If you were to describe the past year and a half as an anomaly, not many people would argue. It also had a major effect on businesses. Many changed the way they operated, and not by choice.
Workers also had to adapt. It meant getting creative as they faced uncertainty and changes in their careers. It placed a sharp focus on how quickly they were able to enhance their knowledge and/or learn new skills.
It’s not surprising that 59% of Learning and Development professionals believe that upskilling and reskilling are essential, especially this year.
It might be one of the few good things that came out of the pandemic. You should consider it as part of your career goals for the upcoming year, if you haven’t already. Read on to find out why.
What Is Upskilling and Reskilling?
Although used together, the terms upskilling and reskilling are not interchangeable. Here’s the difference:
Upskilling
Upskilling involves improving your current skills or learning new ones. This often becomes necessary due to changing workplaces. External forces can also precipitate this need. The pandemic provides a perfect example of this.
You will need it if there are changes to your current role. Especially if old workplace skills are no longer relevant. It may include learning or expanding your digital, organisational management, and analytical skills.
Reskilling
Reskilling occurs when you learn new skills to perform in a completely different role. It’s often necessary when you want to change your career.
In some instances, you can also use this newly acquired knowledge to perform your current role differently. But often it takes you on a different career path.
The Importance of Upskilling and Reskilling
It shouldn’t be difficult to see why both upskilling and reskilling are important. Unfortunately for many, due to the pandemic, this process wasn’t a choice. It was a necessary activity to ensure they could continue to earn a living.
However, you should be implementing these throughout your career. Technology continues to advance daily and with it digital workplaces. Consistently upskilling and/or reskilling will ensure you aren’t left behind or taken by surprise.
Here are a few other benefits:
Greater Job Satisfaction
No one wants to be in a role where they’re counting down to the day their skills will no longer be valuable. However, almost 60% of employees believe they will experience this in the next few years.
Learning new skills helps you to do your job more efficiently. It will boost your confidence and give you greater job satisfaction. It will also make you more eligible for promotions within the organisation.
Allows You to Adapt
Learning new skills helps you to adapt easily to changes within the organisation. It will provide you with opportunities that are not available to less trained co-workers.
This is especially relevant at digital workplaces. You will need to keep up with changes in technology.
Even if there are no significant changes within the workplace. Upping your skill level keeps you relevant.
This is important when new, highly skilled employees join the company. It will help you to always be one step ahead.
Keeps You Healthier and Lessens Stress
Keeping your mind and body active is one way to stay healthy. This is becoming even more important when managing your work-life balance.
Having the requisite skills to do your job makes it less stressful. It helps you better deal with challenges that occur. Your knowledge will allow you to problem-solve more effectively.
When you discover your potential through learning, it becomes rewarding. It makes you both happier and healthier.
Your Employer Will Sanction the Investment
The great thing is that most employers will be more than willing to invest in you. That’s because skilled employees lower their recruitment costs as employee retention increases.
Training workers promotes greater team collaboration, increases productivity, and improves customer service. All of which positively affect an organisation’s bottom line.
COVID-19 and Jobs
A lot of the recent upskilling and reskilling occurred as a direct reaction to the pandemic. However, it’s important to consider more than just technical skills.
Your mental health and ability to cope is also important. Especially as you continue to work through the pandemic.
When developing your abilities, consider programs that involve:
- Your overall wellbeing – emotional, physical, occupational, and mental
- Learning more effective communication skills
- Promoting creative and critical thinking
- Ways to cope with and adapt to change
- Cultivating a flexible, growth mindset
- Emotional Intelligence
Everyone copes with changes differently. Learning skills that will help you to have a more positive mindset will go a long way.
Examples of Ways You Can Upskill and Reskill
By now, you know why upskilling and reskilling are important. You may have even experienced it first-hand. But if you haven’t, you may be uncertain about where to start.
Learning and Development leaders, globally, cited two areas of focus when it comes to upskilling and reskilling:
Digital Fluency – the ability to effectively interpret, use and communicate information in a digitally connected world.
Resilience – aims to improve your quality of life through spiritual, physical, cognitive, and mental training.
Some examples include programs that teach you about:
- Mastering mental toughness
- Immersive learning using Metaverse to explore virtual and augmented reality
- Positive psychology
- Blockchain Specialisation
- Bitcoin or cryptocurrency technologies
Don’t be afraid to explore new and emerging trends. These are usually areas that require specialised skills. Becoming an early adopter and gaining knowledge will ensure there is a high demand for your expertise.
Making Yourself Marketable Through Upskilling and Reskilling
Change is inevitable. But it’s not always a bad thing. However, for the best outcome, it is important to be able to adapt quickly.
This was a major lesson for people all over the world this past year. For many, securing their livelihoods meant upskilling and reskilling. This allowed them to keep up with changes in their workplace and environment.
This might feel like a daunting task, but SeenToHire can help. We provide you with solutions that will help you stand out. Simply choose a plan to get started.
