Last year’s quarantines and remote working emphasised our reliance on technology thanks to the tools we used that allowed us to communicate and cooperate despite the distance we had to maintain. This will likely keep the demand up for tech talent as businesses push increased automation, digitisation and digital transformation. As such, here is a list of in-demand tech skills for 2021

Information security 

In the current digital age, information security is a risk driver. All kinds of businesses that collect information from their customers or handle sensitive data are always at risk of external breaches. And because information security requires a particular skillset and a shortage of people trained in this specific area, this skill is highly coveted today and will be in high demand for the foreseeable future. 

Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence continues to be a highly-sought skill in the tech industry. AI technology is being implemented among many sectors nowadays like healthcare, banking, transportation, and retail, to name a few. Because of this, tech firms all over the world are competing for the best talent in AI and ML. No wonder then that the demand for people skilled in artificial intelligence continues to rise.

Data Analysis

To improve strategies and bring greater accuracy to decision-making, industries make use of Big Data. It refers to large and diverse sets of information that continue to grow. That’s why data analysis and data science skills are required to make sense of these chunks of information that industries like banking, manufacturing, and professional services, among others, base and optimise their strategies around. 

Virtual and Augmented Reality

Virtual and augmented reality – collectively known as Extended Reality – is on the rise as one of the most in-demand skills in the tech industry. Many industries use this technology, like healthcare, automotive, architecture, tourism, and it is expected that more will follow in the coming years. But while demand is increasing, job searches are decreasing, implying fewer candidates who have this skill are looking for work. This is an excellent opportunity for those who want to learn VR and AR to fill in those gaps.

Collaboration

Collaborating well with others is also a sought-after skill. When you work in a team, cooperating and collaborating with your team members can make a difference. You can exchange ideas and develop new solutions that can give you an edge in a fast-paced industry.

Communication

Good communication skills are always a must, especially in the highly collaborative tech industry. You need to communicate well with your team to solve tech issues or convey your ideas well. You would also need to talk to your clients and adequately translate all the technical jargon into terms that they can understand. With good communication skills, you’re sure to succeed in the tech industry.

Agile Mindset

Beginning as a manifesto for software development, the Agile mindset has been adopted and embedded as a philosophy into the business world since it can be easily applied to any kind of work. Even two decades later, the Agile mindset and its 12 principles still remain relevant for many organisations worldwide, and that’s why many companies look for skilled tech professionals who have an agile mindset that can adapt and thrive in the industry.   

New technologies are being researched and developed every day. So whether you’re looking to get into the tech industry or searching for new talent to add to your team, the willingness to learn combined with the skills above will make for a tech talent superstar. 

Possess any of those in-demand skills? Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

In this fast-paced and highly competitive modern age where everyone is clambering to get to the top, we tend to overwork ourselves. This results in stress and burnout and these greatly affect productivity. With stress comes fatigue, we become listless and unfocused and our work performance could drastically degrade. It also affects us emotionally, turning us irritable and impulsive, negatively affecting our relationships.

A simple solution to this is meditation. Wellness experts have touted the benefits of meditation and there have been studies conducted that proved its helpfulness. People who have incorporated meditative breaks into their daily routine swear by their boosted productivity as proof. But what exactly does meditation entail?

Meditation and Mindfulness

Like our physical bodies need sleep to rest, our minds need a break too. We are told that we should treat our brain as a muscle and constantly exercise it to keep it active and alert. But like any muscle, it needs to recuperate so it can perform well again when we need to use it. And a good way to rest our brain is through meditation.

Meditation is simply an act of spending time in silent contemplation. It is a state of mind where you think about nothing (harder to do than it sounds) to relax and find peace. Mindfulness, meanwhile, is a state where you focus your awareness on the present moment, what you feel, your thoughts, and bodily sensations. 

Meditation and mindfulness go together in resting your mind. By meditating, you clear your mind of everything. No worrying about tasks to be done or people to call. And once you clear your mind, you can slip into the state of mindfulness. With no more thoughts crowding and distracting you, you start to be more aware of the present. so how can sitting quietly and thinking of nothing benefit you?

