//How to Close Your Data Skills Gap

How to Close Your Data Skills Gap

We’re facing an era of digital transformation.  

New technology enters the marketplace in a constant stream of innovation. Whether it’s software for your marketing team, or hardware for your IT group, new advances are driving the demand for tech talent.  

Data analytics is one area where the skills pool is running increasingly dry. According to a report by Marketing Week, 24.4% of marketers consider digital dexterity to be their biggest skills gap. Yet, at the same time, data analysis has emerged as one of the most critical skills in the modern workforce.  

The question for hiring managers is how to bridge this cavern between supply and demand.  

 

1. Implement the Right Leadership

 

 

The first step in filling the data skills gap is recognising that a new kind of team is necessary. Agility is critical in the current environment, at a time when technology is moving at record speed. In some industries, 29% of team members already feel their skills are redundant.  

Responding to change means implementing cultural and leadership strategies that promote growth in the workplace. This means working with recruitment departments to hire adaptable leaders in technology who embrace growth. 

 

2. Make Data Positions More Attractive

As digital experts and graduates continue to explore new data skills, the companies that thrive will be the ones who make their roles as attractive as possible. This means demonstrating that that there is a viable career path available for individuals that join your team. There are multiple ways to make positions more appealing. For instance: 

  • Highlight the importance of data in your job descriptions: Show how your candidates will impact your bottom line with statistics, tell them who they’ll be working with, and the critical tasks they’ll be doing each day.  
  • Show paths for development: Indicate that there’s a way forward with your business in the data field. Show opportunities for promotion, and personal development through access to data networking events and training sessions.  
  • Offer opportunities to use cutting-edge platforms: Name the tools your employees use in your job descriptions or give people a chance to test them during the interview process.  

  

 

3. Prioritise Team-Building Over Individual Recruitment

As everything from AI, to IoT, continues to change the state of marketing and business as we know it, it may be tough to find a single staff member who can provide all the skills you need. Even with the help of a specialist recruitment team, you may need to spread your requirements out across multiple members in a team, rather than looking for a single unicorn.  

Focusing on a diverse selection of individuals that you can bring together and empower may be the easiest way to transform your business. Diversity in hiring provides access to a broader set of skills from people with different backgrounds, and it also leads to more creative problem solving and planning in your company too.  

A diverse selection of people who supplement each other’s skills makes it easier to adapt to the rapid changes in the technology sector, as some employees will naturally be more predisposed to certain developments than others. One member of staff might instantly pick up on automation tools, while another adapts well to CRM technology updates.  

 

4. Inspire and Educate

 

Data Skills Gap

 

Finally, one issue that organisations may face in this data-driven world is the presence of marketing departments that use data, but don’t fully understand it. There are plenty of resources available to help with collecting and storing data, but your employees need to know how to take full advantage of the information they receive.  

Proper training and education are the difference between sending personalised emails to customers and dishing out messages with awkward “Hello [your name]” introductions. According to a Barclays study, 47% of UK businesses say they would increase productivity through digital skills training, but those companies still aren’t investing enough in education.  

Better training strategies lead to stronger results from your marketing.  

While there will always be new technology arriving in the field, the most competitive firms are the ones that access the skill to stay ahead of the data skills gap.  

 

Thanks  

Lee 

2022-08-16T14:46:11+00:00 Recruitment|