The Best Tech Skills to List on Your Resume in 2014

In the News

More than ever, businesses are relying on technology to get their work done and customers served.

From simple things like having websites and social media accounts, to more advanced uses like crunching big data numbers and securing mobile apps, businesses are looking for a much broader skill set from their employees today.

While some employees may be able to get away with only knowing the basics of Microsoft Office, most employers are demanding that their staff have a much more technologically advanced background. Here are 10 technology skills that employers say they are looking for most in their new employees.

Mobile developers

At the end of 2013, 28 percent of all Web traffic was from mobile devices. As tablets and smartphones take up more of the business world, more businesses must be ready to move to these platforms. Even midmarket and smaller organizations can benefit greatly from a strong  mobile presence both to interact with their clients and their internal  teams. Since this technology is always changing, it’s often wise to  internalize this talent to keep up with the ever-shifting market. As a  result, this talent will be in high demand. -- Rona Bore, CEO and founder of Instant Technology

Mobile security

There is a strong demand for certified information systems security  professionals. What's particularly in demand now are employees that are experts in the security aspect of mobile app development. This is reflected in the increasing number of  certifications being sought in this specialty. Enterprises have learned how to make networks secure -- but they realize they need much more in mobile app security. Organizations' need to bring  staff up to speed in this capability quickly escalated because of the increase in the  risks involved. People with this skill earn well into the six digits. -- Bill Rosenthal, CEO of Logical Operations Inc.

User experience design

Amongst the tech skills we look for most closely are those associated with  user experience design, including HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and Adobe Creative Suite. Being able to understand how users interact with technology and  implement these interfaces is incredibly important, especially in fields  where the transition to digital programs and online systems is  accelerating. A job candidate with these skills and a great mind for design  has a leg up coming in. -- Adam Kirsch is the COO of Yorango.

Big data

The grand challenge for job seekers to understand and assess in 2014 is how businesses, governments and universities can harness big data analytics in shaping their competitive strategy and advantages, in capturing real value, and in managing enterprise risks, that in particular, cuts across these nine risks - interconnectivity, systems, markets, operations, regulations, credit (and collateral), innovation, legal, and liquidity (cash). -- Oliver McGee III, a professor of mechanical engineering and former vice president for research and compliance at Howard University. He also is the former United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Technology Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation and former Senior Policy Advisor in The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Social media

List the social media platforms you have working knowledge of — and any systems you've used to manage these channels, such as TweetDeck or Hootsuite. Don't let an employer assume you're not tech-savvy — itemize your know-how by platform. If you're new to the work force, don't assume a prospective employer is aware of your social media savvy. This becomes even more essential if you're targeting positions in marketing, mobile-product development or others that require you to work on various social media platforms. — Amanda Augustine, job search expert for TheLadders

Know how to code

Even if developer isn't  your job title, in startups, it's becoming increasingly necessary for every  team member to know their way around the website's code. If you see a  change that needs to be made or want to test a new tactic, precious time  and agility is lost, and resources are diverted, if someone else on the  team has to implement it for you. Having some basic coding chops under your  belt will make you a much more attractive hire to perspective employers and  may just be the differentiating factor that gets you hired. Starting from  scratch? No problem. Sites like codecademy.com offer free online courses  where you can build up a basic knowledge in a few weeks. For starters, the  best languages to learn are HTML, CSS, Javascript and PHP. – Matt Ehrlichman, CEO and co-founder of Porch

Agile methodology

If they haven't already, more and more companies are  embracing Agile for project management due to its encouragement of a  more collaborative, flexible process and its ability to help manage  unpredictable changes to hopefully lead to a better end product. (Agile methodology is an alternative to traditional software development methods where tasks are broken down into smaller and easier to manage tasks.) – Tracy Cashman, partner and general manager in the information  technology search division at WinterWyman

Emerging technologies

While specific technology skills like HTML, Drupal, Java, Ruby on Rails, SEO, SEM, ORM are extremely valuable and appealing on a resume, I  want to find the job seeker who has listed a few technologies I'm only  vaguely familiar with or have never heard of. The technology landscape  is constantly changing and I'm looking for someone who is ahead of the  curve, not just adapting to new technologies, but driving the  innovation. Seeing that distinction on a resume moves a candidate from  just another piece of paper on my desk or email in my inbox, to a first-round interview. —  Jessica Bayer, senior director of talent acquisition and management at Qorvis Communications

Structured query language SQL

SQL is a highly sought-after technical skill due to its ability to work with nearly all databases. Every company today that gathers data needs somebody who is able to utilize SQL to quickly pull out key data components and generate reports that aid the decision-making process.– Ibro Palic, CEO of Resume Templates for Mac 

Technical writing

Someone with knowledge in technology and is also a good writer. At least for our business, messages between suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and the end user all happen in the written word online via emails, press releases, Web pages, articles, PDFs, manuals, etc. Having someone with a gift for written communication while understanding the technology is crucial. – Cameron Postelwait, marketing director at Sewell Direct 