5 Key Tech Skills Teens Need for Today’s Marketplace

Our teens are under tremendous pressure to overachieve in today’s competitive landscape. They are faced with the high expectations to excel academically, fulfill requirements for 80 hours of community service, and a list of other criteria to enter college and eventually the workforce. Given this backdrop, we find it increasingly important to guide and mentor our teens on the important skills sets that can help them excel in their future careers. When teens master certain technology skills, they’re increasing their potential to secure employment in their future. All these skills are applicable for a business start-up while in college even before entering the workforce. More than ever, these skills are crucial not only to “techies” but to business and marketing as economies continue to be transformed by technology.

Coding is the language of the digital age. When you turn on your television or play music on your phone or laptop, you are interacting with the algorithms and commands that your devices understand. Coding is ubiquitous; code is in everything we use – from your phones to cars and remote controllers. Most programmers use software languages such as Python, JavaScript, and C++ and some people who use the mentioned software aren’t even engineers. Marketers and writers learn to code because it helps their skills development, critical thinking, communication, and gives them more job opportunities and career paths. Coding is one of the highest skills in demand today.

Graphic Design is an artform of enterprises and product design. It is the aesthetic that is held within business, making companies more appealing to customers and establishing a brand identity. If you’re an aspiring product developer or web designer, then graphic design is a skill set you should learn to grow your business. Graphic Design is a valuable skill to develop over time and allows the designer to leverage technology and their creative instincts and talents. With this skillset you can become your own boss or widen your appeal in the prospective job market.

Big Data is a large data set that is analyzed by a computer to find certain trends and patterns that relate to human behavior and interactions. With Database Analysis you can interrogate these large data sets and merge them with other types of data to understand customer trends, wants and needs. This is a highly important capability for companies to realize more customers and increase the share of their respective markets.

Web Development is one of the simpler technology skills to acquire. Companies need high quality, interactive websites to convey their messaging and build a brand identity. Website development includes coding skills and programs such as HTML and Cascading Style Sheets; language software that renders the content for your customers to consume.

Today, web development opportunities continue to grow as many companies are reducing spend on traditional advertising and opting for more digital content to reach their target audience.

Social Media is one of the most essential skill to develop on this list. Everyone who owns a business or who wants to network with others needs to know how to manifest their brand and communicate with consumers on social media. Platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are great channels for presenting ideas, lifestyle trends, company promotions, specialties, and your key messages to the marketplace.

In summary, teens who can master one or more of these skills will elevate their positioning when applying for internships, college admissions and future careers.

ABOUT BIZNOVATOR:
BIZNOVATOR is a youth empowerment platform that offers a year-round experience for young people interested in entrepreneurship, social innovation and global leadership. Through our seminars, workshops, summer camps and in school Academies, BIZNOVATOR helps young people to DISCOVER their purpose, TRANSFORM their mindset and CONNECT to their future.  We have recently launched our Online Learning Platform, www.mybiznovator.com which enables young people from all over the world to experience our unique BIZNOVATOR programs. We invite you to join us!

Juan Pablo Casimiro is Founder and CEO of BIZNOVATOR. With more than 30 years of empowering youth and adults globally, Casimiro never misses a moment to teach, coach and challenge his clients to live their dreams. Casimiro was born in Dominican Republic and grew up in New York City.