One of the best ways to take the next step in your career is to upskill. Adding another feather to your bow, as they say, will open up opportunities. Why? Because a new skill will mean you will be able to expand your ability to be involved in new projects, tasks or perhaps even a new career.
How can you upskill?
- Firstly, think about what new skill it is you want. Start by looking at what skills you currently have. Is there a skill you could build on? For example, perhaps you have great teamwork skills but would like to be able to present your ideas to the team in a more professional way. A great skill to work on would be presentation skills, which will then open up more opportunities for you in the workplace.
- Look at industry trends. What is the market looking for at the moment? Take some time to look into the industry you work in or the industry you would like to work in. Read articles and blogs written by people in that industry – you are bound to find many just with a simple Google search. Ask around, talk to those in the industry and find out what skills are in demand. For example, the education sector is looking for more teachers in 2023.
- Find a mentor. Working with a mentor, someone who can guide you and work with you to discover your career goals can be an excellent way to identify where there are gaps in your skillset. A mentor will be able to work with you to discuss what skills you could develop.
- Once you have identified what area you want to upskill in, find out how to do it. This could be training, a short course or, in some cases, a degree. Take your time researching the various options. Again, speak to others who have completed the same training and/or course, and ask how they found it so you can be prepared for what to expect in terms of commitment of time and focus.
- Talk to your recruitment consultant. When it comes to resumes, recruitment consultants are highly skilled at reviewing them closely and identifying what areas you could build on. Our team are always available to help out. Ask what skill would make your resume more enticing for a particular role.
Whether you want to stay in your current career or pivot in a completely different direction, upskilling is always going to enable you to evolve and grow. Remember, upskilling doesn’t always have to be a large leap. You can always start with small goals, such as learning how to use a particular part of a computer program or becoming more punctual and better managing time.
