The Job Requirements For The Most In-Demand Jobs Today

Filling positions at your company can be a challenging task, especially for certain jobs that have a lot of responsibilities. Not only will you go through hundreds if not thousands of resumes to identify potential candidates, you’ll interview them over the phone and in person to make sure that they are a good fit. Even then, you will likely have competition from other companies who are looking to fill similar positions. Just because you offer a job to a candidate doesn’t mean that they will take it.  To aid your search, here is a detailed discussion of what requirements to look for as well as a few examples of some of the most in-demand jobs of today and what their requirements entail.

Importance Of Job Requirements

Knowing what’s required of a job is extremely important for both the employer and the employee. It makes the position more transparent, allows the recruitment process to go much more efficiently, and connects employers to employees that can do the work required of them.

For Employers

Knowing what the job requires is essential to hiring the right employee. If your job requirements are vague or too broad, you could hire an employee who may not be able to complete all of the work that you require of them. A complete listing of job requirements will help ensure that the resumes you get are actually for candidates who are qualified for the position.

For Job Seekers

Job seekers want to make the most use of their time. If they’re unsure of what the requirements of a certain job are, they won’t know whether they qualify for it or not. Most job seekers won’t want to waste their time trying to apply for a job they’re not qualified for. If they make it through to the interview process and only then realize they’re not qualified or don’t meet the requirements, they will have wasted valuable time that they could have used looking and interviewing for positions they are qualified for.

Elements Of Job Requirements

Job requirements are typically written in list form and contain a number of different elements. These elements can include the skill, knowledge, experience, education, and certifications required for the position. A more detailed breakdown of each follows:

Skill And Knowledge

Certain jobs require a specific set of skills or knowledge that are unique to the job. For example, an accountant needs to have knowledge about tax laws and regulations, while a software developer will need to have certain coding skills. Job candidates who don’t have the appropriate skills or knowledge for the position will most likely be unable to perform the job.

Work Experience

Skills and knowledge are important, but so is experience applying those skills and knowledge. Candidates who are very skilled and knowledgeable may be more prone to making errors or take too long to perform the job required of them if they have limited experience. The more experience someone has, the more capable they are of overcoming the potential challenges of the job since they are more likely to have faced such challenges before.

Quality Of Work

Not all experience is relevant to the job. Look a little closer at what the experience of a job candidate consists of. For example, someone who is applying for an accounting position could say that they have 10 years of experience. It is important to make sure that those 10 years are actually relevant to accounting. For example, they may be including six years of experience as a math teacher. While math is certainly relevant to accounting, being a teacher and being an accountant are quite different from one another.

Amount Of Work

The amount of work refers to the work experience a person has had that relates to the position you’re offering. Be specific about the amount of work experience you’re looking for. Requiring at least five years in the IT field is a lot different than requiring five years as a cybersecurity specialist in the IT field.

Educational Requirements

For some jobs, you may only require a high school diploma. If the job has a lot of responsibilities and requires substantial skills and knowledge, you may require a college degree as well. It all depends on the position you’re hiring for and what you would prefer in terms of educational requirements.

Equivalent Experience

Not all job candidates will meet the educational requirements, especially if you’re requiring a college degree. An equivalent experience refers to an alternative that will qualify them. For example, some job candidates may not have gone to college, but they may be self taught and be incredibly skilled or knowledgeable. You won’t want to miss out on such candidates. In such a case, you can require an equivalent experience; for example, you could require either a college degree or five years of experience working in a specific industry. You could also accept specific certifications in lieu of a degree or diploma.

Certifications

Certain positions require professional licensing or certification. For example, if you are hiring an accountant, you may need them to have their CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license. If the position requires certifications or licensing, you need to list them. Additionally, you can require certifications as an alternative to a college education for certain positions.

Job Requirements Of In-Demand Jobs

To give you an idea of what kind of job requirements to list when seeking to fill a position at your company, the following are some of the most in-demand jobs in a variety of industries and some of the common requirements employers seek when filling them.

Business

Some common business-related positions and their requirements as well as their typical pay include:

• Financial Advisors – ($90,530 median salary) Personal financial advisors advise their clients on everything from investments and retirement planning to insurance and more. Financial advisors must have a bachelor’s degree in accounting and will have an even better chance at securing the position with a master’s degree. Some employers may require CFP (Certified Financial Planner) certification as well.
• Market Research Analyst – ($62,560 median salary) Market research analysts analyze raw market and customer data for businesses of all types to gain insights into customers, predict trends, identify accurate pricing, and more. Although it’s possible to become a market research analyst with just a bachelor’s degree in marketing or economics (as long as you have strong math and analytical skills), many employers require a master’s degree.
• Project Manager – ($75,474 median salary) Project managers help supervise projects from beginning to end. They are typically responsible for establishing deadlines, delegating tasks, managing the budget, and ensuring clear communication between team members. While not all employers require a college degree, many do prefer a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Some even require project management professional certification. Because project managers are responsible for the completion of important projects, experience is typically required.
• Marketing Manager – ($81,078 median salary) Marketing managers need to have both creative and analytical skills to promote the products or services of their company. Generally, a bachelor’s degree in business administration or marketing is required. Some employers even require a master’s degree. Because of the position’s responsibilities, experience in marketing, sales, brand management, or advertising is also usually required.

