Top 10 in demand freelance skills in 2020
So make 2020 resolution to learn a new
skill that is beneficial for you.
You can choose from this list of the top 10 skills that are going to be
in high demand for freelancers in 2020. Some of the skills are the ones you
might expect to be fairly common by now. But you’ll be surprised to know that
there aren’t many freelancers out there who are adept at them.
1. Virtual Assistant
The name is pretty explanatory for this one. The trend of hiring virtual
assistant freelancers has only recently caught on. But don’t think that being
an assistant isn’t a skill that doesn’t require any training or specialization!
You need to brush up on several skills under the broader term of
‘Virtual Assistant’, such as excellent communication skills. Since you won’t be meeting
and discussing tasks in person, you must understand all the information
virtually to keep things running smoothly. You also need to be well-versed in
executing administrative tasks such as conference calls and writing letters and
emails.
2. Writing and Editing
There is always someone out there who needs you to write a term paper, news, article, script – the list goes on. This is
why polishing up on your writing skills will never let you down. With the huge
demand for fresh content, you’ll never run out of writing projects any time
soon.
Even if you don’t want to be the one writing, you can always edit.
However, editing is not to be taken lightly. You need a sharp eye and extreme
attention to detail. Chances are, people aren’t going to send you small
articles to edit. Instead, it’ll be more like entire books and play manuals!
And not to mention, you’ll have to stick to a deadline as well because most
documents are time-sensitive affairs.
One thing about writing and editing is that it gets easier over time.
The more you do it, the less time you’ll take.
3. Graphic Design
With the rise of the start-up culture,
there is a great demand for freelance graphic designers. This is because start-ups
prefer hiring designers who are willing to work on a project basis.
But
you might be scared to venture into graphic designing because you’re thinking,
“I’m not creative at all”. However, lucky for you, you don’t have to be!
Graphic designing is a skill after all, and any skill can be learned.
You
need to focus on strengthening your knowledge about design principles. There
are also numerous applications that you should be proficient in, like Adobe
InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. And for those who naturally have an eye
for design, then they should hone that skill to take on freelancing projects.
One
important thing for freelance graphic designers is that they need to
build up a portfolio for themselves. That’s what companies are going to look at
and decide if they want you or not. So put together a portfolio of your top 4-6
design projects.
4. Spread sheets
With spread sheets, companies have to sift through rows and
rows of data to find something meaningful. That is a very time-consuming
process, which is why they prefer outsourcing the task to
freelancers. Knowing how to work spread sheets is the one skill that never
seems to go out of style.
As
long as the data remains relevant (which is always), spread sheets are going to
stick around. Data is the most precious currency, so anyone who can organize,
present and analyse data is a highly valuable asset.
In
short, you need to be able to uncover valuable insights from the heaps of data.
Here’s
a list of some functions you need to brush up on if you’re learning
spreadsheets for freelancing:
1. Pivot tables
2. VLOOKUPS and HLOOKUPS
3. Index and Match
4. If with And / Or
5. Sum and Average
6. What-If analysis
5. Customer Service
Customer
satisfaction is at the heart of a company’s success. And to ensure such
satisfaction, several companies provide 24/7 support. This means they’re always
looking for customer service representatives who are willing to work at odd
hours, usually after the regular 9 to 5 workdays. So if you’re willing to most
likely work through the night, this might just be the one for you.
Keep
in mind that customer service requires a lot of training. You have to first
understand what the company does, what they’re selling, all possible solutions
to a client’s problem, and so on.
You
also need to learn skills such as:
·
Effective
and clear communication
·
Negotiation
·
Problem-solving
ability
·
Ability
to deal with tricky situations and difficult clients
Apart
from all these, a key skill for any customer service representative is knowing
how to extract valuable information from the random information customers throw
at them. Customers might not communicate their problems to you. But you need to
be skilful enough to understand what they’re trying to say. It sounds tricky,
doesn’t it? This is why opting for customer service isn’t for everyone.
6. Online Video Creation
A major chunk of online marketers uses
video content since it’s more engaging. But creating such appealing videos is
no easy task. It requires learning several applications, the most prominent one
being DaVinci Resolve.
You
also need to constantly keep learning, because there’s always some new trend
that attracts more engagement. For example, the current trend that is
continuing into 2020 is motion graphics.