Benefits of Meditation

According to studies, meditation has several benefits, particularly to brain functions. It improves cognition because it enhances our focus, memory and attention span, leading to better problem-solving and decision-making. 

It can also recharge both body and mind, with one study pointing out that meditating works better than a nap in restoring energy and recharging the synapses in our brains. Participants who meditated performed better compared to their counterparts who merely took a nap.

Meditation is also a great stress reliever, as it directly counteracts stress and burnout. And less stress makes for a happier worker. It also enhances empathy, compassion and curbs impulsive emotional responses, which can improve your relationships with the people around you.

All these benefits point to, you guessed it, a boost to productivity. Enhanced cognition, revived energy, and stress reliever leads to a happier person leads to a more productive workday.

Incorporating Meditation Into Your Daily Routine

The good thing about meditation and mindfulness is that you don’t need any equipment or do a lot of work. the most important thing is to concentrate on your breathing. You don’t even have to do it for so long. A short 5-minute meditation break is enough to revive your brain and body.

Find a comfortable spot with no distractions, sit with your back straight, close your eyes, and breathe. Relax and stop thinking. Focusing on your breaths will help slow down whatever turmoil is in your mind.

If you have trouble concentrating at first, don’t worry. You can try guided meditation audios that are readily available online. Consistency is key. With practice, you’ll soon get the hang of it and can concentrate on your meditation.

Find more productivity tips and information from us at Redwolf + Rosch. We also offer recruitment and HR consulting services. Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.

Like all types of planning in life, career planning is never straightforward. There are various things to consider and potential obstacles waiting at every step of the way. But just like all changes we want to make in our life, we always have to take the first step. And believe it or not, no matter how off-putting you think the idea is, part of that first step is professional networking.

What is Professional Networking?

Networking is when you’re building a network of relationships that are mutually beneficial. Therefore, professional networking is when you’re building professional relationships that are mutually beneficial for all involved professional careers. The people in a network don’t necessarily have to be in the same field, but in other fields too. What’s important is that you can use this network to ask favours and help them in return.

Now that we got that covered, let’s take a look at its benefits and why it plays a significant role in a successful career plan.

Benefits of Professional Networking

Find new opportunities.

First and foremost, professional networking helps you find new opportunities for your career. Not all opportunities are actively advertised. That is why going out and talking to people who know about them is the perfect way to learn about these new opportunities that may be perfect for your career. 

Learn new ideas.

Professional networking is an excellent avenue for sharing and learning new ideas. You are in a room full of like-minded professionals who are experienced in their fields. These are people who may have gone through the same career hurdles as you and may offer their own ideas on how they overcame their own. In the same way, you may strengthen your professional relationships by sharing your own ideas you have learned throughout your career.

Boost your confidence.

Personally, networking creates a positive impact on your confidence. After all, you are talking to people, mingling with them, and establishing mutually beneficial relationships. It’s a task that overall increases your confidence and growth as a person and a professional.

Raise your profile.

Attending professional networking events makes you visible to the professional community. You get to speak with people, share your own ideas, and become a reliable part of their network as they are to yours. This basically builds and raises your profile, making you stand out to potential employers.

Build long-lasting personal relationships.

While your primary goal in professional networking is to build professional relationships, along the way, you may also meet people that you can connect with personally. Keep in mind that some of the longest-standing relationships stem from work. Here, you may find individuals with the same goals and interests as you, paving the way for strong and lasting friendships.

Tips on How to Get Started with Professional Networking

There are plenty of places where you can start professional networking. Some of the common places include:

• Networking events 
• Meetup groups (https://www.meetup.com/ )
• Conferences and expos
• High School and University  alumni clubs
• Online social media sites for professionals (e.g., LinkedIn)

Before attending any of these events, always prepare first. Establish a goal, so you have a set of directions when you arrive. For instance, who do you want to meet? Are there people you want to be introduced to? Next, don’t forget to whip up an elevator pitch to get the attention of potential connections. Finally, relax and be yourself. Networking is meant to be fun! 

Ready to get started with your professional network? Start the conversation with the best IT recruitment consultants in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Brisbane by emailing office@redwolfrosch.com.au or calling 1300 544 652.