Computer Science

Here are some of the more in-demand computer science positions and their requirements:

• Computer Software Engineer – ($102,280 median salary) Companies of all sizes need computer software engineers to help design and refine  all kinds of software programs. A bachelor’s degree in computer science is typically required, as are strong computer programming skills (that vary based on the specifics of the job).
• Software Developers – ($103,560 median salary) Software developers design, develop, and test software programs. A bachelor’s degree in computer science or software engineering is required. In some cases, certification may be needed as well. Specific coding skills may be required based on the type of app or program you’re using or developing.
• Information Technology (IT) Manager – ($139,22 median salary) IT managers are responsible for managing a company’s IT and computer systems, controlling and evaluating the company’s IT, and managing the IT staff. In most cases,IT managers will need a bachelor’s degree in computer science and experience with managing personnel as well as with technical management and information analysis.

Medical And Health Care

Employers seek these requirements when filling these highly sought after positions in the medical and health care industry:

• Registered Nurse  – ($68,450 median salary) The senior population is expected to explode soon, not only because their generation is quite large, but also because people are living longer than ever. An increasing demand will spring up for registered nurses in many different settings, including physician’s offices, schools, hospitals, clinics, and more. Either an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in nursing is required although certification from an accredited allied health nursing program is also usually accepted. Once a person has obtained a degree or certification, they will also need to be licensed by passing the NCLEX-RN exam.
• Pharmacy Technician – ($30,920 median salary) Pharmacy technicians dispense prescription medications at pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and other health care settings. They must have a high school diploma and in most states will also need to be certified through a pharmacy technician program.
• Biomedical Engineer – ($85,620 median salary) Biomedical engineers develop health care-related equipment, devices, computer systems, and software programs. It’s a position that requires specific knowledge in healthcare, science, technology, mathematics, and engineering. The job requires a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering or bioengineering.
• Skin Care Specialist – ($30,270) Skin care specialists work at spas, salons, and clinics. To become a skincare specialist, certification from an accredited cosmetology or esthetician program is usually required. Additionally, all states except for Connecticut require licensing.
• Fitness Trainer – ($38,160) Health awareness in general has increased over the years, resulting in a higher demand for fitness trainers. While the job requirements are not nearly as strict as the requirements for other health care-related jobs, fitness trainers  must have a high school diploma or the equivalent, and must be certified.

Skilled Trade Jobs

These are just a few of the skilled trade jobs and the requirements a candidate needs to qualify for them:

• Heavy Truck Driver – ($42,480 median salary) Heavy truck drivers are responsible for transporting goods from one place to another, often through multiple states. A high school diploma is required. Heavy truck drivers must also attend professional truck driving school, have a commercial driver’s license, and complete short-term training on the job.
• Carpenter – ($45,170 median salary) Carpenters generally receive on-the-job training through an apprenticeship or obtain a degree from a vocational school. A high school diploma or the equivalent is sometimes required. For larger construction jobs, employers may require a certain amount of experience. Most states also require some form of licensing.
• Plumber – ($52,590 median salary) Plumbers are responsible for inspecting, repairing, and replacing plumbing systems and fixtures. A high school diploma or the equivalent is sometimes required. For basic plumbing jobs, no experience is necessary since on-the-job training is usually done via an apprenticeship; however, there are plumbing programs available at vocational schools. For major plumbing projects, plumbers will need experience. Following an apprenticeship, a journeyman plumbing license will be needed.
• Electrician – ($54,110 median salary) Electricians install, maintain, repair, and replace electrical power, lighting, and communications systems. They can gain employment through an apprenticeship (as long as they have a high school diploma or the equivalent) or by earning a degree from a technical school.

Job Requirements Shift Dramatically Across Each Industry

Job requirements don’t just consist of a college education and work experience. They vary greatly from one industry to another. In some cases, a college education is a must, such as in the medical and health care industry. In others, such as the computer science industry, it’s all about the skills and experience. It’s important to know what the position you’re hiring for entails so that you can list the proper job requirements. This may require you to speak with your department heads, with colleagues who have filled other similar positions, or with recruiters who may be more familiar with the position, to get a good sense of what you need for the job you’re trying to fill.

Have any questions on how to identify critical job requirements? Talk to one of our experts today!