What To Learn To Earn – How Upskilling Can Enhance Your Career
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By Ajitesh Basani, Executive Director-Administration, Acharya Bangalore B-School
In the fast-changing world of education and the job market, upskilling has become a necessity for students as well as working professionals. The fast-changing demands of a job do not hesitate to put pressure on academia as well as professionals creating a need for new age skills or a new set of skills or indulging in upskilling more often than ever before. Here’s how upskilling can transform an academic as well as a professional pursuit:
1. Stay Relevant: The skill sets required to succeed in today’s job market are always changing: growing technologisation, evolving industry trends and changing business practices mean that old skills become obsolete. The best way to make sure that the skills you have – or are building in yourself or students – are relevant to today’s and tomorrow’s needs is to upskill. Whether that means learning a new piece of software, enhancing your digital literacy, or becoming an expert in your field, you can help ensure your continued employability by upskilling.
2. Broaden career prospects: Upskilling boosts the prospect of a career in a newer or broader field. For example, students who take up additional courses while studying for a core course can become more appealing as a job applicants or can gain internship experience. Similarly, professionals can progress in their careers at the same company, switch jobs and career fields or even get a job in a new field.
3. Upskill to supercharge your employability and earning potential: If you possess more sought-after skills, that means you add more value to an organisation: employers will pay a premium for such in-demand skills and, as you upskill more, you become more valuable to employers. You increase your bargaining power and can move to better-paying jobs.
4. Support personal growth and lifelong learning: It’s not just about professional development; upskilling can lead to personal development and growth. Being stretched intellectually and being forced to explore new ways of doing things can be challenging and even demanding, leading to new perspectives and a greater sense of achievement and life satisfaction.
5. Stay on top of changing educational landscapes: Ecosystems continually evolve. From new teaching methodologies, technologies and curriculum updates there are plenty of changing landscapes that educators need to stay abreast of, especially upskilling to keep up.
However, developing a growth mindset and believing in the constant need for building skills is key to upskilling effectively. Every individual must choose the areas that work for them. Students can immerse themselves in areas of their choice like personal development courses online, workshops, certifications or internships, as long as it helps them prepare for their careers in the future. Professionals can take up skilling opportunities offered by their companies, attend conferences or seminars within their industry, or undertake further education and certifications in relevant areas.
In an era of disruption where the need to upskill is more than a cliché, you need to take your professional and personal training into your own hands. By regularly investing in learning, you’ll futureproof your career, realise your life’s ambitions and lead a more fulfilling and successful life.
