Technology moves at lightning speeds, creating new trends, demands, and opportunities in the job market. These rapid shifts make upskilling an increasingly crucial part of the tech industry, especially for those aspiring to climb the professional ladder. But what is upskilling and how can you use it in your favor? Learn more about continuous learning, its importance in today’s tech world, and how you can start upskilling to advance in your job and career.
What is Upskilling?
Upskilling is the process of learning continually and developing professionally to gain new skills and knowledge that align with the demands of the job market, build upon the skills you already have, and advance your current career. For instance, if you have a tech job in software development or software engineering, you may build on your programming skills by learning about a popular programming language or framework.
As technology continues shaping jobs in tech, upskilling has become a professional necessity and one of the primary means of career progression. By upskilling, individuals are able to adapt to the ever-changing environment, seize opportunities, and thrive in the tech sector.
What are the Benefits of Upskilling?
The benefits of an upskilled workforce are twofold — it positively impacts the individuals taking advantage of upskilling opportunities and the organizations they work for. Organizations that provide upskilling opportunities can potentially see benefits such as greater employee engagement, productivity, retention, and a more satisfied customer base. For individuals, the benefits of upskilling include:
Salary raises
Upskilling could provide more value for the employer, which means the chance to get a promotion and increased pay.
Increased job satisfaction
Upskilling could help you avoid or move away from burnout or boredom. It can provide fresh perspectives on your current job, as well as the skills and knowledge to advance in your job or transition into an adjacent role.
Discovery of new professional passion
Learning exposes employees to new ideas and can lead to new passions that can potentially turn into career opportunities in the future.
Increased employability
Upskilling enhances employability because it responds to the employer’s need for a workforce that possesses in-demand skills and showcases drive and growth.
3 Ways to Upskill
Common ways to upskill in tech include:
Online Courses
Apps, videos, and educational websites offer courses and resources for learning skills in areas such as software development, software engineering, information technology, information security, information systems, and more.
Self-Study
Some employees choose to upskill their existing tech jobs by taking on projects that require self-directed learning and working on real-world tasks. This experience provides practical application of skills and deeper understanding of tech concepts.
Certificate Tech Programs
Tech programs offer immersive, rigorous education with hands-on training, collaboration, real-world learning, networking opportunities, and much more.
Companies Pushing for Upskilled Employees
Companies across the tech space understand that there’s a skills gap in the industry — a discrepancy between the skills and competencies an employer needs from its workforce and the skills and competencies the workforce currently has. To close this skills gap, these companies push for a more highly skilled workforce by encouraging employees to pursue training programs and invest in employee development opportunities.
Upskill Your Way to Tech
If you’re considering upskilling a current tech career, you can get the learning experiences that you need to take your future to the next level. With a certificate tech program, for example, you’ll learn essential tech fundamentals, put your new knowledge to the test in collaborative projects, and network with like-minded individuals and industry experts as you continue to build your career.
Plus, you’ll get to explore the job market, prepare job search materials, and prepare for job interviews before graduation with the support of career services. Are you ready to upskill yourself?
