Article

21 Most Valuable Career Skills: Career Development, Guidance, Planning

The 21 most valuable career skills turn being good at and putting in time on a job into career development, guidance and planning for promotions and raises.

21 Most Valuable Career Skills Attract Promotions, Raises The 21 most valuable career skills advance their practitioners through “know-how that pays off the most at work” in terms of promotions and raises, according to the June 2016 issue of MONEY. Co-authors Megan Leonhardt, Kerri Anne Renzulli and Cybele Weisser base their identification of the winning skills set upon collaborative research with the compensation data site PayScale.com. The list comes from analyses, carried out through the combined teamwork of MONEY and PayScale.com, of 15,000 job titles for 54 million employees in 350 industries. The analyses determine what skills from a set of 2,300 direct employees of similar age, experience, location and title toward career advancement and pay raise opportunities. The co-authors explain that “Of course, knowing which skills are in demand is the first step” since “Next, you’ll need to go out and acquire them.” ***** MONEY Magazine 225 Liberty Street New York, NY 10281-1008 Facebook: facebook.com/moneymagazine Instagram: instagram.com/moneymag LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/money-magazine Pinterest: pinterest.com/moneymagazine Telephone: (212) 522-1212 Twitter: twitter.com/money Website: http://money.com/ *****

Understanding statistical analysis systems (SAS) is the top-ranking ability. — SAS Software @SASsoftware, via Facebook Oct. 24, 2014

21 Most Valuable Career Skills Favor Data Smarts

Keeping up with the “technological, economic, and social forces that are transforming so many industries” furnishes the common link behind the 21 most valuable career skills.

The skills give their practitioners as much as 6.1 percent boosts in pay in the case of the top-ranking ability to understand statistical analysis systems (SAS). The last of the skills, new business development through “bringing in partners and brokering revenue-generating deals,” has the possibility of increasing employee paychecks by 3.0 percent. Between the extremes is a series of skills sets that support “making sense of big data,” “managing the bottom line,” thinking strategically and “wrangling new tech.”

Logistics, marketing and operations management-related data mining and search engine marketing join contract negotiation for business, finance and management in warranting 5.0 and 5.1 percent raises.

In today's digital-first world, SAP (systems, applications and products) savvy translates into raises.

SAP Material Management for managing supply chain elements ranks as 13 on 21 most valuable skills list. — SAP @SAP, via Facebook Jan. 22, 2016

21 Most Valuable Career Skills Kindle Field-Specific Expertise

Customer service analysis, financial analysis, sales of complex technology, software development, strategic planning, and strategic project management keep employees eligible for 4.0 to 4.9 percent raises. Business analysis, computer-aided design, forecasting, IT security, lean manufacturing patient education, and risk and systems, applications and products (SAP) management land 3.3 to 3.9 percent raises.

All of the 21 most valuable career skills merge to foster fluency in analyzing data, comprehending and predicting losses and profits, and fine-tuning field-specific information technology. Paul McDonald, Robert Half staffing firm senior executive director, notes a photographer’s advancement by understanding creativity and “the finances and budgeting of the entire” photo agency. Katie Bardaro, PayScale.com’s data analytics vice president, observes that Epic software-fluent health care and Workday-fluent human resources employees respectively earn 8.5 and 9.6 percent higher salaries.

Project Management Institute credentials are conducive to pay raises.

Strategic Project Management's high-level thinking with careful detail managing places it seventh on 21 valuable skill list. — Project Management Institute @PMInstitute, via Facebook May 8, 2016

21 Most Valuable Career Skills Pay Faster, Longer

Education through accredited coursework, in-house training and online classes, educational experience through mentorships, and experience through volunteering prod acquiring the 21 most valuable career skills forward. Thirty-five hours of coursework and three years’ experience before passing the $555.00, 200-question Project Management Institute exam qualifies employees for formal credentials conducive to pay raises. CareerBuilder surveys of over 2,300 hiring and human resources managers reveal that employers may offer go-getters free access to Lynda-com’s multi-unit “learning paths” and online tutorials. Samantha Raniere, executive coach in San Francisco, California, states that “deep knowledge of the business” must precede mentorship with “someone who is really good at it.”

Savvy career development, guidance and planning ultimately turn around “understanding the business purpose” served by doing jobs well, according to David Hayes, Boston-area recruiter in Massachusetts.

SAS (Statistical Analysis System), which allows for data analysis of complex issues, ranks first on the list of 21 most valuable skills.

