25 Skills that are most likely to get you hired in 2018
- It can be difficult to discern which skills companies need most in 2018.
- LinkedIn used billions of data points from its 500+ million members to determine which hard and soft skills are most actively being sought by employers and getting LinkedIn members hired in 2018.
- You’ll find the 25 hard skills listed below, as well as affordable online courses you can take to support your aptitude.
- Find the top soft skills employers will look for in 2018 here.
With the introduction of far-reaching and robust technology, the job market has experienced its own exponential growth, adaptation, and semi-metamorphosis. So much so that it can be difficult to guess what skills employers are looking for and what makes your resume - and not another - stand out to recruiters.
Thankfully, LinkedIn created a "2018 roadmap" - a list of hard and soft skills that companies need the most.
LinkedIn used data from their 500+ million members to identify the skills companies are currently working the hardest to fill. They grouped the skills members add to their profiles into several dozen categories (for example, "Android" and "iOS" into the "Mobile Development" category). Then, the company looked at all of the hirings and recruiting activity that happened on LinkedIn between January 1 and September 1 (billions of data points) and extrapolated the skill categories that belonged to members who were "more likely to start a new role within a company and receive interest from companies."
LinkedIn then coupled those specific skills with related jobs and their average US salaries - all of which you can find below, alongside courses you can take (for free or for much less than the cost of a degree) to support claims of aptitude and stay ahead of the curve.
The online-learning options we included - Lynda, Udemy, Coursera, and edX are among the most popular and inexpensive.
Coursera and edX allow you to take classes from the top universities in the world, nearly all of which are free to audit with a fee of $29 - $160 to add a verified certificate that you can include in your resume and LinkedIn profile. Udemy houses over 65,000 courses and 15 million students in areas such as programming, marketing, and data science most prominently and frequently discounts courses worth $200 by up to 90% off. Lynda specializes in software, creatives, and business skills, and comes with a free one-month trial. After that, access is $29.99/month.
All in all, each online course is a much cheaper option than a degree typically runs nowadays.
Below are the 25 hard skills that are most likely to get you hired in 2018:
1. Cloud and distributed computing
Related Jobs: Platform Engineer ($120,000), Cloud Architect ($135,000)
- Getting Started with Cloud Computing, Level 1, 38 lectures, available at Udemy
- Amazon Web Services: Storage and Data Management, available at Lynda
- Cloud Computing Applications, Part 1: Cloud Systems and Infrastructure, available at Coursera
- Cloud Architecture: Advanced Concepts, available at Lynda
- Architecting Distributed Cloud Applications, available at edX
- Cloud Computing Career Paths and Certifications: First Steps, available at Lynda
2. Statistical analysis and data mining
Related Jobs: Business Analyst ($72,000), Data Analyst ($62,000), Statistician ($90,200)
- The Essential Elements of Predictive Analytics and Data Mining, available at Lynda
- Data Science Foundations: Fundamentals, available at Lynda
- Practical Predictive Analytics: Models and Methods, available at Coursera
- Learning SQL Programming, available at Lynda
- Predictive Analytics, available at edX
3. Middleware and integration software
Related Jobs: IT Manager ($95,000), Systems Integration Engineer ($98,000)
- The Complete ASP.NET MVC 5 Course, available at Udemy
- ASP.NET Core: Middleware, available at Lynda
- Learn API Documentation with JSON and XML, available at Lynda
- JavaScript and JSON: Integration Techniques, available at Lynda
4. Web Architecture and development framework
Related Jobs: Web developer ($65,000), Full Stack Web Developer ($77,000)
- Building Angular and Node Apps with Authentication, available at Lynda
- Creating Your First RESTful Spring Boot Microservice with JPA, available at Lynda
- React: Replacing Legacy Projects, available at Lynda
- Master Microservices with Spring Boot and Spring Cloud, available at Udemy
- Web App Development with the Power of Node.js, available at edX
5. User interface design
Related Jobs: UX Designer ($85,000), Web Developer ($65,000), UI Designer ($72,000)
- UX Foundations: Prototyping, available at Lynda
- User Experience Design Fundamentals, available at Udemy
- Creating a Design System with Sketch, available at Lynda
- Introduction to User Experience Design, available at Coursera
- Planning a Career in User Experience, available at Lynda
6. Software revision control systems
Related Jobs: Web Developer ($65,000), Software Programmer ($64,000)
