Meeting demand with niche skills
DUE to technological advancements, and the Covid-19 pandemic’s acceleration of digital transformation, companies increasingly require niche skills to facilitate growth and adapt to disruptions.

Equipping themselves with these skills, in addition to the skills in their core disciplines, is thus essential for students to stand out from the job-seeking crowd in the future, say experts.

According to Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) Assoc Prof Dr Tan Chin Ike, niche skills are very much in high demand in the technology industry and employees who can prove they have such skills will often command a premium salary.

“Highly technical people with a very specific set of niche skills like full stack or DevOps are highly sought after in the technology industry.

“Software engineers, data scientists, network engineers and cybersecurity specialists can have an upper hand if they learn a new niche skill,” he told StarEdu.

“In the technology industry, niche skills refer to a very technical set of knowledge that ranges from machine learning to data visualisation in the big data sectors, and from cloud implementation to intrusion detection in the cybersecurity sectors,” he said.

Citing the transformation of technology over the past decade, particularly in the context of data processing and artificial intelligence (AI), Tan said the staggering growth in data generation and the need for tools like AI algorithms have led to a demand for technology talents proficient in specific domain areas such as machine learning, cybersecurity, and cloud and quantum computing.

And the demand for such talents does not stop with the technology industry.

EdnaSEGi University Faculty of Education, Languages, Psychology and Music lecturer Edna Wellington said music students in the 21st century need to expand their knowledge and expertise related to emerging innovative and technological practices to meet the requirements of the labour market.

“Niche skills are unique capabilities that give fresh graduates an edge in the music industry,” she said.

Weighing in, Swinburne University of Technology Malaysia Campus Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science Assoc Prof Dr Viknesh Andiappan emphasised that priority must be given to push fresh graduates and students towards the direction of process automation and digitalisation.

“Niche skills such as coding, programming and simulation are highly precious and these are the skill sets that will stand the test of time.

“Every business or operation in this age needs people who are able to use computer-aided tools to make more informed decisions at the workplace.

“Hence, the willingness of engineering graduates to take up these skill sets will make them more versatile in the job market. It also broadens their opportunities,” he said.

Viknesh

Viknesh, however, pointed out that there are niche skills that are two-fold for several sectors and organisations.

“Skills such as coding can be classified as a general skill too,” he said, adding that the key is to identify which niche skill will become a timeless demand or a constant need in the job market.

Researching industry trends, reading up on news, searching for job postings and talking to industry professionals, said Tan, are the best ways to help students not only to identify niche skills, but also to keep abreast of the latest trends in their respective sectors.

“Bear in mind that continuous learning and adaptability are keys to ensuring that you remain at the forefront of this ever-changing landscape, especially in technology,” he said.

Echoing his sentiments, Multimedia University (MMU) Faculty of Information Science and Technology (FIST) Assoc Prof Dr Wee Kuok Kwee said enthusiasm and attentiveness to the current happenings of the job market are the key points in determining the type of niche skill a fresh graduate would need to adopt.

“Choose an area most suitable to yourself and be fully enrolled,” he said.

WeeHowever, he added that it is also crucial to remember that though learning different skills is good, having multiple niche skills in one’s resume might not be beneficial.

“You may learn niche skills like machine learning but if the job you’re aiming for does not regularly need you to apply them, the skills might go to waste.

“Therefore, always do your research on what niche skill is booming in the industry and see how feasible it can be to you when you apply for a job.

“You are much more likely to show employers that you are not only an attractive hire, but also someone who is meticulous,” he said.

Upping versatility

Students with both niche skills and skills in their respective disciplines stand to benefit as versatile workers with broader opportunities.

Viknesh shared that in the past, the common assumption was that those who studied chemical engineering were limited to roles in the oil and gas sector, particularly in field operations.

“However, with the aforementioned skill sets, one can now explore opportunities in diverse areas like research and development, product design and corporate sustainability,” he said.

Agreeing, Wee said people with niche skills may add value to businesses through certain areas like innovative thinking and technical insights and perspectives that are unique.

“Niche workers exist in every industry, which requires highly specialised staff to solve complicated challenges.