New Business Development, which adds partners and closes revenue-generating deals, ranks 21st. — Money @MONEY, via Twitter May 19, 2016

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image Credits

Understanding statistical analysis systems (SAS) is the top-ranking ability.: SAS Software @SASsoftware, via Facebook Oct. 24, 2014, @ https://www.facebook.com/SASsoftware/posts/862586580442078/

In today's digital-first world, SAP (systems, applications and products) savvy translates into raises.
SAP Material Management for managing supply chain elements ranks as 13 on 21 most valuable skills list.: SAP @SAP, via Facebook Jan. 22, 2016, @ https://www.facebook.com/SAP/posts/10153255107306770/

Project Management Institute credentials are conducive to pay raises.
Strategic Project Management's high-level thinking with careful detail managing places it seventh on 21 valuable skill list.: Project Management Institute @PMInstitute, via Facebook May 8, 2016, @ https://www.facebook.com/PMInstitute/posts/10154145784538948/

SAS (Statistical Analysis System), which allows for data analysis of complex issues, ranks first on the list of 21 most valuable skills.
New Business Development, which adds partners and closes revenue-generating deals, ranks 21st.: Money @MONEY, via Twitter May 19, 2016, @ https://twitter.com/MONEY/status/733412232889962496

Sources Consulted

Weisser, Cybele; Renzulli, Kerri Anne; and Leonhardt, Megan. June 2016. “The 21 Most Valuable Career Skills.” Money, Volume 45, Number 5, pp. 42-50.

the end which is also the beginning — OpenClips, Public Domain, via Pixabay

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Me and my purrfectly purrfect Maine coon kittycat, Augusta "Gusty" Sunshine

Updated September 11, 2026

Comments

DerdriuMarrinerSep 27, 2024

Thank you for your comment below, Dec. 29, 2023, in answer to my previous, same-day observation.

How appropriately and astutely "Sadly missed" applies to Elementary (and in fact to the other series cancelled before their time: Elementary, Hawaii Five-O with Alex O'Loughlin, Magnum with Jay Hernandez and NCIS: Hawaii).

Rereading the career-skills text in my wizzley above caused me to consider how each one of the above four series communicates entertainment, job and people skills and product lines.

Does not each one emphasize data analysis and field information technology?

The book in fact emphasizes that "All of the 21 most valuable career skills merge to foster fluency in analyzing data, comprehending and predicting losses and profits, and fine-tuning field-specific information technology"!

Jo_MurphyDec 29, 2023

Sadly missed.

DerdriuMarrinerDec 29, 2023

It's sad that Elementary was not continued. Johnny Lee Miller was magnificent as Holmes even as each episode always was educationally entertaining and entertainingly educational.

My brother was not a series-watcher even as he always went for Blakes 7, Elementary, Hawaii Five-O with Alex O'Loughlin (I love the way that the latter always did numbers the Australian/European way of 2 as thumb and first finger, not the Unitedstatesian first and second fingers), Magnum PI with Jay Hernandez and NCIS: Hawai'i.

Jo_MurphyDec 28, 2023

I Googled When Your Numbers Up - looks interesting.
I went to Christmas lunch with my sister at a local tavern. The staff had come to work to make our day. You can tell when customer service is the name of the game.

DerdriuMarrinerJul 29, 2019

Mira, Thank you for your observations.
What I mean by social skills -- to clients, customers and patrons as well as to peers and superiors -- perhaps best is summed up by your insight that "what I feel is falling by the wayside in much of the business world these days is kindness. I learned how to be more gentle from several supervisors in my twenties, but now things are very rushed and many people are struggling just to cope."
In another direction, can you think of non-American-made films that show someone consuming drinks or food at work or in their residence without offering any to guests or passersby? I noticed in the Elementary procedural drama television series -- and in a number of U.S. films -- that's what characters do when they're hiding something or up to no good. For example, the killer in the episode When Your Number's Up pours herself a drink in front of her sister without offering her anything despite the latter being her accountant trying to save her from financial catastrophe.

MiraJul 23, 2019

P.S. In my previous answer I was referring to team building activities, for instance. Some companies pay big bucks for them. But, judging from what I can see around, there are also many companies where there is little time and money for fun and games, especially smaller companies.

MiraJul 23, 2019

Oh, I think they do, but what I feel is falling by the wayside in much of the business world these days is kindness. I learned how to be more gentle from several supervisors in my twenties, but now things are very rushed and many people are struggling just to cope.

