12 In-demand Emerging Jobs that Didn't Exist 10 or 20 Years Ago

Did you know that two-thirds of today's generation's children will have job positions that no longer exist? This is due to many professions becoming outdated, inevitably making people rethink and re-evaluate their career paths. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL) algorithms is accelerating this change, transforming industries and creating more job opportunities. New jobs like like AI ethicists and machine learning engineers are constantly evolving, with more employers in demand for 'new-era' specialists.

The jobs created in this millennium are nothing like what existed over 20 years ago. We no longer use phone booths, floppy disks, VHS tapes, road maps, CDs or MP3 players. The emerging jobs have become more lucrative, user-orientated, and no longer bound to an office with new remote and hybrid scenarios.

We've compiled a list of 12 jobs with corresponding UK salaries you can pursue today that were never heard of at the start of this millennium.

Explore the biggest industries in the UK or highest paying jobs to help you choose your ideal career path.

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Top 12 in-demand jobs that didn't exist 20 years ago

1. Crypto and NFT trader

What is NFT?

NFT stands for a non-fungible token. They are digital assets such as images, music, in-game items, GIFs/video clips, drawings, or even personal AI-powered agents. 'Non-fungible' means unique or non-replaceable.

Both cryptocurrencies and NFTs are based on the blockchain system. The main difference between these two is that the former cannot be exchanged. Bitcoin can be traded for another (crypto)currency, where one bitcoin equals to another (crypto)currency amount. Whereas, as the NF in NFT suggests, one NFT does not equate to another NFT.

NFTs are built on the same blockchain system as cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum. Their main feature is that they are designed to personalise digital assets. They enable complete history and ownership over digital tokens with the possibility to buy, sell, or auction any items in an open marketplace.

NFTs brought a digital art revolution in 2021 while providing the fastest-evolving asset class of the year. According to Indeed, job postings for NFTs and cryptocurrencies grew 804% between April 2020 and April 2022. Compared to 2019, there are 15 times more vacancies in this field now. The increasing popularity of NFTs has shown promising potential for sectors such as IT, Sales, or Fine Arts, creating numerous career opportunities for certified NFT professionals. Examples of common NFT jobs include but are not limited to:

Examples of NFT jobs:

• NFT Artist (£36k-£76k): conceptualise, produce, and launch digital artworks to monetise their creations.

• NFT Art Curator (£25k-£48k): casts a vision for the product, forms concepts, and determines the style.

• Blockchain UX/UI Designer (£22k-£66k): designs a user-friendly digital interface.

• Discord Moderator (£17k-£33k): bridges the communication between the community and NFT owners.

Examples of finance & risk jobs:

• Web3 Tokenomics Designer (£101k £160k): leads the design and implementation of tokenomics.

• Web3 Compliance & Risk Manager (£33k-£79k): leads and maintains company-wide risk management and compliance networks.

• Crypto Investment Analyst (£23k-£58k): conducts deep research on crypto assets and on diligence to look out for investment opportunities.

For more details, explore our related guide on investment banking CV and investment banking cover letter.

2. Machine Learning Engineer / Artificial Intelligence (AI) Specialist

Twenty years ago, the idea of AI changing our daily lives seemed like science fiction (think of Star Trek or Terminator, for example). Nowadays, machine learning algorithms drive automation across industries, from finance to healthcare, augmenting the possibilities of work humans can do. Imagine what you would do if you didn't have a smartphone or internet to perform your routine tasks.

Machine learning engineers optimise algorithms help us with decision-making ensuring that repetitive tasks are replaced without human interaction. Despite saving time and money for industries, it also helps us generate more efficient results daily. It provides society with tools to quickly sort out and analyse big data. Moreover, machine learning enables us to detect patterns, identify profitable opportunities, and assess the risks for companies and institutions.

Examples of machine learning engineer roles:

• Machine Learning / AI Engineer (£31k-£86k): researches and designs AI systems for automation.

• Robotics Engineer (£25k-£56k): constructs, tests, and maintains robotic prototypes.

• Software Developer (£22k-£50k): creates algorithms and flowcharts.

Examples of machine learning scientist and analyst roles :

• Natural Language Processing Scientist (£35k-£100k): teaches machines to understand human language.

• Data Scientist (£35k-£79k): cleans and analyses a large amount of unstructured and structured data.

• Cybersecurity Analyst (£30k-£100k): protects critical systems and sensitive data from hackers.

• AI Prompt Engineer (£35k-£70k): designs prompts that guide AI models such as ChatGPT.

You can learn more about these roles in our CV example articles:

• Data Analyst

• Cyber security

• Software Developer

• Engineer.

