Upskilling helps you strengthen your current skills and grow your expertise.
As your career develops, you might find chances to add to your skills. These new or advanced abilities can help you move into management or take on more interesting projects.
While you can develop skills naturally over time, some people choose to focus on professional growth by upskilling. Many companies also support upskilling to help employees grow within the organization.
This article explains what upskilling is and how you can develop advanced skills for your career. If you want to start upskilling, you can check out Upskill Academy for courses in areas like artificial intelligence, data analytics, business, and technology.
What is upskilling?
Upskilling is about learning new or improved skills that connect to your current job. You can think of it as leveling up your abilities.
As you gain experience, you naturally learn more about your job and industry. Upskilling is a more focused way to learn, often through courses, certifications, or mentorship, so you can build deeper knowledge faster.
Depending on your job, it can help to improve your workplace skills, technical skills, or both. Learn about the differences between these types of skills.
Benefits of upskilling
People often talk about the benefits of upskilling for companies. When companies invest in upskilling, employees are more engaged and stay longer, which can save money on hiring in the long run.
But upskilling also helps individuals. By upskilling, you can:
- Progress toward goals
- Remain competitive in the job market.
- Qualify for a promotion.
- Secure a new job
- Earn a higher salary.
- Continue self-improvement
How to upskill
Upskilling is closely tied to your career goals. As you decide where to upskill, think about your goals and the career path you want to follow.
To build your skills for the future, compare what you know now with the skills you’ll need for your long-term goals. You might already have some, but others may need work. Upskilling or reskilling can help fill those gaps.
How to upskill your employees or yourself
- Employers can close skills gaps in many ways, such as offering online courses and ongoing learning programs. Here are some ways you or your team can start upskilling or reskilling today:
- Find out what resources are available to you. Some companies offer access to career development programs or upskilling platforms such as Upskill Academy. Check with your People Operations or Human Resources team to see what’s offered.
- Look for courses that match your interests. There are plenty of options online or at community colleges, whether you want to learn about well-being, global finance, or negotiation.
- Consider earning a certificate to boost your credentials. Certificate programs usually require more work than single courses, but they show you have extra expertise in a specific area.
- Try working on a project if you like learning by doing. You could join a project at work or start your own outside of work. Over time, these projects can become a strong portfolio.
- Find a mentor to help guide you. Talking to someone who has reached the goals you want can give you useful advice and support as you upskill. Learn more about finding a mentor.