Why is Upskilling Important?
Technology evolves and advances industries at a quicker pace. This creates the gap between existing labor skills and skills required to do work effectively. The US Chamber of Commerce Foundation reported that 74% of hiring managers acknowledge that a skills gap presently exists within their teams. In Singapore, The Straits Times headlined “Over 20,500 jobs, attachments and traineeships still available in infocomm sector” on 14 August 2021. This is after nearly 16,200 job seekers were placed in positions within the sector by May 2021.
Upskilling is the way forward. Even big companies like Amazon and PWC have endowed uphill programs for their staff. By advancing the abilities of current and future professionals, talent gaps are bridged. Additionally, each staff and employer can benefit from fewer turnover, increasing growth opportunities, and increasing productivity and job satisfaction. In short, upskilling enables employees to be accountable for their career quality, and employers get the highest talent in addition.
Benefits of Upskilling
Upskilling is vital in all industries.
It helps you learn new job skills, improve engagement, and build confident. Learning new skills is often necessary to remain competitive, increase income, while minimize retrenchment risk. Additionally, it makes you look more attractive to a potential hiring manager.
Enhance Your Work Life
Have you ever felt tired or bored of probing similar motions at work? Learning a new skill provides you with the chance to change it up. It also helps to bolster your motivation and morale. New skills can garner new responsibilities which bring new excitements to your professional life.
Improve Yourself
Finally, upskilling helps you improve yourself. Similar to keeping your body fit, it’s rewarding to keep your mind active. Mentally stimulating activities keep your memory and thinking sharp and even cut down the onset of insanity and Alzheimer’s. Additionally, learning facilitates personal and skilled fulfillment.
Area to Improve your Skills and Get Potential
The COVID-19 disruption has made the skills gap broader and faster than ever before. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has predicted about 97 million new roles by the end of 2025. Check out the two fastest growing areas–digital and analytics.
Digital Transformation
Digitalization is growing rapidly through various digital channels and mobilities. Staff with digital skills earn more. Increase your earning potential by studying new digital skills.
Digital skills
- Digital acquirement
- Programming
- Software development
- UX/UI style
- Digital product management
- Social media
Statisticians, data security analysts, information scientists, and analysts are projected to be among the quickest growing occupations within the next decade. Future-proof your career and pay by upskilling in analytics.
Analytic Skills
- Data science and analytics
- Digital business analysis
- Critical thinking
- Mathematical modeling
- Research
- Problem-solving
Upskill Yourself in 6 Steps
Follow these 6 steps to help you reach your upskilling goal.
1. Determine Your Goals
The first step to upskilling is begin with an end in mind. Ask yourself what you would like to attain in your career. Perhaps you’re a Software Tester and wish to be promoted to a Software Developer, or a Team Lead. No matter what your goal is, keeping it at the forefront is very important to achieving it.
2. Realize Your Skill Gaps
With your final goal in mind, it’s time to work out your skill gaps. To do this, you’ll browse job descriptions for your {required} position and discover the required skills you don’t presently have. Tab into your network to validate your findings.
3. Formulate an Inspiration
Once you recognize your gaps, begin designing however you’ll fill them with education and coaching. After researching the way to learn or acquire your talent, make a S.M.A.R.T. set up–specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound objectives.
Good Upskilling Objective
I will spend X hours a day/week [learning method] for X quantity of weeks/months to learn [skill].
Example:
I will spend 2 hours every day watching tutorial videos for eight weeks to learn HTML.
And…
I will spend 2 hours every week to practice my HTML for four months to achieve foundation HTML skills.
4. Learn New Skills
Once you have got an upskilling strategy, it’s time to execute. Learning takes time, dedication, and consistent application of what you learn.
5. Act on your New Skills
It’s time to put your new skills to use. Begin with low-risk ways to apply them first. Attempt to contribute your learnings in meetings or assist a team member on their project. If you apply your talent well, you’ll impress your team and attract new opportunities.
6. Keep Learning
Upskilling isn’t a one-time event. You never understand what new information gaps would appear in your skillset or if your career goals could include amendment over time. Staying open to new ideas and opportunities by growing and evolving with technological changes in your industry.
Take Away
It’s vital to be a life-long learner and find ways to future-proof your resources. Continue to pick up new skills and be rewarded with advancement and pay raises. Be the person who leverages machines and algorithms to make a positive impact to society.
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