“Businesses hire people with niche skills to gain an edge over their competitors and better serve their customers,” he said, adding that he anticipates a growing demand for specialised skills in the future to meet the increasing demand for AI-related products and services.

“In general, all corporations welcome AI to increase productivity and be more efficient. Hence, the need for an employee to know AI tools is relatively important,” he said.

Nathan

Offering her perspective, Edna said recent music graduates, particularly those with backgrounds in music production from universities, could benefit from additional training in niche business and marketing skills.

“This training would enhance their marketability as self-employed or freelance musicians at the start of their music careers.

“To create successful music in today’s industry, independent musicians must possess strong creative skills, focusing on branding, marketing, community building, digital distribution like streaming, and entrepreneurial aspects of the music business, all influenced by ongoing changes and evolving consumer preferences driven by technology,” she said.

On the allied healthcare front, Perdana University School of Occupational Therapy dean Prof Nathan Vytialingam said as the ageing population continues to grow, so does the demand for occupational therapy professionals who are versatile.

“Specialising in ageing covers a whole spectrum of components, from research and clinical trials to the legal and financial implications of old age.

“From a finance or legal standpoint, the industry needs health experts who can come in and help make sure that these specific components are compliant,” he said.

He added that the demand for an occupational therapist who can manage research or understand the legal and financial implications of old age is on the rise.

Adding value with soft skills

Despite the importance of niche skills, the experts agree that nurturing general skills, otherwise known as soft skills, is just as crucial to enhance one’s employability.

“Landing a better job takes a mix of both niche skills and general skills.

“Most employers, especially multinational companies, tend to look for good general skills paired with a demonstration of competent niche skills,” said Tan, who is also APU School of Computing head.

General skills, he added, are mainly a broader set of skills, attributes and knowledge that are applicable across a variety of sectors.

He emphasised that these skills are fundamental skills that most employees need to possess to excel and even progress in their job functions.

“They more often than not are also behavioural traits, which include presentation skills, public speaking skills, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, time management and empathy,” he said.

“General skills demonstrate to the employer that you have the capability to add more value to the organisation.

“While niche skills can be slowly acquired within the organisation, soft skills are a trait that is a valuable commodity for any fresh graduate,” he said.

Tan added that some roles in the technology industry, such as technical sales, require a combination of deep expertise in one area, a broad understanding of related technologies, and also soft skills.

He said as one progresses into roles such as technical lead, manager or supervisor, one also needs specific soft skills like empathy, leadership and communication skills.

To equip students with both niche and general skills, Edna recommended practical internships in real-world scenarios.

“The learning journey of a student pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in the field of music would be an important asset before embarking on a career in the musical industry,” she said.Grads aim for upper hand

Today’s graduates are often equipped with general skill sets, making them indistinguishable from every other graduate out there. Hence, I plan to develop expertise in natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) interpretability. NLP helps machines generate human-like language, while ML interpretability ensures transparency in AI decision-making. These skills are in high demand across industries, which should make me adaptable across various sectors. This combination will not only distinguish me in the competitive tech landscape, but also position me to drive innovation responsibly.

– Nivesh Naga Raja, 24, computer science graduate

People often assume that in the communications field, there are no niche skills beyond the generic ones. However, since I plan to venture into social media content creation, I aim to differentiate myself by honing my proficiency in data analytics for targeted communication strategies. I intend to leverage analytics tools to derive actionable insights and enhance audience engagement. This skill is important in understanding audience behaviour, tailoring content and measuring campaign effectiveness.

– Ashvini Poobalan, 24, strategic communication graduate

I’m working to enhance my knowledge of Tableau, which is a front-end data visualisation tool useful in the data science field. I’m also considering learning a niche skill like machine learning (ML), which is a beneficial skill to excel in as a data analyst. Developing a niche skill could come in handy, especially if you have a specific company that you want to get into. Therefore, doing research is important before picking up a new niche skill.

– Kan Chern Hann, 24, computer science graduate
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DUE to technological advancements, and the Covid-19 pandemic’s acceleration of digital transformation, companies increasingly require niche skills to facilitate growth and adapt to disruptions.