The Importance of Upskilling in Today’s Job Market
In today’s fast paced environment, enhancing skills is a must to stay competitive. Today’s school leavers don’t think learning stops the when you finish school, university, or college, they expect to be given the opportunity to keep improving their skills. Continual learning is the new norm and something that should be adopted by all employees, old and young.
So how can you enhance your skills? Here are our tips:
1. Use Your Time Wisely
Too often when people ask how we are, many of us reply with “I’m busy, great, but busy”. Busy is a new way of life and the busy bug has bitten every one of us. But it is important to think about the way you are spending your time. Sure, most of us are busy, juggling work, family, friends, health, and a wide array of things that life throws at us. But do you have pockets of time throughout your day with which you can expand your skills? This might be snippets of time during your workday commute or even getting up an hour earlier to seize the day!
2. Flexible Learning
There are so many ways that we can now digest education and new learnings. Audio books and podcasts provide an easy way to learn new things daily. Online learning has enabled many people to attain a higher level of education through a flexible approach to learning that was never offered before. You can now take a mini MBA through bite sized videos totalling only 2 hours a week with leading lecturers around the world. There are a variety apps available where you can learn new languages or other such skills – so easy to consume on your morning commute.
3. Breakfast, Lunch or Coffee?
Networking offers a myriad of opportunities for advancement and upskilling. Whether you participate in a structured networking event or something more casual, making new connections and building networks is one of the best ways to build your career. The same can be said for mentoring. Being either a mentor or mentee provides supported growth and new perspectives in the workplace today, both options providing learning opportunities and connections to enhance your skill set.
4. Workplace Learning
In many organisations there is capacity for some on-site learning. This may be in the form of a scheduled training calendar or from on-the-job training, or learning from existing staff members. Either way, being involved in the on-site learning opportunities in your workplace will be beneficial to your overall career path.
5. Build Your Own
Do you have a group of friends or colleagues that you enjoy talking “shop” with? Why not create your own business mentoring opportunity and host regular catch ups where you can talk through business, bounce ideas, build networks and increases your skill set? You may use this to enhance your presentation skills, learn from other leaders and understand how other people work in similar situations.