‘Upskilling’ – a term that became popular in 2020. With remote working, sudden layoffs, pay cuts, and the threat of the global pandemic looming large, upskilling became an important part of the ‘New Normal’. Upskilling refers to the process of acquiring additional skills and competencies. It helps one to gather more knowledge and opens newer avenues for career exploration and growth.
Here are some tips on how to upskill yourself:
Expand your knowledge:
The process of upskilling begins with having in-depth knowledge about your industry. Find out the current trends in your industry and try to learn more about them. Study in detail about every important aspect of your industry by participating in online conferences, webinars, etc.
Choose relevant courses:
There are a plethora of courses available online. However, not every course would fulfill your upskilling needs. Choose courses that are relevant to you. You can also go for courses that come with specialized certificates. Make sure that the courses you select align with the current and the upcoming trends in your sector.
Many tech companies and leading educational institutions offer free, auditable courses where you can get access to all course materials. Though such courses do not equate with a formal qualification, yet the knowledge that you gather from them is highly beneficial.
Learn while working:
Some employers provide free self-learning modules to their workforce. These courses normally align with the talents and skills that a particular company wants to develop in its employees. Thus, acquiring relevant knowledge and skills in this way can also uplift your position in the workplace.
You can also try out peer-to-peer learning. In such sessions, an individual or a group of people learn from one another which in turn, makes the learning process interesting and effective.
Develop soft skills:
Apart from the technical skills and other talents, recruiters also look for applicants having the required soft skills. Soft skills involve teamwork, resilience, communication, etc. These are priceless qualities. Try following some research-based strategies to inculcate or develop the soft skills within you. This will make you more confident. You will also become more appropriate for the role that you are applying for.
Build your network:
In the ever-growing digital world of today, you need to have a good online presence. Create your profiles in different job portals, professional networking platforms, freelancing communities, etc. This will help you to get in touch with the right people and build your connections. Study in detail about the jobs or companies you are interested in and reach out to prospective employers.
Brush up your interview skills:
With more and more interviews taking place online, you need to develop practical and appropriate interview skills. Gone are the days of preparing for interviews in the traditional way. Before attending the interview session, make sure that all the required equipment is in place and is working properly. Find information about the company. Wear proper clothing and be confident. Find the right environment for the virtual interview and remove all distractions.