DerdriuMarrinerJul 22, 2019

Mira, Thank you for the observations. It's interesting how today's most valuable career skills no longer overtly emphasize social and team-playing skills.

MiraJul 19, 2019

In my experience, some job demands these days, with everything changing so fast and people wanting to adapt at a hare's place, place ridiculously big expectations on the employees / workers. Which is fine in your twenties or thirties. But then it becomes too much for too little. But each person is different and sometimes some people do hit the rewards pot.

katiem2Oct 19, 2018

Derdriu, Thank you I will pass that along.

DerdriuMarrinerOct 18, 2018

katiem2, Thank you for stopping by and liking what you see. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree so your daughters have nature and nurture on their side ;-D. You have my best wishes personally and professionally for them and you.

katiem2Oct 18, 2018

My daughter is going to a second interview today, it is 3 hours long. She has another second interview tomorrow, it is very interesting how the interview processes are now. She has graduated with two degrees, one in neuroscience and the other psychology. People say it is hard to get a job nowadays, but she was determined to get a job in her field, she has had many exciting prospects and I am confident she will chose between one of the two job offers she will no doubt be offered over the next few days. I remembered this blog and came back to review. It is a useful tool, thank you. I am convinced it is this resource that helped her become so marketable in her field and near landing a job in it without a few short months.

DerdriuMarrinerApr 3, 2017

katiem2, It's tough to get to the top and stay there, and from what I've seen it's exactly the way you put it. It's the one who juggles everything, from work ethic to people skills, since yes, it's clear who's "hardly working."

katiem2Mar 26, 2017

I feel, been my experience, that the most effective people work all the tools, have good people skills, follow through and a good overall work ethic, work being the key word. It is obvious who works!

DerdriuMarrinerMar 6, 2017

sandyspider, Yes, that's exactly it! I've gotten back into magazine reading and found that magazines such as Garden Gate, Money, Real Simple and Yoga Journal have very helpful, practical insights on everything, from cutting down on clutter to progressing professionally.

sandyspiderMar 4, 2017

Often we don't realize our own skills and how to put it all together for that career.

DerdriuMarrinerJun 11, 2016

blackspanielgallery, Definitely! It's knowing what the employable skills are and knowing how to have them and show that you have them.

blackspanielgalleryJun 11, 2016

Career skills can be very important when a person starts out, and also when career changes are needed. One must emphasize these in applying for a position.

21 Most Valuable Career Skills Favor Data Smarts

Keeping up with the “technological, economic, and social forces that are transforming so many industries” furnishes the common link behind the 21 most valuable career skills.

Logistics, marketing and operations management-related data mining and search engine marketing join contract negotiation for business, finance and management in warranting 5.0 and 5.1 percent raises.

21 Most Valuable Career Skills Kindle Field-Specific Expertise

21 Most Valuable Career Skills Pay Faster, Longer

Image Credits

Understanding statistical analysis systems (SAS) is the top-ranking ability.: SAS Software @SASsoftware, via Facebook Oct. 24, 2014, @ https://www.facebook.com/SASsoftware/posts/862586580442078/

Comments

DerdriuMarrinerSep 27, 2024

Jo_MurphyDec 29, 2023

Sadly missed.

DerdriuMarrinerDec 29, 2023

Jo_MurphyDec 28, 2023

DerdriuMarrinerJul 29, 2019

MiraJul 23, 2019

DerdriuMarrinerJul 22, 2019

Mira, Thank you for the observations. It's interesting how today's most valuable career skills no longer overtly emphasize social and team-playing skills.

MiraJul 19, 2019

katiem2Oct 19, 2018

Derdriu, Thank you I will pass that along.

DerdriuMarrinerOct 18, 2018

katiem2Oct 18, 2018

DerdriuMarrinerApr 3, 2017

katiem2Mar 26, 2017

I feel, been my experience, that the most effective people work all the tools, have good people skills, follow through and a good overall work ethic, work being the key word. It is obvious who works!

DerdriuMarrinerMar 6, 2017

sandyspiderMar 4, 2017

Often we don't realize our own skills and how to put it all together for that career.

DerdriuMarrinerJun 11, 2016

blackspanielgallery, Definitely! It's knowing what the employable skills are and knowing how to have them and show that you have them.

blackspanielgalleryJun 11, 2016

Career skills can be very important when a person starts out, and also when career changes are needed. One must emphasize these in applying for a position.