- SVN for Java Developers, available at Lynda
- Git Essential Training, available at Lynda
- Git Github Gitkraken: Version Control without Command Line, available at Udemy
- Learning Software Version Control, available at Lynda
- Version Control with Git, available at Coursera
7. Data presentation
Related Jobs: Graphic Designer ($45,000), Data Scientist ($113,000), Business Consultant ($83,000)
- Learning Data Visualization, available at Lynda
- Data Visualization: Best Practices, available at Lynda
- Learning Python for Data Analysis and Visualization, available at Udemy
- Data Visualization with Tableau Specialization, available at Coursera
- Data Science: Visualization, available at edX
- Learning Graphic Design: Presentations, available at Lynda
8. SEO/SEM marketing
Related Jobs: Marketing Specialist ($49,000), Online Marketing Manager ($80,000), Advertising Manager ($61,200)
- SEO Foundations, available at Lynda
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialization, available at Coursera
- Introduction to PPC with Google AdWords and Bing Ads, available at Lynda
- Ultimate Google AdWords Course 2017-Stop SEO & Win With PPC, available at Udemy
- Learning SEO Tools, available at Lynda
9. Mobile development
Related Jobs: Mobile Engineer ($95,000), Mobile Application Developer ($83,800)
- Android Development Essential Training: Create Your First App, available at Lynda
- The Complete Android N Developer CourseThe Complete Android N Developer Course, available at Udemy
- iOS 11 & Swift 4 - The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp, available at Udemy
- iOS Development for Creative Entrepreneurs Specialization, available at Coursera
- Advanced iOS App Development: Core Motion, available at Lynda
- Prototype a CRM Mobile Application with Framer, available at Lynda
10. Network and Information Security
Related Jobs: Information Security Specialist ($96,000), Cyber Security Specialist ($92,500)
- IT Security Foundations: Network Security, available at Lynda
- IT Security: Defense Against the Digital Dark Arts, available at Coursera
- Data-Driven Network Security Essentials, available at Lynda
- Cybersecurity Specialization, available at Coursera
- The Complete Cyber Security Course: Network Security, available at Udemy
- Implementing an Information Security Program, available at Lynda
11. Marketing campaign management
Related Jobs: Online Marketing Manager ($80,000), Digital Marketing Specialist ($52,000), Digital Marketing Manager ($77,000)
- Create a Go-To-Market Plan, available at Lynda
- Customer Centric Marketing for Entrepreneurs, available at edX
- Meaningful Marketing Insights, available at Coursera
- Building Your Marketing Technology Stack, available at Lynda
- Marketing Analytics: The Full Marketing Research Masterclass, available at Udemy
- Marketing Analytics: Segmentation and Testing, available at Lynda
- Marketing Analytics, $716.40, available at edX
- Marketing Analytics, available at Coursera
12. Data engineering and data warehousing
Related Jobs: Software Engineer ($95,000), Database Developer ($85,000), Data Analyst ($62,000)
- Data Science Foundations: Data Engineering, available at Lynda
- SQL Server Essentials, available at Udemy
- Foundations of Data Science, $357.30, available at edX
- Foundations of Data Science: Computational Thinking with Python, available at edX
- SQL Essential Training, available at Lynda
- Data Warehousing for Business Intelligence Specialization, available at Coursera
- Transitioning from Data Warehousing to Big Data, available at Lynda
13. Storage systems and management
Related Jobs: Database Administrator ($91,000), System Administrator ($68,800)
- Microsoft Azure: Design an Application Storage and Data Access Strategy, available at Lynda
- Microsoft Azure Storage, available at edX
- Google Drive Essential Training, available at Lynda
- Linux: Storage Systems, available at Lynda
14. Electronic and electrical engineering
Related Jobs: Electrical Engineer ($81,000), Electronic Engineer ($88,400)
- AutoCAD Electrical Essential Training, available at Lynda
- Learning MATLAB, available at Lynda
- Become a Good MATLAB Programmer in less than 30 days, available at Udemy
- Electronics Foundations: Semiconductor Devices, available at Lynda
15. Algorithm design
Related Jobs: Software Engineer ($95,000), Lead Software Engineer ($120,000), Lead Developer ($109,000)
- Machine Learning & AI Foundations: Value Estimations, available at Lynda
- Machine Learning & AI Foundations: Decision Trees, available at Lynda
- Machine Learning & AI: Advanced Decision Trees, available at Lynda
- Machine Learning A-Z: Hands-On Python & R In Data Science, available at Udemy
- Advanced Machine Learning Specialization, available at Coursera
- Machine Learning, available at edX
- Algorithmic Design and Techniques, available at edX
16. Perl/Python/Ruby
Related Jobs: Software Engineer ($95,000), Data Scientist ($113,000)
- Learning the Python 3 Standard Library, available at Lynda
