The Skills That Will Keep You Marketable This Fall

The job market is slowing, but it isn’t stopping. July’s labor data showed just 73,000 jobs added nationwide, much lower than the 200,000+ gains we were seeing earlier this year. Government, manufacturing, and professional services saw the biggest slowdown, while health services and tech continued to grow.

For job seekers, slower growth can feel discouraging with fewer new jobs and more competition in certain industries. But employers are also being clearer than ever about what they value. The skills catching their attention right now may not be the ones you would expect, and focusing on them could be the difference between blending in and standing out this fall.

 

The Skills Employers Are Watching For

 

1. Tech Fluency, Especially AI

AI literacy is becoming a baseline expectation. Universities like Ohio State and Wharton are even embedding AI into their core curriculum, signaling that tomorrow’s graduates will be trained to use these tools from day one.

How you can build this skill: You don’t need to be technical to stand out. Free and low-cost courses like Coursera’s AI for Everyone, or LinkedIn Learning’s Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, can give you practical talking points for interviews. If you’re ready to go deeper, options like Google Cloud’s Generative AI Leader Certification or DeepLearning.AI’s Machine Learning Specialization can help you build a stronger foundation. 

 

2. Data & Analytical Thinking

Employers are placing more emphasis on candidates who can not only work with numbers, but also connect them to decisions and outcomes. This doesn’t mean advanced coding, it means being able to look at data, recognize patterns, and explain what should happen next. For example, spotting that a drop in engagement means content needs to be adjusted, or that an increase in customer wait times signals a staffing issue.

How you can build this skill: Add specific examples that show how you’ve used data to drive action in your resume and be ready to talk about them in interviews. This might look like:

• A class project where you built an Excel or Tableau dashboard and explained what the trends meant for a business problem.

• An internship where you tracked weekly performance metrics, noticed a decline in response times, and suggested a change that improved efficiency.

• A side hustle where you analyzed sales or engagement data and adjusted your strategy (ex: posting at different times or promoting best-selling products) based on the numbers

On your resume, highlight the impact of your analysis (e.g., “Identified content strategy changes that boosted engagement 20%”). In interviews, practice walking through your thought process so employers see how you connect data to decisions.

 

3. Cyber & Digital Skills

Cybersecurity and cloud computing are among the fastest-growing hiring areas. Even non-technical roles are expanding in these spaces, from compliance to project management.

How you can build this skill: Explore introductory resources like Google’s Cybersecurity Certificate or AWS’s Cloud Practitioner Essentials. Including these on your resume signals curiosity and adaptability. In interviews, you can share the steps you’ve taken to understand emerging fields.

 

4. Communication & Presence in Interviews

Employers are increasingly using AI-powered platforms like BrightHire and Paradox to structure interviews and keep evaluations consistent. What stands out isn’t just what you say, but how you carry yourself in the conversation.

How you can build this skill:

• Practice answering behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), with an emphasis on the results you delivered.

• Strengthen your executive presence by engaging naturally: make eye contact, lean into small talk, and keep your tone confident but approachable.

• Pay attention to non-verbal cues like posture and pacing. These often communicate just as much as your words.

The best candidates combine clear, structured answers with authentic presence that makes an interviewer want to keep talking to them.

 

The August 2025 job market may be more competitive, but employers are broadcasting what they want: AI fluency, data literacy, digital awareness, and strong communication. By weaving these skills into your resume, coursework, side projects, and interviews, you’ll not only stand out now, you’ll build momentum for long-term career success.