Seven skills you need to land a job in 2014 There will be strong demand for people with web development skills in 2014. DATA analysis, web development and a second language are among the skills that will be most useful to jobseekers in 2014. If you want a fresh start next year but don't know how to market yourself, recruitment firm Hays has identified the top talent trends they expect to see in the New Year. Hays managing director Nick Deligiannis says Australia's economy is maintaining momentum and consumer confidence is strong heading into 2014. This will lead to increasing staff turnover as candidates become more confident to explore their options. Many employers also tell us they are looking to secure candidates who can start early in the new calendar year," Mr Deligiannis said. A big area of growth in 2014 will be crossover roles - as the technology, marketing and finance worlds integrate it will be key to find people who can move across all sectors, with multi-level knowledge. Also the ability to harness the whole notion of digital marketing and social media will be important, to the point where these channels are not an add-on but become seamlessly incorporated into the main game. These are the most in-demand skills for 2014, according to Mr Deligiannis. Big Data Without doubt one of the most used (and feared?) terms in the past couple of years is "Big Data." There is no doubt the desire to process huge amounts of data in near real-time will drive innovation for how data can be harnessed to inform business and marketing opportunities. Looking beyond the hype, most of the current opinion is that it is really about analytics and a renewed focus on that is what's required. Therefore in 2014 we will see increased demand for IT Project Managers and Business Analysts who are involved in data manipulation projects. "Data Scientists" will also be in increasing demand since these professionals can recognise patterns in data from multiple sources and then make observations and predictions, which is crucial to business success. The Harvard Business Review named data scientist "the sexiest job of the 21st century." Mobile app development The increased usage of tablet-based applications and the associated user experience is driving demand for strong JavaScript developers, particularly those with HTML5 and CSS3 skills for web development. Yet so few candidates combine both elements and are therefore able to build complete systems. Given insatiable customer demand for apps and an improved user experience, this skills shortage will become a more pressing concern in 2014. It could even cause general delays and interruptions in the evolution of the mobile app market at a time when it is raring to go. Integrated technology and marketing skills In 2014 technology will no longer sit in the domain of the Chief Technology Officer or Chief Information Officer, but will instead integrate with both marketing and finance. This integration of both technology with marketing, and technology with finance, will see staff in these departments become jointly responsible for outcomes. It will create a need for people with multi-level hybrid knowledge. For example, in the digital marketing space professionals need to engage technology to inform their decisions. Meanwhile marketing analytics professionals use modelling and analytics practices to improve their marketing outcomes. Business analysis is another example where professionals have a functional background and in-depth knowledge of their industry and company, but also need to translate requirements in technical areas. As a result, marketing and finance professionals will need to enhance their technology skills to remain competitive in the jobs market. Financial expertise The banking jobs market is showing positive signs of growth with jobs registered at the strongest levels in over 24 months. The insurance sector is very busy in the areas of transactional claims and underwriting as the big banks continue their expansion into the insurance market. Financial planning is on track to be stronger in the New Year as firms better understand and implement FOFA changes, and we are seeing strong demand for experienced candidates in the lending market. Senior Finance professionals are also in strong demand. The insight to understand people on their own terms and in their own language will be increasingly valued in the years ahead. Languages In our global economy the world is becoming borderless and in order to achieve career development people are willing to change countries more readily. With this in mind speaking another language is a hugely important business skill, and it will only become more so in future. For those looking to move up, these skills and the cultural intelligence they often come with are equally indispensable for today's global executives and the organisations they lead. Quality trades skills The mining industry will stabilise and productivity will increase, and while the big mining companies will continue to cut costs there will be opportunities for skilled tradespeople and engineers in 2014. Demand will also rise for quality trades and labour staff in the construction industry, since the property market is buoyant with house renovations and new house builds. Aptitude for learning The world is changing rapidly and it will be smarter to recruit candidates who can - and want to - learn new skills, rather than candidates who may only be fit for today. Globalisation, the shift towards a knowledge economy and the sheer pace of technological change are creating a need for employees who can learn and respond to both their employer's and the market's changing demands. With this in mind, candidates should not only meet the required technical and soft skills for a role, but also possess an aptitude and desire for learning.