3. Sustainability Consultant / Emission trading

Sustainability is the main key to a better future. Since humans strongly rely on natural resources for survival, everyday needs, and business - ignoring sustainability wouldn't be wise for humanity. People in this sector create and implement green policies to fight against environmental issues. They efficiently allocate the existing natural resources to the industries and advise businesses accordingly. With the rising threat of climate change, the CO2 cap and trace regulatory program was implemented to limit or cap the number of greenhouse emissions released by power plants and other industrial activities. There are emission traders that assist businesses in trading their CO2 caps.

Average salary:

• £28K - £41K per year (Glassdoor)

Local governments around the world impose strict environmental regulations. Sustainability consultants specialise in interpreting and incorporating environmental laws and regulations so they can advise enterprises accordingly.

Environmental sustainability is an all-encompassing field with very diverse specialists. To avoid resource scarcity and unsafe environmental products, companies hire professionals to create environmentally friendly and cost-effective solutions.

As a sustainable consultant, you can work in the following industries:

• Mining

• Energy

• Food production

• Manufacturing

• Automotive.

Learn more about how to write a professional CV with the following writing guides and CV examples:

• Sustainability CV

• Consultant CV

• Trader CV.

4. Drop Shipper / Online Entrepreneur

With the advent of new technologies, online entrepreneurs have more sophisticated and customer-friendly ways of selling their products than ever before. In contrast to traditional sales, new business models allow entrepreneurs to outsource the procurement, storing, and shipping of products through a third party.

Average salary:

• £24000 per year (Startups)

A drop shipper is a business or individual that sells products online without having a physical inventory or stock on hand. Dropshipping is a retail business whereby a customer buys the product using the fulfilment logistics method from a third party. In this scheme, a wholesaler or manufacturer usually acts as a middleman between the seller and the buyer. The most famous example of drop shipping is Amazon FBA (abbreviation for 'Fulfilment' by Amazon). This company uses this drop shipping model to promote and provide an online storefront. Despite the competitive nature of the field, it is accessible to anyone with resources and connections with different parties (sellers, manufacturers, wholesalers).

Get inspiration from the following CV examples and writing guides for similar jobs:

• Supply chain CV

• Merchandiser CV.

5. eSports specialist

Competitive gaming, commonly known as eSports, is becoming a new reality attracting millions of gamers and making traditional sports a thing of the past. With the technologies becoming more accessible and innovative, eSports is an inspiring career option that continues to break records on the internet yearly.

The eSports entertainment industry is on its way to becoming a $1.5 billion industry by 2023, with the current total prize pool reaching over $60 million. E-sports have been on the upswing even before the COVID-19 pandemic when most traditional sports activities were prohibited.

E-sports are becoming a part of the school or university curriculum, inviting not just games but also those who want to enter management, coaching, streaming, podcasting, or research roles.

Examples of jobs in eSports include:

• Professional player (£16k-£62k): works in a team to compete in the tournaments;

• Host or caster (£13k-£30k): comments on the live matches and interviews players;

• Game agent (£14k-£48k): manages partnerships and contracts for the players to grow revenue;

• Coach/Analyst (£23k-£58k): identifies strengths and weaknesses of the players.

6. Social Media Influencer

To be an influencer in 2000, you must become a pop movie or music star. However, nowadays, anyone with a smartphone may qualify for the role of an influencer. Using social media accounts or blogs has gone beyond just being a hobby and turned into a full-time occupation for many.

Average salary:

• £25k-£39k per year (Glassdoor)

Think back to 2006 when Facebook was in its early days, Twitter was being launched, and smartphones were slowly becoming the norm. Fast forward to today, the world is a very different place, with social media being one of the most popular and widely used forms of communication. Although initially, social media was known as a platform to connect online, it has become a mode of income for many. Almost every major industry has seen a tremendous rise in influencers. And brands are leaning toward influencers now more than ever.

An influencer is a person who has essentially gained credibility in a specific niche or industry. To succeed in this career path, they must have access to a large audience - hence their 'influence'. Besides having a camera and clothes, influencers must keep track of their progress, identify trends, and create smart business plans. You need to be dedicated and tech-savvy in your niche.

Take a look at the social media CV example for more inspiration.

7. Virtual Reality (VR) designer

VR game designers use 3D design skills to develop immersive fictional words to create an engaging, multi-dimensional environment for users. Originally, VR technology was only used to enhance the gaming industry; however, now, it has become a much more diverse career field with diverse implications, including but not limited to the following:

1. Entertainment;

2. 3D modelling (fine arts, architecture, healthcare);

3. Business and retail;

4. Education and job training;

5. Military.

Many companies have begun incorporating VR technology into their business structure and are in dire need of these types of professionals or designers to transform ideas into virtual reality. You may choose a career path that reflects your values and interests. If you're interested in music, consider applying for a virtual reality development position for a music company. If you want to help the environment, look for companies that advocate for sustainable development.

