Here’s the kind of training millennials need to get ahead in 2017

• 2-minute read •
If you want to land a sweet promotion this year, add these skills to your toolbox.
Training: It’s one of the least sexy words in the dictionary, but for career-oriented people, it’s also one of the most important.
While much has been made of the soft skills employers are looking for in entry-level workers, if you’re looking for a raise or promotion this year, you’ll definitely want to show your boss that you’re adding hard, marketable skills to your repertoire.
Luckily, most (good) managers will want you to get training, because it means you’re interested in being better at your job and helping the company grow.

“Let your leadership know that you want to grow, and that you’d like to participate in a specific training program or course,” advises Jessica Hernandez, CEO of Great Resumes Fast in Callahan, Florida. “Great leaders know that investing in the training of their team is one of the wisest investments they can make.”

The good news is, in addition to classroom-based training, there are plenty of great online resources out there (like Udemy or Skillshare.). But which kinds will be most beneficial to getting that new title and pay bump?

Monster asked career experts to reveal the top career training that millennials should pursue. Here’s what they had to say.

Make sure you’re at the top of your technology game
Whatever industry you work in, technology plays some role. So the more familiar you are with the latest advances, the more valuable you’ll be—especially as a prospect for promotion.

For software engineers, learning new technology could mean adding a new coding language. For health care professionals, data analytics could be key. Whatever your field, there are tech skills you can acquire—and luckily, there are many ways to learn them, including from the comfort of your own computer.

“In addition, look for online forums that discuss the technology and get involved in reading the discussions and Q+As,” says Halelly Azulay, founder of TalentGrow, a leadership development and workplace communication-training firm located in Los Angeles. “There, you’ll get insights and access to people who can mentor you and help you more directly and quickly.”

Become a better writer—and speaker
“Successful professionals must be able to write coherently and speak effectively,” says Jennifer Currence, HR strategy advisor at OnCore Management Solutions in Tampa, Florida. “If you can do these things well—or even at an average level—you have a better chance of being taken seriously”

Fortunately, great communication is a skill that can be learned. If you want to improve your business writing, Udemy has a great series of online classes. Two great ways to master public speaking and effective writing are through the legendary Dale Carnegie program and Toastmasters club. Most major cities have chapters, and in addition to having top-level training, both organizations are also excellent places to meet other like-minded professionals.

Add “data king” (or queen) to your skill set
“Training related to analyzing data and presenting data in meaningful, comprehensible ways will be essential skills for all,” says Michella Chiu, a career coach at Prime Opt, a career coaching center at Columbia University in New York. “Big data is the trend of future industries.”

So how do you boost your data analysis IQ? Start by improving your Excel and SQL skills with a Udemy or Skillshare course. Learn the technical aspects of how data works, and then you’ll be able to interpret the information intelligently for your industry or project. This, Chiu says, is what employers are really looking for.

“It’s very difficult to find someone who has both the qualitative and qualitative minds. If a young professional is such a person, the sky is the limit,” says Chiu.

Boost your business acumen
You might not be a major decision-maker yet at work, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an effort to learn about your company’s products and operations, and how decisions get made. That’s the kind of knowledge that can make you manager material.

“CEOs seek managers who are strategic, which means they understand the business and are willing and able to take steps to push the company forward,” says Currence.

“Young professionals can be proactive in this realm by scheduling meetings with various department heads and asking questions like, ‘What are your biggest challenges? What are your biggest successes?’ and, ‘How can I help you succeed?’” says Currence.

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