Moreover,
video creation is also linked to social media marketing. With the continuous
popularity of platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, companies require video
content that specifically targets social media. So as a freelancer, you can
choose to market yourself, either as an online video creator or specifically as
a social media video creator.
Similar
to graphic design, freelancers learning the video creation skill need to make a
portfolio for themselves. This should include 2-3 of their best-produced
videos.
If
you don’t want to create videos, you can instead choose to edit them. There
exist many jobs for freelancers who know how to edit videos. While this
requires the same knowledge of software and tools, it also requires additional
expertise. You need to have an eye for detail. This includes noticing and
fixing the smallest of things such as the alignment of elements etc.
7. Relational Databases
Big
data is all the rage these days. But there aren’t many experts out there who
know how to properly deal with such huge volumes of complex data. Big data
analytics is one of the scarcest skills found out there. This is why businesses
are going to be looking for independent contractors who are experts in
relational databases.
Keep
in mind that this is an extremely technical skill. So jump in only if you know
you can see it through to the end. Freelancing in relational databases involves
storing and analysing data to help businesses with key decisions. However,
you’ll be working with powerful tools to manage data without having to rely on
programmers.
You’ll
need to learn software such as MS Access. Being proficient in SQL is the
minimum requirement if you’re thinking of venturing into databases. Lucky for
you, there are several free courses online that provide a piece of in-depth
knowledge about relational databases and their applications.
8. Accounting and Bookkeeping
This
might come as a surprise to most because why hire someone when you could just
use accounting software instead. However, there’s still plenty that software
cannot do. For example, tax codes and deductions are an enigma that you can’t
solve using the software. Moreover, some small businesses simply can’t afford
to invest in software. This is why freelancers who provide accounting services
continue to be in demand.
As a
freelance accountant, you will have to carry out mundane tasks such as
supervising, examining and recording the cash flows of your client. All this
work can become boring after a while. So only opt to freelance in accounting if
you’re excited about it. Otherwise, you’ll start to regret it after a point.
Freelancing
in accounting and bookkeeping requires great attention to detail. Moreover,
you’ll need to be extremely punctual in regularly updating the books so you’re ready for tax
day. If you’re great at setting and then sticking to a budget, then you should
look for bookkeeping opportunities.
9. Block chain Development
Block
chain development has become the hottest skill in the market. Believe it or
not, there’s been a 6000% hike in the requirement graph for block chain
development. Since there don’t exist enough Block chain experts so far, there
is a huge opportunity here for freelancers.
However,
block chain development is a skill that you should only venture into if you are
technically sound. There’s a long list of languages you need to be comfortable
with if you want to opt for this particular skill. C++, C#, SQL, JQuery, HTML,
XML, and CSS are just the basic requirements on the road to honing the block
chain development skill.
You
can also narrow down your offering even within the block chain development. Figure out if there’s one aspect
you’re good at or want to stick to. For example, you can choose to excel at
either creating prototypes or full-blown applications. But before deciding,
make sure to go online and check if there are enough job opportunities for what
you choose. Even if you’re great at creating prototypes, you might not want to
choose that if there aren’t enough jobs for it.
10. Low Code Development
According
to Gartner, mobile apps are projected to have the most impact on business
success by 2020. This is why enterprises are now focusing on building
apps that are optimized for mobiles specifically.
To
do so, they need to hire specialists who are familiar with low-code development
tools. So if you’re going to look into this skill, you need to master software
solutions such as Salesforce Lightning. Again, this is one of the more technical
skills in demand for the upcoming year. Make sure you can keep up before you
choose to freelance as a low-code developer.
Another
thing to keep in mind is the work environment you’re getting into. Low code
development is a very fast-paced environment. You’ll have to collaborate with
other professionals to rapidly create and deploy applications. While that is an
exciting place to work in for some, others might not be up to the task. So keep
that in mind if you choose to grow your resume as a low code developer.
Time to Choose Skill!
With
the year wrapping up, it’s time to move on to newer things – like a new skill
perhaps! There’s a wide array of skills you can choose from, ranging from
technical skills to some soft skills as well.
One
thing you have to keep in mind is that each skill has its own set of
challenges. Some require knowledge of several software applications, whereas
others simply need someone detail-oriented and whatnot. So don’t dive in
blindly into a skill without reading up on it a little. If you end up choosing
the wrong skill, you might feel a bit overwhelmed.
Now
that you have a whole list of skills that are high demand in 2020, which one
are you going to select?
