Changing skills and new ways of working were already having a significant impact on the way businesses sourced and hired their talent prior to Covid-19 — and the pandemic has only accelerated this dynamism. The traditional workplace is no longer in existence, and new models of work can be found everywhere. Skillsets that have not previously existed are in high demand, and diversity and inclusion in the workplace are more important than ever.

Hiring in a hybrid fashion

With almost every company reinventing the concept of 'where to work' and 'how to work,' hybrid work has become a "well-accepted business practice." Employees have expressed an interest in participating in such arrangements. Although many leaders prefer their teams to remain in the office, there are still many who do not.

The old notion that working from home was synonymous with wasting time is no longer valid. We can now accept the fact that hybrid work is the new norm. Additionally, deskless workers, who account for nearly 70% of the global workforce, are receiving new tools as well as greater freedom and flexibility.

Multiple skills are a 'must-have.'

Companies today have a pressing need to reskill and redeploy employees, and the learning and development market is responding more quickly than ever. Today, every single company executive is preoccupied with the issue of skills. Not only have companies been redeploying, relocating, and rethinking jobs and roles all over the world, but we now have a skills-centric mentality that has prompted CEOs and CFOs to consider what skills are lacking in their respective organizations' employee populations.

Interpersonal skills are also essential

Power Skills is one of the most talked-about learning and development issues in the business world today. It involves teaching people how to lead, work in teams and collaborate as well as how to communicate, tell stories, and think strategically. Power Skills are, in essence, skills such as empathy, forgiveness, humility, and awe, which are now recognized as the most powerful and long-lasting abilities in the business environment. Although these types of softer skills' were not widely discussed prior to the pandemic, we now understand that they are critical to achieving success.

Developing and learning these soft skills is a difficult process. Important abilities such as time management and strategic thinking do not come naturally to everyone. Every company has its own set of circumstances in which to develop these capabilities, and we must learn them together, in groups, and with leaders.

Employer branding

Employer branding (also known as a company's reputation), which was already important prior to the pandemic, has emerged as a critical recruiting and retention strategy this year as a result of the demand outstripping supply.

Not surprisingly, the more a candidate knows about your company, mission, culture, people, and purpose – and the more positive their impression is of your organization – the more likely they are to apply for a job, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, and to stay with your organization. A robust employer brand can result in a 28 percent reduction in turnover and a 50 percent reduction in cost per hire when compared to other organizations.

Conclusion

Change is unavoidable in any industry, no matter how established it is. Because of the pandemic, this is even more true now. Understanding current trends put you in a better position to face challenges head-on, recruit the best talent, and stay one step ahead of the competition in 2020 and beyond.