So, you have been working in the same job for many years but you’ve reached a roadblock. There has been little career advancement, or worse, you’ve stopped climbing career positions altogether either in your company or industry. This is not something unique, as many workers at some point of their lives will face career stagnation.
It’s very important to realise when this happens, as your current career may be compounding this issue by not providing you opportunities to acquire new skills and knowledge required for professional growth. A way to combat this is by upskilling yourself, especially in today’s society, where the onus to learn valuable, new skills is often placed on the employee, rather than employer.
It could be the difference in what separates you from your colleague in that next job promotion. Similarly, these skills are one of your most valuable commodities in the job market. If the time does come to move on from your current position, you want to be readily equipped with new skills so you can put your best foot forward in your next profession.
Upskilling increases your negotiating power and value
We have already mentioned that you may be languishing in your current job. What better way to increase your value to your company and boss than by obtaining new skills relevant to your industry. It not only demonstrates to your present leadership a new skillset that would be useful to their bottom-line, but that you have a strong desire to improve yourself, and contribute more to the business. By showing that you are expanding your experience, you send a clear message you are ready for more responsibilities – a quality management looks for in employees.
Likewise, even if there isn’t a current promotion at hand, upskilling can allow you to bargain and negotiate for a pay rise because you can now do more. Never underestimate the power of being able to provide solid evidence to your boss when the talk of a salary increase comes into question.
Upskilling can sometimes be the best form of protection from redundancy
While upskilling can certainly provide significant chances of getting a raise, in some industries it provides a much better reason on why you should continue getting paid. Going out of your way to learn not only makes you more valuable to the business, it also indicates that you have a proactive attitude – two things that are great for job security.
Don’t be afraid to ask for your work to pay for the training either. Many times, they will be happy to assist, as the end result is beneficial for both the business and its employees.
Upskilling gives you new opportunities
Upskilling can also be ‘reskilling’ - learning brand new skills to move into a similar (or not so similar) career path. In many cases, when it comes to upskilling or reskilling, you can build of your previous skills and experience. For example, air conditioning courses for electricians, which allows them to install air conditioners and bringing them a new customer base. Equally, someone managing a team may complete a workplace leadership certificate, so they can help their team work more efficiently which may result in less overall work day to day.
In fact, they are range of opportunities open to those looking to upskill. It’s never too late to complete more training and ensure you are ready for your next career expansion or new carer prospect.
What options are open to me
There are range of options available for those looking to upskill, ranging from short courses leading to certification at TAFE, to longer courses provided by universities. For those currently working in a trade, you will be able to find further education and training services at various RTOs.
A good place to get started and see what’s available is to visit seeklearning. There you will find a range of courses leading to certificates, and other short courses that require no previous training.