So make 2020 resolution to learn a new skill that is beneficial for you.
You can choose from this list of the top 10 skills that are going to be
in high demand for freelancers in 2020. Some of the skills are the ones you
might expect to be fairly common by now. But you’ll be surprised to know that
there aren’t many freelancers out there who are adept at them.
1. Virtual Assistant
The name is pretty explanatory for this one. The trend of hiring virtual
assistant freelancers has only recently caught on. But don’t think that being
an assistant isn’t a skill that doesn’t require any training or specialization!
You need to brush up on several skills under the broader term of
‘Virtual Assistant’, such as excellent communication skills. Since you won’t be meeting
and discussing tasks in person, you must understand all the information
virtually to keep things running smoothly. You also need to be well-versed in
executing administrative tasks such as conference calls and writing letters and
emails.
2. Writing and Editing
There is always someone out there who needs you to write a term paper, news, article, script – the list goes on. This is
why polishing up on your writing skills will never let you down. With the huge
demand for fresh content, you’ll never run out of writing projects any time
soon.
Even if you don’t want to be the one writing, you can always edit.
However, editing is not to be taken lightly. You need a sharp eye and extreme
attention to detail. Chances are, people aren’t going to send you small
articles to edit. Instead, it’ll be more like entire books and play manuals!
And not to mention, you’ll have to stick to a deadline as well because most
documents are time-sensitive affairs.
One thing about writing and editing is that it gets easier over time.
The more you do it, the less time you’ll take.
3. Graphic Design
With the rise of the start-up culture,
there is a great demand for freelance graphic designers. This is because start-ups
prefer hiring designers who are willing to work on a project basis.
But
you might be scared to venture into graphic designing because you’re thinking,
“I’m not creative at all”. However, lucky for you, you don’t have to be!
Graphic designing is a skill after all, and any skill can be learned.
You
need to focus on strengthening your knowledge about design principles. There
are also numerous applications that you should be proficient in, like Adobe
InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. And for those who naturally have an eye
for design, then they should hone that skill to take on freelancing projects.
One
important thing for freelance graphic designers is that they need to
build up a portfolio for themselves. That’s what companies are going to look at
and decide if they want you or not. So put together a portfolio of your top 4-6
design projects.
4. Spread sheets
With spread sheets, companies have to sift through rows and
rows of data to find something meaningful. That is a very time-consuming
process, which is why they prefer outsourcing the task to
freelancers. Knowing how to work spread sheets is the one skill that never
seems to go out of style.
As
long as the data remains relevant (which is always), spread sheets are going to
stick around. Data is the most precious currency, so anyone who can organize,
present and analyse data is a highly valuable asset.
In
short, you need to be able to uncover valuable insights from the heaps of data.
Here’s
a list of some functions you need to brush up on if you’re learning
spreadsheets for freelancing:
1. Pivot tables
2. VLOOKUPS and HLOOKUPS
3. Index and Match
4. If with And / Or
5. Sum and Average
6. What-If analysis
5. Customer Service
Customer
satisfaction is at the heart of a company’s success. And to ensure such
satisfaction, several companies provide 24/7 support. This means they’re always
looking for customer service representatives who are willing to work at odd
hours, usually after the regular 9 to 5 workdays. So if you’re willing to most
likely work through the night, this might just be the one for you.
Keep
in mind that customer service requires a lot of training. You have to first
understand what the company does, what they’re selling, all possible solutions
to a client’s problem, and so on.
You
also need to learn skills such as:
·
Effective
and clear communication
·
Negotiation
·
Problem-solving
ability
·
Ability
to deal with tricky situations and difficult clients
Apart
from all these, a key skill for any customer service representative is knowing
how to extract valuable information from the random information customers throw
at them. Customers might not communicate their problems to you. But you need to
be skilful enough to understand what they’re trying to say. It sounds tricky,
doesn’t it? This is why opting for customer service isn’t for everyone.
6. Online Video Creation
A major chunk of online marketers uses
video content since it’s more engaging. But creating such appealing videos is
no easy task. It requires learning several applications, the most prominent one
being DaVinci Resolve.
You
also need to constantly keep learning, because there’s always some new trend
that attracts more engagement. For example, the current trend that is
continuing into 2020 is motion graphics.
