Sponsored by Careers Australia:
Upskilling is a great way to develop your career and feel like you are actually moving forward rather than always remaining stationary in your job. But where do you even start? Below are some simple ways that everyone can use to start developing and upskilling their career today.
Focus on Business
Often the difficult thing about career development is to study in order to upskill in your profession. A good place to start is business education. Just about every learning institution offers courses in business, including flexible learning centers such as Careers Australia, because it is something everyone can benefit from – you don’t have to be a business owner. Having knowledge of business dynamics, trends, and issues will allow you to be more proactive in your own job and more confident to voice your opinions and ideas.
Volunteer Your Time
This may not be an option for everyone, but it is something you should try to incorporate somewhere in your schedule if you are serious about upskilling your career. The great thing about this is that your volunteering doesn’t have to be in something that is directly related to the industry you’re already in. By gaining hands-on experience in a different field, you are expanding your current knowledge and skill set to be able to bring new ideas to an old career.
Expand Your Knowledge
Yes, gaining additional qualifications is one way to expand your knowledge, but there are other ways, too. Attend conferences or lectures focusing on the industry you want to upskill in so you can gain a broad understanding of your employment industry as a whole. This can demonstrate niche opportunities that may be available for career development or holes in your current job or business that might need filling.
Network
Get out and about. Find groups that meet to discuss issues facing your industry, and source additional contacts through your current ones who may be able to help you with ideas or future education. Social networking sites are also great for this because they allow you to add these contacts and stay up to date with what they’re doing, as well as inform them about what you’re doing.
Put Your Hand Up
Your employer may need some extra hands to handle additional tasks, but if you don’t show interest, you will often get overlooked. Businesses work well when their team members are willing to participate and show initiative. If you start to put yourself forward regularly, your boss will start to ask you automatically to help out with extra tasks. You may find a new direction in your current career that you hadn’t previously thought about.
Many people, particularly women, lack the confidence to step up and push themselves ahead in their careers. However, the above tips are easy ways for women to upskill in their own time and at their own pace so they feel ready for that career development when it does come their way.
What are some fun ideas you have for upskilling in your own career? Let us know!
