The best thing you can do to future-proof your career path right now is to learn how to upskill. No matter your industry or your position, there is always more that can be learned, especially when you consider how quickly technology is developing nowadays.
Hold on… What even is upskilling?
Simply put, upskilling means bridging the gap between where your company is at right now and where it will be years from now. It is heavily influenced by the industry you’re in and the career path you’ve chosen. Yet, it can look very different for everyone.
If you’re working in a creative industry, for example, upskilling can look like investing in a high-level copywriting masterclass or joining a designer-only course to sharpen your skills.
Upskilling could also look like taking a master's degree or working as an apprentice for the role you’d like to fill.
Remember to upskill efficiently and effectively!
The goal here is to find the right type of course that best fits your situation. Don’t join the first masterclass you see online and definitely don’t enrol in a random course just for the sake of it! If you do, the chances to find yourself back at square one are really high.
Instead, set your goals and intentions.
Why do you want to upskill? In what areas do you want to delve deeper? Why now is the right time? What budget did you have in mind?
There are different ways for you to upskill, so make sure you find what aligns with you. Between free and paid courses, certifications, masterclasses, summits or volunteering time, the choice is entirely yours!
When is the time to upskill in your career?
If you’re unsure whether you’re ready to upskill or not, consider the following:
- Do you have the time to dedicate to upskilling?
- Do you have the budget for a course or programme? If not, is there a government grant you may be eligible for? Perhaps your company could invest in your course or programme!
- Is your current career path in demand? How can you make sure your career stays future-proof?
- Are you wanting to change industries entirely? What will that look like in terms of a time commitment and budget commitment?
- Are you progressing in your career or do you feel stuck? If you feel stuck, what skills are beneficial to a role above yours?
Consider if you need to upskill or reskill!
Upskilling and reskilling sound similar but they are actually very different.
Upskilling involves learning new. If you decide to upskill you are advancing your career path and because of your additional new skills, you’ll be better equipped either at your current role or a higher position (or even in an entirely different industry!).
Reskilling is often referred to as “professional recycling” and means refreshing your skills. You might want to reskill if the industry changes and you need to keep up with it.
For example, a social media marketer who attends webinars and conferences, reads industry blogs and takes online courses to expand their knowledge of emerging social media channels like TikTok is upskilling.
A marketing coordinator working in traditional advertising who attends workshops on influencer marketing, learns how to identify and collaborate with relevant influencers and successfully integrates influencer campaigns into the company's marketing strategy, is reskilling.
Whether it's upgrading existing skills or acquiring new ones, continuous learning is essential to thrive in any industry. Will be you upskilling or reskilling in 2023?