9 ways to upskill
It’s already 2021: why do we still forego upskilling?
If there’s one thing we learned in the present pandemic: Unforeseeable things do happen.
We can whine all year about it, or we can focus and prepare on what we can control.
Upskilling is the process of learning new skills or competence.
Is it really important?
Here are 2 reasons that would make you take action:
1. We are in the age of digital transformation.
Come on! This is old news... but really, everyone knows about it, everyone is part of it, but not everyone thinks about its implication.
“between 40 million and 160 million women worldwide may need to transition between occupations by 2030, often into higher-skilled roles. Clerical work, done by secretaries, schedulers and bookkeepers, is an area especially susceptible to automation.”-Forbes (2020)
“up to 20 million manufacturing jobs worldwide will be lost to robots by 2030”-Oxford Economics
Surely, you had encountered facts like this before. But have you thought about how it might affect you and what you can do about it?
2. Personal benefits:
-helps you remain employable. Upskilling means staying relevant and valuable — for more job security especially in these economic times!
-greater remuneration and benefits.
-helps with career progression and promotion
-increases your professional value and expand your capabilities
-opens up new possibilities with changing job perspectives and uncovering new interests.
9 ways to upskill
1. Take an online course on a topic relevant to you. After finishing the course, you will be awarded certificates that you can post online.
These are mostly free or at a very low cost. You only need 30mins to 1 hour per day.
Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Google’s Analytics Academy, The Open University, Coursera
2. Go back to formal studying- Masters, Postgraduate or Certifications / Licensure on your industry
This takes more dedication, money, and time. But if you’re serious about investing in yourself. This is the best way.
Certificates related to your industry:
e.g. HR- take CIPD, SHRM
Accountant- CPA, CMA
Craving for a big, audacious move? Study abroad — take your Postgraduate degree in a different country.
Pick someplace with a lower cost of living — lower cost of the tuition fee. A lot of students are taking this route. You can even do part-time work while studying. Imagine all the adventures and experiences that you can make.
3. Read (or listen) top business books
All those authors had researched, studied, and racked their brains out to produce those books. Imagine all of those ideas, being transferred to your brain. Simply by reading it!
Listen to audiobooks. Audible is one of the best-invented apps. This is an audiobook on your phone featuring the latest books-fiction and non-fiction. I listen to it when I’m driving, doing house chores, walking in the park. Multitasking at its finest.
Podcasts, Ted Talk also provides the expert knowledge that you can tap into just about any topic on earth.
4. Find a mentor- All great speakers, motivational coaches, successful entrepreneurs are saying one thing — find a mentor. Mentors will not only guide us on the right path but also will save us from a lot of mistakes. You will gain plenty of professional insight talking to somebody with more experience. You can also clarify which skills you need to develop.
Think of having a mentor like using Google Map on your phone. Instead of you driving around, figuring out the direction. Mentors know where you are and will lead you the right way. They will help you anticipate and cope up with obstacles and how to get past them. Mentors had once been there on that road that you are taking. Although for sure, you can reach your end-goal without a Google map (mentor). But the ride will be a lot smoother with one.
5. Network- Reach out to people not only within your industry but also outside, both offline and online. This will broaden your mindset and interpersonal skills.
“The richest people in the world look for and build networks, everyone else looks for work. Marinate on that for a minute.”-Kiyosaki
-Attend virtual events, conferences, and webinars — Hitting 2 birds in one stone- you get to learn up-to-date information in your industry and connect with like-minded people.
- LinkedIn is a great way to build a network, and reach out to employers about potential opportunities. Build a presence to be proud of. Stay in pulse with any developments in your area of interest, whilst also promoting yourself to prospective employers.
6. Volunteer
-Not only you get to help people, but also you get to meet amazing people. Volunteering speaks volumes about your attitude.
7. Teach or mentor others
Feynman's technique suggests that you will retain new knowledge faster when you shared it with others. The art of explaining can solidify those ideas. On the other hand, mentoring can boost your coaching and leadership skills as you grow confident in teaching others.
You might not realize it, but you always have something that could be valuable to other people.
Also.. you are never too old or too young to mentor someone!
8. Start a blog or publish an article on LinkedIn learning
-Blogging is a great way to boost your credibility and professional profile. This will give you the chance to build upon your existing knowledge and will serve as your portfolio for anyone who might be looking to hire.
This can also help you expand your industry knowledge.
9. Take public speaking classes- Join your local Meetup group for public speaking classes. Be a member of Toastmasters International — an organization that builds people skills to be more confident public speakers and stronger leaders. In addition, members are asked to evaluate other member’s speeches while also developing their own listening and interpersonal skills
No one else is responsible for your own individual growth but you.
It can be a personal strategy that will help you boost your sense of purpose, well-being, and self-esteem while learning valuable new skills to add to your resume.
References:
Forbes (2019) Is AI Going To Be A Jobs Killer? News Reports About The Future Of Work
Milken Institute 2020 Why Upskilling Matters, Now More Than Ever https://milkeninstitute.org/power-of-ideas/why-upskilling-matters-now-more-ever
The future of women at work: Transitions in the age of automation https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/gender-equality/the-future-of-women-at-work-transitions-in-the-age-of-automation#