Examples of typical VR jobs include:

• Technical 3D Artist (£24k-£48k): incorporates the animator's visual content into a VR game.

• UI and UX Designer (£25k-£64k): improves user's experience via research, and data analysis results.

• VR Software Engineer (£33k-£85k): designs, and debugs AR and VR prototypes using Unity/Unreal.

• VR Content Creator (£18k-£38k): build immersive worlds, and visual tours using design tools.

• VR Product Manager (£47k-£72k): designs and tests a go-to-market strategy of a product.

• VR Sound Effects Specialist (£18k-£41k): creates sounds to complement visuals.

Learn more about these types of roles with our extensive range of CV examples:

• UI/UX designer CV

• Artist CV

• Product manager CV.

Looking for work after graduating as an international student? Explore more job opportunities for international students.

8. Digital Marketer

Prior to the online boom of digital media in the mid-2000s, a digital marketing specialist was unheard of. Digital marketing was only manifesting and developing as a form of email newsletters or faxes. Twenty years ago, marketing was commonly associated with print, broadcast, phone calls, or billboards on the streets. Due to the absence of digital media, traditional marketing strategy focused only on production, products, and selling techniques. However, with the rise of contemporary marketing, the approach has been switched to consumer needs and social awareness. Some of the most common job positions in digital marketing include the following:

Examples of technical digital marketing jobs:

• Market research analyst (£20k-£35k): in charge of researching, gathering, compiling and analysing data on market conditions and products to increase sales and find potential new markets.

• Lead generation (£16k-£60k): in charge of creating consumer interest for a service or product with the aim of transforming that interest into a sale.

• Web marketing: display, affiliate (£20k-£62k): both are tactics to market your product or service. display (traditional) marketing involves generating ads targeted at a specific audience, whereas affiliate marketing is a process whereby you recruit third parties (businesses, professionals) to increase your website's search engine ranking.

Examples of creative digital marketing jobs:

• Content Creation Writer (£18k-£35k): designing, and creating blog posts (like this one) on a specific subject, dealing with press releases, website copy, infographic research, and more.

• Email marketing (£28.5k-£66k): using email to send promotional messages and develop relationships with potential customers and/or clients.

• Video marketing (£26k-£45k): integrating engaging video into your marketing campaigns.

• Social Media expert (£24k-£45£): dealing with social media management, graphic creation, mailing list campaigns, viral videos, and more with the goal of promoting a brand by making sure it becomes a household name to its target audience.

People working in this field will have to create social media marketing plans, post to different accounts, and create as much buzz as possible for the company. They will also have to think of ways to expand their reach and catch the eyes of new potential customers and clients daily.

A key quality for someone who wants to take this career path is the ability to think outside the box. A degree in marketing or business gives you versatile career options offering a solid job outlook. You will need to be creative and willing to learn while staying up to date with the latest trends.

Learn more about these types of roles with our CV examples:

• Writer CV

• Marketing CV

• Videographer CV

• Digital Marketing CV.

9. Autonomous Engineer

Driverless cars seemed like a technology of the distant future 20 years ago; however, they have quickly become a new reality with numerous hard-working and highly skilled specialists.

Average salary:

• £28k-46k per year (Glassdoor)

Engineers develop the software that enables self-driving cars to function safely. Companies in this field would usually require a huge team with a diverse skill set. Investment in research and software development is key for driverless cars. Businesses and startups are in dire need of highly skilled professionals with knowledge of mathematics, robotics, and data science. The only downside of self-driving cars is that there is a high demand but a low supply.

The core of any self-driving is AI which allows a car to identify and track other vehicles, pedestrians, signboards, moving objects, and road/route types. You need to be an expert in one of the following fields:

• Robotics

• Machine learning

• Image of signal processing

• Computer vision

• Communications

• Software engineering.

10. Genetic Counsellor

If you want to know the likelihood of passing on the genetic disease to your future children or relatives, consider getting a genetic counsellor. The profession aims to identify and evaluate potential risks of birth defects or inherited conditions such as Huntington's, Tay-Sachs disease, or some forms of cancer. This role includes not only the understanding and identifying of risks but also the ability to interpret and explain in simple terms the genetic information to patients.

