Top 7 Skills That Today's eLearning Jobs Demand

Top 7 Skills That Today's eLearning Jobs Demand
Summary: What are the skills that eLearning job seekers and recruiters should be focused on today? Get the update on career outlook and the top skills that eLearning jobs require now.

What Skills eLearning Jobs Demand Right Now

It seems like nearly every week that something is changing in the eLearning market. Truth is, it’s still rapidly evolving and we have yet to reach the summit. The increasing demand for workforce training to meet the needs of the labor market is contributing to the requirement for skilled eLearning professionals. And the outlook for eLearning jobs looks positive.

Competition is tough for even entry level jobs in eLearning. For those seeking careers, these factors mean having to continually update skills and stay on top of technology developments that the best companies are looking for. On the recruitment side, finding eLearning talent that has the right skills is equally challenging. It can be easy to compromise, hoping that candidates who have some teaching or learning and design background will somehow make this experience work.

The career outlook for those in eLearning is very positive, for those who possess the best skills. The US Department of Labor advises that an additional 18,900 jobs are projected in the next 10 years, and growth is at around 7%. Those who have earned a Bachelor’s degree and have at least 3-5 years of experience in an eLearning environment should fare the best. Having the right skills is also key to success.

Top eLearning Job Skills That Are In Demand 

There are some skills that are in the biggest demand across the board for eLearning jobs. These abilities are a must for success in nearly every eLearning role. Don’t take any shortcuts here! Instead, focus on developing these 7 skills or recruiting for them.

1. Communication – Both Written And Verbal 

When it comes to job-related skills, communication outranks just about every other skill on the block. This is especially true in the eLearning market because professionals are required to effectively communicate often complex topics to learners in ways which they can understand. So too, communication must take place across various formats from written to verbal.

Communication and learning formatting is vastly different than other forms of communication. Therefore recruiters should be seeking candidates who have demonstrated communication skills in live courseware formats. eLearning job seekers should get specialized training to develop their content for course related materials.

2. Strong Research And Resourcefulness 

Today’s eLearning professionals are continually challenged to use all available resources when developing courses across different markets. This requires a great deal of research that can take place on personal and professional networks. Since the eLearning industry is still emerging, it can be difficult to find materials strictly online. eLearning professionals who are resourceful will often have large networks of people and associations that they can leverage for this purpose.

3. Deep Understanding Of How People Learn 

Much research has gone on over the last few decades into how people learn. All eLearning professionals should be deeply familiar with the seven categories of learning styles. These include physical (hands-on), visual, aural (sound patterns), verbal, social, logical, and solitary learning. There really is no substitute in a professional learning work environment because everyone learns differently. Being able to design courses around learning styles is absolutely vital to successful outcomes, particularly in performance-driven companies.

4. Knowledge Of SCORM Content Management Systems 

Some may argue that eLearning professionals must be proficient with certain Learning Management Systems, however it is more critical to be mindful of how SCORM content management systems operate. Because all of the learning management systems are based on this concept. Content must be easy to parse, separate, and reuse. It also must be easy for learners of all levels to understand. So too, content must be deliverable across multiple devices on demand. Most eLearning professionals can learn any Learning Management System so long as they understand how content is utilized by learning authoring tools.

5. Above-Average Project Management Strategy

Every eLearning professional should be well-versed in project management concepts. Since they will be involved in nearly every aspect of project management from the beginning to the end of each project, eLearning professionals should have examples of managing small to mid-sized projects. Understanding the relationship of stakeholders, investors, and subject matter experts in the process of building a course is mission critical. Every eLearning professional should also have a general idea of how to prepare standard project management documents and conduct risk assessments.

6. User Friendly Design And Creative Course Layout 

The vast majority of learning content is now taking place online or via mobile apps. This requires eLearning professionals to understand how user design impacts learner experiences. While there is some room for creativity in course development, as there should be, eLearning practitioners must also be mindful of how content should best be delivered for the ultimate end-user experience. From digital content to course handouts, an understanding of UX best practices can support this goal.

7. Perseverance Tempered With Flexibility 

The eLearning market is certainly not for the faint of heart. Those who want to stay employed and rise to the top as eLearning professionals must have perseverance in order to overcome the challenges of the industry. They must also be very flexible because often they will be working in agile project environments. Being able to switch gears frequently without being emotionally invested in the process is a sign of a strong eLearning candidate. Flexibility can also imply that candidates are able to learn new things and go with the flow when things change, as they often do throughout course development.

Final Word

Candidates who are active in eLearning job networks are already at an advantage because they are more visible to hiring companies. Recruiters who are partnered with leading eLearning job lead websites are also more apt to find the right talent, before the competition grabs them up. By focusing on the above skills, eLearning jobs can be matched up with the quality people who can handle future challenges.