- The Complete Regular Expressions Course with Exercises, available at Udemy
- Python Design Patterns, available at Lynda
- The Python Bible, Everything You Need to Program in Python, available at Udemy
- Python Projects, available at Lynda
- Python for Everybody Specialization, available at Coursera
- Ruby on Rails Web Development Specialization, available at Coursera
17. Shell scripting languages
Related Jobs: Linux System Administrator ($75,000), System Engineer ($90,000), Java Developer ($80,000)
- Learning Linux Shell Scripting, available at Lynda
- Linux Server Management and Security, available at Coursera
- Perl 5 Essential Training, available at Lynda
- Shell Scripting: Discover How to Automate Command Line Tasks, available at Udemy
- Learning PowerShell 5, available at Lynda
- Windows PowerShell Basics, available at edX
18. Mac, Linux and Unix Systems
Related Jobs: System Administrator ($68,800), Linux System Administrator ($75,000)
- Learning Linux Command Line, available at Lynda
- Fundamentals of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, available at edX
- Cert Prep: Red Hat Certified System Administrator (EX200), available at Lynda
- Introduction to Linux, available at edX
- Linux Administration Bootcamp: Go from Beginner to Advanced, available at Udemy
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server Essential Training, available at Lynda
19. Java development
Related Jobs: Java Developer ($80,000), Web Developer ($65,000)
- Kotlin for Java Developers, available at Lynda
- Kotlin for Android & Java Developers: Clean Code on Android, available at Udemy
- JSON Processing with Java EE, available at Lynda
- JSON in Action: Build JSON-Based Applications, available at Udemy
- Java 8 Essential Training, available at Lynda
- Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization, available at Coursera
20. Business intelligence
Related Jobs: Business Intelligence Analyst ($73,100), Forecast Analyst ($64,000)
- Power BI Pro Essential Training, available at Lynda
- Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Power BI, available at edX
- Balanced Scorecard and Key Performance Indicators, available at Lynda
- Power BI A-Z: Hands-On Power BI Training For Data Science!, available at Udemy
- Financial Forecasting with Big Data, available at Lynda
21. Software QA and user testing
Related Jobs: User Experience Engineer ($85,000), Software Test Engineer ($80,000), Quality Assurance Engineer ($77,000)
- Programming Foundations: Software Quality Assurance, available at Lynda
- Best Software QA Testing Training by H2K Infosys, available at Udemy
- UX Research at Scale: Analytics and Online Experiments, available at edX
- Penetration Testing Essential Training, available at Lynda
- UX Foundations: Usability Testing, available at Lynda
- UX Design: From Concept to Wireframe, available at edX
- User Experience (UX) Research and Design, $936.90, available at edX
22. Virtualization
Related Jobs: Network Engineer ($82,000), Network Administrator ($65,000)
- Learning VMware vSphere 6.5, available at Lynda
- Clear and Simple VMware vSphere 6.5 Foundations VCP, Part 1, available at Udemy
- VMware vSphere: Upgrade a Deployment to vSphere 6.5, available at Lynda
- The Complete VMware vSphere 6.5 Course: Beginner to Advanced, available at Udemy
- Windows Server 2016: Configure Hyper-V, available at Lynda
- Windows Server 2016: Virtualization, available at edX
23. Automotive services, parts and design
Related Jobs: Vehicle Engineer ($96,500), Industrial Designer ($63,600)
- Learning CATIA v5, available at Lynda
- Industrial CATIA V5 R20: Deep Learning All In One from A- Z, available at Udemy
- Alias Essential Training, available at Lynda
- Emerging Automotive Technologies, $1,260, available at edX
- Insights on Automotive Design with Veejay Gahir, available at Lynda
24. Economics
Related Jobs: Business Development Manager ($99,000), Auditor ($56,000), Research Analyst ($56,400)
- Managerial Economics, available at Lynda
- Introduction to Managerial Economics, available at edX
- Managerial Economics and Business Analysis Specialization, available at Coursera
- Macroeconometric Forecasting, available at edX
- Applied Economic Forecasting with Big Data, available at Lynda
- Blockchain Basics, available at Lynda
- The Basics of Blockchain, available at Udemy
25. Database Management and Software
Related Jobs: Database Specialist ($53,000), Database Administrator ($91,000)
- Database Foundations: Administration, available at Lynda
- Database Management Essentials, available at Coursera
- Microsoft SQL Server 2016: Installation and Administration, available at Lynda
- Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Certification (70-764), available at Udemy
- Oracle 12c Database: Administration, available at Lynda
- Oracle DBA 11g/12c - Database Administration for Junior DBA, available at Udemy
- Oracle 12c Multitenant Architecture Administration, available at Udemy