Top Ten In Demand Job Skills

The skills you should develop depend upon your interests, abilities And aptitudes, resources and career goals. But, with uncertain economic times ahead, it's important to look at the skills that will be useful in advancing your career. Here are 10 skills that the US Department of Labor says are on employers' wish lists. 

(1) Problem-Solving Skills 
People who can identify problems, research solutions and make effective decisions are increasingly desired in such fields as business administration, management consulting, public administration, science, medicine and engineering. 

(2) Vocational-Technical Skills 
Today, technology is advanced in all areas of human endeavor. Installation, testing and repair of most electrical, electronic and mechanical equipment in fields such as engineering, telecommunications, automotive, transportation and aerospace requires people with advanced vocational-technical skills. 

(3) Human Relations Skills 
Often, the success of a company depends upon how well people can work together. Your personal skills will determine 85% of your success: attitude, enthusiasm, ability to work with others, smile, tone of voice, etc. 

(4) Computer Programming Skills 
Understanding how to harness a computer's power and program it to meet the specific needs of a particular company can dramatically increase your employment opportunities. Specific languages most in demand today include C++, Java, HTML, Visual Basic, Unix and SQL Server. 

(5) Teaching-Training Skill 
We are told that today one day's edition of the Wall Street Journal has more information in it than a person in 1876 was exposed to in an entire lifetime. As a result, there will continue to be a demand for people with teaching and training skills in the fields of education, social services, management consulting and commerce to sort through and teach this massive amount of information. 

(6) Science and Math Skills 
Great advances are being made daily in the fields of science, medicine and engineering. Bright minds skilled in the sciences and math are needed to meet the challenges of these fields. 

(7) Money Management Skills 
Even though income has increased dramatically, Americans are saving less and ending up broke at retirement more often. Investment brokers and security officers, retirement planners, accountants and CPAs are in continual demand to meet this need. 

(8) Information Management Skills 
Systems analysts, information technologists, database administrators and telecommunication engineers are examples of people with highly developed information management skills. 

(9) Foreign Language Skills 
America depends upon many nations for raw materials and goods, as well as for global markets for our own goods and services. The ability to speak a foreign language -- today's hot ones include Russian, Japanese, Chinese, and German -- can enhance your employment opportunities and compensation. 

(10) Business Management Skills 
The business of America is business! Understanding of how to run a successful company is highly in demand. At the core of these skills is the ability to manage people, systems, resources and finances; to understand the needs of consumers and how to translate those needs into business opportunities. 

"Knowledge Is Power."
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