Every day is a school day – even when we’re adults. We never stop learning and we never should stop learning if we want to progress in both our career and daily lives.
It seems that professional development is growing in popularity. Sales for Publisher Pearson increased 12% to £3,841m during the year of 2022 due to their new Workforce Skills talent investment platform that was designed for the increased need for upskilling and reskilling.
Upskilling and reskilling are great ways for you to continue developing in your career and to discover new areas for growth you may not have known were available to you before which may lead you down a whole new career path.
What is “Upskilling” & “Reskilling”?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “upskilling” refers to the process of learning new skills or of teaching workers new skills.
“Reskilling” refers to the process of learning new skills so you can do a different job, or of training people to do a different job.
Upskilling & Reskilling Methods to Develop Your Career
Utilise Company Resources
If your employer has any educational resources available, make use of them. If your employer offers you learning opportunities, such as taking specific courses or visiting workshops, take them. If your employer presents you with a chance to advance your career within the company, say yes. Overall, say yes to anything that may come your way!
Read, Read, Read
Whether it’s business books, articles, essays or industry news, reading relevant content to your career will always be helpful to advancing your skills. You will become an authority, encourage confidence in yourself, and give you more chances to develop leadership skills. Curiosity is one of the best human traits, so use it to your advantage and soak in all the information that’s going to help you excel.
Attend Workshops & Networking Opportunities
By interacting with other likeminded people, especially in your industry, will open your eyes and your mind to even more information you may not have accessed before. It may also inspire you to take another path to an area of development you didn’t know was possible. This will increase your knowledge and you will gain even more confidence every time you visit another event.
Other Ways to Develop in Your Career
Set Achievable Goals & Monitor Your Progress
One way to organise yourself and get your development started is by outlining what it is you want to achieve. Then, by keeping track of your achievements, you will be able to clearly see your progress and where there could be other opportunities you may not have seen before.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Your Peers
Always ask questions; there is no such thing as a stupid question. Whether they’re in your department or not, you can gain a lot of knowledge and expertise by asking the right questions. When you’ve got other qualified and experienced people around you, what better resources are there? Also, don’t be afraid to ask your management team for feedback as this can help set other goals and guide you towards further development.
There are a number of ways you can continue developing in your career, whether it’s your existing one or a new one. At Chamber of Business, we are designed as a knowledge hub to help you in every aspect of business, so make sure you use our resources or share your own expertise today!