Moreover,
video creation is also linked to social media marketing. With the continuous
popularity of platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, companies require video
content that specifically targets social media. So as a freelancer, you can
choose to market yourself, either as an online video creator or specifically as
a social media video creator.
Similar
to graphic design, freelancers learning the video creation skill need to make a
portfolio for themselves. This should include 2-3 of their best-produced
videos.
If
you don’t want to create videos, you can instead choose to edit them. There
exist many jobs for freelancers who know how to edit videos. While this
requires the same knowledge of software and tools, it also requires additional
expertise. You need to have an eye for detail. This includes noticing and
fixing the smallest of things such as the alignment of elements etc.
7. Relational Databases
Big
data is all the rage these days. But there aren’t many experts out there who
know how to properly deal with such huge volumes of complex data. Big data
analytics is one of the scarcest skills found out there. This is why businesses
are going to be looking for independent contractors who are experts in
relational databases.
Keep
in mind that this is an extremely technical skill. So jump in only if you know
you can see it through to the end. Freelancing in relational databases involves
storing and analysing data to help businesses with key decisions. However,
you’ll be working with powerful tools to manage data without having to rely on
programmers.
You’ll
need to learn software such as MS Access. Being proficient in SQL is the
minimum requirement if you’re thinking of venturing into databases. Lucky for
you, there are several free courses online that provide a piece of in-depth
knowledge about relational databases and their applications.
8. Accounting and Bookkeeping
This
might come as a surprise to most because why hire someone when you could just
use accounting software instead. However, there’s still plenty that software
cannot do. For example, tax codes and deductions are an enigma that you can’t
solve using the software. Moreover, some small businesses simply can’t afford
to invest in software. This is why freelancers who provide accounting services
continue to be in demand.
As a
freelance accountant, you will have to carry out mundane tasks such as
supervising, examining and recording the cash flows of your client. All this
work can become boring after a while. So only opt to freelance in accounting if
you’re excited about it. Otherwise, you’ll start to regret it after a point.
Freelancing
in accounting and bookkeeping requires great attention to detail. Moreover,
you’ll need to be extremely punctual in regularly updating the books so you’re ready for tax
day. If you’re great at setting and then sticking to a budget, then you should
look for bookkeeping opportunities.
9. Block chain Development
Block
chain development has become the hottest skill in the market. Believe it or
not, there’s been a 6000% hike in the requirement graph for block chain
development. Since there don’t exist enough Block chain experts so far, there
is a huge opportunity here for freelancers.
However,
block chain development is a skill that you should only venture into if you are
technically sound. There’s a long list of languages you need to be comfortable
with if you want to opt for this particular skill. C++, C#, SQL, JQuery, HTML,
XML, and CSS are just the basic requirements on the road to honing the block
chain development skill.
You
can also narrow down your offering even within the block chain development. Figure out if there’s one aspect
you’re good at or want to stick to. For example, you can choose to excel at
either creating prototypes or full-blown applications. But before deciding,
make sure to go online and check if there are enough job opportunities for what
you choose. Even if you’re great at creating prototypes, you might not want to
choose that if there aren’t enough jobs for it.
10. Low Code Development
According
to Gartner, mobile apps are projected to have the most impact on business
success by 2020. This is why enterprises are now focusing on building
apps that are optimized for mobiles specifically.
To
do so, they need to hire specialists who are familiar with low-code development
tools. So if you’re going to look into this skill, you need to master software
solutions such as Salesforce Lightning. Again, this is one of the more technical
skills in demand for the upcoming year. Make sure you can keep up before you
choose to freelance as a low-code developer.
Another
thing to keep in mind is the work environment you’re getting into. Low code
development is a very fast-paced environment. You’ll have to collaborate with
other professionals to rapidly create and deploy applications. While that is an
exciting place to work in for some, others might not be up to the task. So keep
that in mind if you choose to grow your resume as a low code developer.
Time to Choose Skill!
With
the year wrapping up, it’s time to move on to newer things – like a new skill
perhaps! There’s a wide array of skills you can choose from, ranging from
technical skills to some soft skills as well.
One
thing you have to keep in mind is that each skill has its own set of
challenges. Some require knowledge of several software applications, whereas
others simply need someone detail-oriented and whatnot. So don’t dive in
blindly into a skill without reading up on it a little. If you end up choosing
the wrong skill, you might feel a bit overwhelmed.
Now
that you have a whole list of skills that are high demand in 2020, which one
are you going to select?
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