Digital transformation in any organization is a very big change. But change must happen for any business to survive. The most recent report 2019 Executive Perspectives on Top Risks states boards and C-suite leaders globally are most concerned about their organizations’ ability to transform so they can compete with organizations that are “born digital.” 

In the digital age, required skill sets are constantly changing. You may be looking to upskill your current team or hire new talent to fill those skill gaps. Or maybe you’re looking to elevate your own skills and career. Whatever your goals, welcome to the IT Career Skills Series. In this 10 part series, we will breakdown the top skills for each role your need on your IT dream team.

We jokingly say “Pay no attention to that man (or woman) behind that curtain of data!” when really you should. Pull back that curtain and you will find a data engineer and that data engineer needs one gigantic bag of tricks.

The skills gap is growing problem facing numerous industries. No company, big or small, is exempt from a potential skills shortage, particularly in technical skills. According to a recent study, 60% of U.S. employers have job openings that stay vacant for 12 weeks or longer. On average these vacancies are costing businesses up to $800,000 annually. 

However, the implications of a skills gap takes on a different, often more intense meaning for a growing venture than an established corporation.

All organizations will face a significant change at some point during their existence. How business leaders respond to these changes will determine the success -- and sometimes survival -- of the organization. While aligning resources, capital, and systems with business goals is a crucial part of a successful transformation, aligning your skills and capabilities is equally important.

Organizations are leveraging data to improve all aspects of business. Many industries are adopting a data-driven mindset to make better business decisions, personalize the customer experience, and enhance products. Even non-technical industries, like fashion and sports, are finding unique ways to incorporate data into their products and operations.

The quantity of available data is massive. Nearly every action in a business can be tracked, analyzed, and improved. However, how we translate big data into actionable insights is still a work in progress.

A skills gap can be a costly, time-consuming problem for businesses. As industries continue to shift towards digital, companies need to find more proactive approaches to avoid gaps, instead of managing them as they appear.

How Do Companies Currently Track and Identify Skills Gaps?

While many companies recognize the need to optimize their workforce, not everyone has developed an ideal method for tracking and identifying skills gaps. Here are some methods we see companies using today.