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Gone are the days when an engineer sits at his/her workstation and works on his/her own.
In 2022, as companies opt for a hybrid work model where you can’t see your colleagues every day and you are communicating digitally, strong communication skills become extremely important, notes Narayan Mahadevan, founder, BridgeLabz.
Experiential learning is one of the most engaging and effective forms of learning.
It is an integration of theory and application where tech talent can put in the time to practice their skills and learn the nuances of the latest technologies.
This type of learning offers practical implications of the knowledge with constant feedback from the mentors to strengthen the areas of improvement.
In 2022, when there is a huge skill gap in the existing talent pool, it is essential for companies and individuals to spend time gaining the required skills through experiential learning.
It will not only help the professionals grow in their career but the companies will also get the desired results with a workforce that is competent in different fields.
These are five experiential learning skills that are a must-have for every engineering and IT professional:
1. Communication skills
Every engineer must possess effective communication skills along with technical knowledge.
This can be easily acquired through experiential learning.
Recruiters often look for this combination as they expect the talent to communicate within their department and team members for a smooth workflow.
Gone are the days when an engineer sits at his/her workstation and works on his/her own.
Today, companies expect all employees to have the ability to lead and work on presentations. You are required to co-ordinate and manage tasks with team mates and fellow departments as well. For all this, effective communication skills are a must.
In 2022, we may see more companies go for a hybrid work model. In such a scenario, where you can’t see your colleagues every day and you are communicating digitally, strong communication skills become extremely important.
2. Interpersonal skills
Interpersonal skills and communication skills are closely related.
An employee is expected to mingle with colleagues and maintain a sound relationship with all.
When a talent has good interpersonal skills, he/she is in a position to resolve conflicts effectively when in need, manage the team, and maintain strong relationships to move ahead in their career.
Interpersonal skills have gained more importance ever since the outbreak of the pandemic because companies need teams that have the ability to understand each other even remotely and work efficiently in the absence of physical proximity with people.
3. Problem solving and critical thinking
There may be instances at work when a challenging problem is likely to crop up. In such scenarios, the talent must be in a position to think right and resolve the issue efficiently.
For this, the talent need not necessarily think out of the box, he/she needs to organise their thoughts and put them into action in the perfect way.
In IT companies, it is an essential skill to be able to think on your feet and solve problems. The companies are looking for such talent more than ever before.
4. Ability to apply practical knowledge
Experiential learning is all about practical knowledge rather than theoretical expertise because that is what will help bridge the skill gap that exists among tech talent.
You must have a first-hand experience of working on core concepts that were taught to you/learned by you.
Practical knowledge goes a long way in professional growth.
At a time when the IT sector is in a hiring war, such talent is gold for the companies. Companies would do anything to retain such employees.
5. Enthusiasm, Commitment, and Motivation
Last but not the least, enthusiasm towards work, motivation to complete an assignment and commitment towards work is an integral part of any job profile.
Recruiters analyse this skill based on the knowledge of the subject matter possessed by the talent.
Also, when a talent displays a desire to learn and work on new things, it tends to leave a good impression on the recruiter.
Today IT companies are offering tremendous hikes and promotions to acquire talent that meets all the above requirements.
The combination of experiential learning and technology will safeguard today’s learners to succeed in an uncertain future. Adding these skills is going to benefit professionals immensely in today’s hiring climate.
