4 Tech Skills to Become More Relevant in 2021

Table of Contents

• Most Popular Skills to Learn in 2020
• Which Tech Skills To Learn in 2021
• How to Learn UX Design, Product Management, AI, and Cybersecurity for 2021
• Predictions for 2021: Remote Work Continues!

Which tech skills will get you noticed by employers in 2021 and how can you quickly add them to your skills toolbox? We caught up with three experts from BrainStation to hear their predictions of the 4 top tech trends to expect in 2021 and which tech skills to focus on in order to stay relevant next year. Plus, BrainStation shares how anyone can acquire a new skill set in 2021 even while working full-time!

Meet our Experts:

• Jason Field, CEO of Brainstation

• Calina Ammache, BrainStation’s Director of Education 

• Jennifer McCuaig, BrainStation’s Director of Learning Experience

Most Popular Skills to Learn in 2020

The Bottom Line: Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Cybersecurity, and Leadership

What were the most popular skills to learn at BrainStation in 2020?

Jennifer: Our two most popular courses in 2020 were Data Analytics and Digital Marketing, which given the context of this past year, makes a lot of sense. Many organizations were forced to accelerate digital transformation initiatives during the pandemic, including adopting new, data-driven digital marketing channels.

Overall we saw a massive surge in demand for our online courses in data, design, development, product management, and marketing. A global digital skills gap already existed, and clearly, this past year further increased the importance of these skills. 

What were the biggest tech trends in 2020? 

Jason: The use of data and data science was essential in 2020. Data allows organizations across industries to take the guesswork out of decision-making in all aspects of their business, including product development, design, marketing, and even hiring. We also saw the continued rise of machine learning and artificial intelligence, both of which are underpinned by data science. 

Did your school start teaching any new skills in 2020?

Jennifer: Two of our newer and extremely popular courses help professionals take on leadership roles. We offer a Digital Leadership and Innovation course, which is designed to teach individuals how to harness technology and drive digital transformation in their business. Another popular course is Cybersecurity, which was created to equip professionals and teams with an understanding of the threat landscape, security best practices, techniques, and technology.

Which Tech Skills To Learn in 2021

Bottom Line: It’s all about UX Design, Project Management, and Artificial Intelligence

What is another skill set that will help bootcampers take their career to the next level in 2021?

Calina: Apart from data and digital marketing skills, I believe that an understanding of user experience (UX) design and product management is an increasingly important skillset to have. Over the past year, entire industries have adopted a digital-first approach, which has obviously made the user experience of digital websites and applications absolutely essential. Put simply, if you are not giving your customers a good user experience, they will go elsewhere. Professionals that have UX design skills will be increasingly counted on to play a key role in organizational strategy, product development, and more. By adopting design thinking, they’ll also be able to approach problems and opportunities from an altogether different lens, which can drive innovation in your company and boost efficiency.  

What tech trends do you expect to see in 2021?

Jason: Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to make its presence felt, with everything from Uber and Netflix to Siri, Google and Amazon Go relying on that technology to provide great user experiences. 2020 might have actually accelerated investment in this area, and AI automation is now estimated to create 70 million jobs in the next ten years. 

Cybersecurity will also continue to be increasingly important. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, global cybercrime damages could surpass $6 trillion annually by next year, which is one of the reasons why there are an estimated 28,000 new Information Security Analysts jobs expected in the next five years. 

How to Learn UX Design, Product Management, AI, and Cybersecurity for 2021

What’s the fastest way to learn UX design and product management?

Calina: Brainstation offers certificate courses in UX Design, UI Design, and Product Management for those looking to build job-ready skills that can be quickly incorporated into their roles. For those looking to make a greater career change, we also offer a full-time UX Design bootcamp, which is designed to completely transform your skillset and prepare you for a career in design.  

How can a student learn AI and/or cybersecurity in 2021?

Jason: To be able to take advantage of these exciting opportunities in truly cutting-edge fields, a student has to develop data skills and gain first-hand experience with data analysis at a minimum. BrainStation offers a number of courses and bootcamps in areas that can help students develop job-ready skills, including certificate courses in Data Analytics, Data Science, Machine Learning, Python Programming, and Cybersecurity.

BrainStation also offers a full-time Data Science bootcamp, which equips students with hands-on experience and gives them the opportunity to build a standout portfolio of completed, real-world projects. 

What is your advice for those considering a bootcamp but working full-time? 

Jason: Digital skills training is the best investment you can make for your career progression. We’ve trained over 100,000 professionals around the world in the last 9 years, and a large percentage of those students were working full-time jobs. It’s certainly more challenging to do a bootcamp and work simultaneously, but it’s entirely doable and a great benefit to your career. 

To help our students, BrainStation offers live online courses at multiple times and in multiple time zones, allowing you to find a course that best fits your schedule and learning style. 

Predictions for 2021: Remote Work Continues!

Jason: Remote work will continue in 2021, at least for the foreseeable future. Even after vaccinations become readily available, it’s likely that more and more organizations will provide employees increased flexibility when it comes to remote work. 

Find out more and read BrainStation reviews on Course Report. This article was produced by the Course Report team in partnership with BrainStation.