Average salary:

• £42k-55k per year (Talent)

A genetic counsellor gives advice either to a family or a healthcare provider to try to understand and make informed decisions about the aforementioned diseases. This entails communicating medical concerns or facts. For instance, you may need to explain how heredity contributes to a condition providing various scenarios for dealing with the risk of recurrence.

To become a genetic counsellor, you need a master's degree in genetics, biology, or any other related field. The possible courses you can undertake are molecular genetics, genetic counselling, ethics, and research methodology. Ideally, it will be beneficial to have clinical training experience or a research project on the side as well.

11. Data Scientist

As a data scientist, your role revolves around cleaning and preprocessing raw data to useful insights to guide business decisions. Your daily duties include applying machine learning algorithms for automatisation, creating graphs and charts, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to resolve any concerns. You need to be proficient in programming languages such as Python, SQL, or R and stay ahead of the competition. Businesses rely on roles like this to get a better understanding of their customer, driving meaningful decision-making.

Average salary:

• £38k-£61k per year (Glassdoor)

To become a data scientist, you usually need a bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, statistics, or a related field. You should also be proficient in programming languages such as Python, R, or SQL. Additionally, you should demonstrate your analytical and communication abilities, as well as experience with data manipulation and analysis tools such as pandas, NumPy, or MATLAB. Lastly, it is beneficial to demonstrate knowledge of machine learning techniques and algorithms.

For more information, check out our data scientist CV example for more tips and industry-specific information.

12. SEO Specialist

They are in charge of improving organic search results through various strategies like keyword research, content creation, link building, and technical audits. They analyse website performance metrics using tools such as Google Analytics to track progress and identify areas for improvement. Businesses seek SEO specialists to enhance their visibility and attract more customers. Collaborate with web developers, content creators, and marketing teams to execute SEO initiatives effectively.

Average salary:

• £25k-£39k per year (Glassdoor)

To become an SEO specialist, you need a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, computer science, or a related field. You would need to show extensive knowledge of search engine algorithms and IT skills with tools, such as Google Analytics, SEMrush, Moz, or Ahrefs. Lastly, you need an analytical mindset and strong problem-solving and communication skills.

Explore our SEO CV example for more practical tips and examples to help you secure your next career.

Next steps?

If you are looking for a future-proof job, check out our CVMaker to kickstart your job search. Additionally, explore our cover letter templates to support your CV. For more tailored career guidance, get in touch with our professionals through CV Writing Services. 

For more details on what makes a good job application, refer to our blog or directly follow the links below:

• Top skills employers look for

• Careers advice for school leavers

• How long should a CV be?

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FAQs

How do you change jobs when you don't know what to do?

• Seek guidance from a career coach

• Keep a journal to explore your thoughts and interests

• Turn your hobby into a profession

• Look for training to develop new skills

• Grow your professional network

• Research salaries

• Take a career test to assess your strengths

• Be creative in your job search.

For more information, explore our related guide on career change CV.

What are the healthcare jobs that didn't exist 50 years ago?

The healthcare sector has introduced jobs that didn't exist 50 years ago, including genetic counsellors, telemedicine specialists, healthcare data analysts, and nurse professionals. Additionally, advancements such as bioinformatics and neuroimaging techniques like MRI and CT scans have revolutionised patient care. These innovations blend cutting-edge technology with personalised treatment plans, enhancing overall healthcare quality.

For more valuable insights, refer to our related healthcare CV and medical CV writing guides.

What are the most in-demand skills for the next 10 years?

See below the list of in-demand skills that wouldn't leave you disappointed in your future career:

Hard skills:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning

• Cybersecurity

• Data Analysis

• Blockchain

• Cloud Computing.

Soft skills:

• Critical Thinking

• Communication

• Emotional Intelligence

• Problem-solving

• Leadership.

To learn more, check out our related blog article on the most sought-after skills in today's job market.

What is the fastest growing profession in the UK?

The latest insights from the LinkedIn 'Jobs on the Rise' report of 2024 identify several leading roles, including sustainability manager, sales development representative, underwriting analyst, chief revenue officer, and dental therapist, among others. With over 75% of UK professionals actively seeking new opportunities, the job market is constantly changing, with an expected 65% shift in required skills by 2030 on a global scale.

Additionally, explore trending jobs like sandwich artist and AI writer, which are continually adapting to the latest industry standards.

How to get a new job with no experience?

• Tailor your CV and cover letter for each job application

• Seek on-the-job training opportunities

• Build up a robust portfolio

• Highlight your transferrable skills

• Obtain accredited certifications to boost your credibility

• Participate in industry-related workshops or seminars

• Volunteer for projects or internships to build hard skills

• Stay proactive

For more valuable tips and examples, refer to our related blog article on how to write a CV with no experience.