Adding new skills to your resume can help you expand your job opportunities, develop your career prospects, and grow professionally. When you gain new skills, you can be more effective in your current role and prove your ability to advance to the next level.
It’s great to acquire new skills that you’re interested in, but if you want stability in your career, you need to think of skills that will serve you well as the workplace and your industry develop.
Before you even commit to learning a new skill, you have to figure out the amount of time it’ll require. This needs to be an action that is taken proactively. So, look at your schedule and block out the time on your calendar in preparation.
Then, it’s time to explore these 5 ways to can new skills.
- Research In-House Opportunities
Many workplaces are dedicated to helping develop employees and offer on-the-job training to fulfill that initiative. Talk to your boss and colleagues about what training is available in-house, and then seek out other opportunities from there. Training doesn’t always need to be a sit-down course. Shadowing senior colleagues can teach you many valuable skills to help build your career.
- Explore Online
With a workforce trending more towards remote-friendly, there are many opportunities to work on professional development via the online training route. Unfortunately, there can sometimes be a stigma to online or e-learning. Some see it as not being as impactful as in-person learning. However, with the development of courses and platforms such as MasterClass, Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning, great opportunities exist to help you reach your goals.
- Consider Mentorship
Getting involved in a mentorship opportunity can be done from either side of the table, mentoring others, and being mentored yourself. If you are interested in climbing the ladder within your company, being mentored is a great way to show your dedication to that goal and allows you to connect on a different level with more senior-level workers. Mentoring someone else within your company also shows your commitment to improving the company and gives you a different way of seeing things through the eyes of those you mentor.
- Attend Networking Events
At the start of conference season for your industry, come up with a list of networking events that fit your goals. It’s great to get out and connect with new people and form relationships. These events allow just that. They also give you the chance to keep a pulse on the industry and stay in front of any new trends and the right people.
- Listen to Intel
The podcast medium is booming with information, insight, and industry-specific news. Find career-appropriate podcasts that speak to the goals you want to achieve. Of course, reading a book or the latest news is great for those with the time, but audiobooks also serve a very powerful purpose for your intellect.
Once you’re able to start the process of acquiring new skills, hold yourself accountable by doing the following:
- Make the time
- Understand your industry’s future
- Determine your current skills
- Manage your expectations
- Set SMART goals
As you make your way through the process of gaining new skills, ask for feedback from those around you that you trust. This will help you understand how the skills are meshing with your current skill set and job.
How has acquiring new skills helped you, and how did you execute the process? Join the conversation on LinkedIn and check out Building Your Emotional Intelligence at Work.
