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲? ↳ 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮:    ↳ 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 1 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘐 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 ↳ 𝘚𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘭𝘺 1-𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 (𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯, 𝘦𝘵𝘤.)    ↳ 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯—𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 ↳ 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 (𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦) 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀: Automation handles the grunt work. You’re left with shrinking demand for outdated skills. You get replaced by cloud-native talent who's already AI-augmented. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄? You become the rare ERP consultant who speaks business, tech, AND human. Your clients will notice. Your rates will reflect it. Your career will accelerate. Adapt now. Or get benched later. Tell me in the comments section below which core skill you think is the most important and why (I read every comment). 👉 And if you found this helpful? Please Share it! ♻️

Two months ago, the World Economic Forum published a massive 290-page report about how jobs will change by 2025. I spent hours going through it all, so you don’t have to. Here are 10 specific insights from the report that every software engineer needs to know: 1. AI won’t replace developers. AI will handle repetitive tasks (like testing or debugging), letting you focus on system design, strategy, and creative problem-solving. 2. Data skills are in high demand. -Roles like Data Scientist and ML Engineer are growing fast. -Knowing Python (pandas, NumPy), SQL, and analytics tools gives you a strong edge. 3. Soft skills matter more than ever. -Creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and clear communication will set great engineers apart from good ones. 4. Cybersecurity is essential. -Security must be built into software from day one. -Basic knowledge in encryption, secure coding, and threat modeling is a big plus. 5. Remote work is permanent. -Global competition is the new normal. -Success depends on mastering tools like Slack, Zoom, and virtual whiteboards—and committing to continuous online learning. 6. Cloud skills are must-haves. -Most new software is cloud-based. -Learn AWS, Azure, GCP, and understand deployment and scalability—even if you’re not a cloud engineer. 7. Adaptability beats specialization. -Tech evolves quickly. -Employers want fast learners who keep up with trends through courses, certifications, and side projects. 8. Green software is growing. -Eco-conscious software is in demand. -Knowing how your code impacts energy use and sustainability can help you stand out. 9. Emerging tech roles are rising. -Robotics, IoT, Quantum Computing, AR/VR are expanding fast. -Even basic familiarity with these areas can make your profile shine. 10. Skills > degrees. -Employers care more about portfolios, certifications, and problem-solving than diplomas. -Show what you can do, not just what you studied. In short: The future looks bright—if you’re adaptable. Companies want lifelong learners who can collaborate, secure their code, work in the cloud, and embrace change.

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗔𝗣 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 2030? If you think it’s all about mastering the latest SAP module or technical skill, think again. The future isn’t just about tech expertise - it’s about how you think, lead, and adapt in an ever-changing world. 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘁 𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼: “The best investment you can make is in yourself.” And it’s never been truer. The World Economic Forum recently outlined the top skills that will be in demand by 2030. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲 - skills that will make or break your SAP career: ✅ Systems Thinking - Seeing beyond the code and processes to understand the whole business ecosystem. ✅ Creative Thinking - Finding innovative solutions when standard configs won’t cut it. ✅ Analytical Thinking - Turning mountains of data into meaningful decisions and strategy. ✅ Motivation & Self-Awareness - Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and driving yourself forward when the going gets tough. ✅ Leadership & Social Influence - Inspiring and guiding teams, even without formal authority. ✅ Resilience, Adaptability & Agility - The ability to bounce back fast and pivot in the face of change. ✅ Curiosity & Lifelong Learning - Constantly updating your skills and mindset because the SAP world never stands still. Make no mistake - these are not just “nice-to-haves.” They are your secret weapons to stand out in a sea of consultants. Yes, AI, automation, and digital fluency are reshaping our industry. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲? The human skills that allow you to use technology strategically—connecting business needs with tech in a way machines can’t replicate. This is your chance to future-proof your career. Don’t wait for change to happen. Be the architect of your own growth. Invest in developing your mind and your leadership as much as your 𝗦𝗔𝗣 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀. Imagine waking up in 2030 knowing that no algorithm or automation can replace the value you bring. That’s what it means to be truly indispensable. So here’s my question to you: Which skill will you focus on mastering first? Drop your thoughts below - let’s learn and grow together. ⬇️ #SAPConsultants #CareerGrowth #FutureSkills #Leadership #LifelongLearning #Adaptability #StrategicThinking #SAPCareer #HumanSkills

The WSJ reports a seismic shift in tech hiring: entry-level roles have nearly vanished, hiring processes are lengthening, and employers now expect broader AI skills from applicants. Companies are delaying or canceling postings amid economic uncertainty and prioritizing candidates who can do more than just code—they must be able to collaborate with AI tools, think critically, and learn on the fly. What does this mean for professionals and HR? 1️⃣ Upskill with intention — Boost your AI fluency through bootcamps, certifications, or on-the-job experimentation like prompt engineering and tool orchestration. 2️⃣ Emphasize hybrid roles — Cultivate a mix of technical, critical thinking, and communication skills—you’re now a strategic integrator, not just a doer. 3️⃣ Be patient, be agile — The hiring market has entered a “Great Hesitation.” It’s competitive, yes—but proactive candidates with a future-forward skill set are still getting through. Tech careers might be tough to break into right now—but those who continuously adapt and demonstrate AI-augmented value will stand out. How are you reshaping your role or team for this new frontier? Read the article: https://lnkd.in/eXws8etX #FutureOfWork #TechCareers #AI #Upskilling #HiringTrends #TalentAcquisition #CareerDevelopment

On Workforce Upskilling and Retraining: “Employers expect 39% of key skills required in the job market will change by 2030, according to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, including AI management. Technological skills are expected to become increasingly vital over the next five years, outpacing the growth of all other skill categories. Leading the way are #AI and #BigData, followed closely by #networking, #cybersecurity and overall #TechnologicalLiteracy. The so-called 'soft skills' of #CreativeThinking and #resilience, #flexibility and #agility are also rising in importance, along with curiosity and lifelong learning. #Empathy is one skill AI agents can't learn. … AI is just prediction, there's no ghost behind the machine. It's just a formula of prediction. Whatever results they give, the human has to decide whether that answer is ethical, if it really represents society and if it represents the culture and the values of the company.”  From a July 8, 2025 posting on the World Economic Forum website by Linda Lacina – U.S. journalist and Kate Whiting – U.S. journalist. For more #ThoughtsAndObservations about #Upskilling and #Retraining go to https://lnkd.in/gEz-GAsu