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Learning and upgrading your skills is one of the most effective ways to advance your career. Whether you want to explore a new role or rise the ranks, upgrading your skills could help in multiple ways. Most professions are dynamic and depend on the growth patterns of the markets. A minor change or disruption could impact an individual’s professional life. You should be adaptable and keep your eyes on the latest developments or initiatives in the industry. Exploring new fields will increase your abilities and help you become more confident in your approach.
Why Upgrading Your Skills is Important?
Practice does not make perfect unless you have the determination or curiosity to learn more. Here, we will talk about the reasons why upgrading skills is important.
Prepare for the Changes
The pandemic brought along a wave of uncertainty and encouraged us to find different ways to strive in the markets. One of the best ways is to accept and embrace change. Upgrading your skills will enhance your knowledge and prepare you for the challenges ahead. Be it health or finances; you can conquer anything when you have good knowledge of the field. Upgrading and learning will prepare you for different types of crises and could be one of the most effective weapons to deal with unexpected situations. Carly's comments: Absolutely! Knowledge is power. I remember buying the Corona Virus Survival Guide Magazine after Covid hit and after reading, sharing with 2 other people. I ordered PPE (personal protective equipment) to protect myself against Covid. I researched affordable and without all the bells & whistles (many wanted to sell phone service as well) video conferencing software to implement into my business since Zoom was hacked (this was within a couple months of Covid hitting).
Improved Competitiveness
Learning new business skills will help you stay ahead of your competitors. The professional world is continually changing with the change in markets. Besides this, the entrepreneurial spirit has been high amongst millennials and Gen Z. Many people want to start their own businesses. However, only a few of them are able to create a name for themselves in the market. The lack of uniqueness can make you look outdated, and people may forget about your brand soon. Prevent this by staying updated and learning new skills to upgrade yourself. Knowledge of new skills will enhance your work and thinking abilities. You would be able to think out of the box, and it will improve the feeling of competitiveness. Carly's comments: Yes. My examples include:
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July 2022 my business was awarded the "Best of Thervo 2022" award & you can read more at my website about this award: worksolutionstoday.com (this same month I received credentialing as a certified IAPWE writer & editor as well).
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October 11, 2022 I attended a "Clearing Roadblocks for Success" online Meetup event that Patty Lennon, a best-selling author, keynote speaker, certified coach, and founder of the Receiving School hosted.
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October 2, 2021 I attended an hour long Meetup event "Finding Purpose & pursuing creativity" by Eve Rodsky, author of 2 books & event host. I created a 7 minute & 42 second audio debrief of this Q & A session Eve hosted and other GREAT, FREE, tips & advice from her event. Individuals who are wanting to find their purpose, creativity in their life, those who want to learn some interesting information on the family dynamic, those who are always super busy, those who are just wanting to learn about & utilize self-care in their lives, and those who want to be & stay motivated would particularly enjoy this. Click on this link to listen to this short, 7 minute & 42 second audio debrief here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XgztRBl8ZW8MyxnNSn5TE_14qYkd1l-e/view?usp=sharing
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Partaking in a 3-month training called, “Five Minutes to Famous” to learn how to effectively develop article topics & pitch them to editors to be able to write articles of our choosing and be published in well-known publications. (Summer 2020).
- Shortly after Covid hit, I attended a remote info. session of recruiters from Intel discussing resumes and applicant tracking systems (ATS) where they answered questions for career seekers wanting to get a job in the Technology field.
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June 2018 I successfully completed an online month-long continuing education Business Planning Course from Pierce College - Puyallup. The course included: weekly readings, PowerPoint audios to listen & watch, quizzes, discussion board questions, discussions to answer and respond to, and wrote a 27-page business plan.
Increased Self Confidence
Upgrading your skills will make you confident in working on new tasks. Other people will see you as knowledgeable, competent, and proactive. Moreover, you will offer better solutions when you have a good knowledge of the industry. You would consider different aspects and then come up with a solution. Updating yourself will allow you to be confident and accept difficult challenges in life.
Better Career Opportunities
Upgrading your skills will open doors to new career trajectories. It will even be helpful if you learn a new skill that is not related to your core expertise. You may even consider learning skills that may be transferable or trending. For instance, if you have a knowledge of programming and statistics, you could explore more about the field of data analysis. Look for skills that may be directly or indirectly related to your key preferences and areas of interest. Check the relevance of the skill in your country and have a look at the job opportunities. No matter how good the course is, it should have a demand in the market. Carly's comments: Yes, I attended an online Meetup event "Finding Compatible Connections" on July 12, 2021. (If I think something looks interesting/beneficial, I will attend). 😊
Change Your Perspective
When you have knowledge and skills, you will start looking at things from a different perspective. You will analyze the entire situation and then make a decision. We can say that upgrading your skills will enhance your thinking abilities and make you a better performer. Access your personal and professional goals to decide which goals you would like to learn. You may even research to understand the market trends and find out the preferred skills. You should even note that some skills are not transferable and may be ideal for a particular field. Try enrolling for those that are effective and may help you learn about different concepts of the industry.
Enhance Your Leadership Skills
Continuous learning and upgrading of your skill will make you well-versed in different areas. As a leader, you will be better positioned to lead and make better decisions. When you are informed and updated, your team management skills will improve. Your profile will be highlighted, and people will take your opinions seriously. It could be highly beneficial if you want to progress as a leader. Carly's comments: Absolutely! My examples include: being the founder and leader of my business, ran 2 networking groups concurrently & performed a seminar or other community event concurrently (averaged 3 events per month for approx. 2 years).
How to Upgrade New Skills?
When you upgrade yourself, you are taking a step ahead to become a better person. Here are some of the steps you can take to upgrade new skills:
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Set comprehensive goals and objectives. Carly's comments: Yes.
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Take online courses to advance your learning abilities. Carly's comments: Yes, please refer to my list above under "Improved Competitiveness" in this article.
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Attend professional events or enroll in professional courses. Carly's comments: Yes, please refer to my list above under "Improved Competitiveness" in this article.
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Take a self-assessment test to understand your current skills and learnings. Carly's comments: Yes, I've taken my own career personality test. 😊
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Find a mentor for assistance. Carly's comments: Yes. Everyone needs someone they can ask questions to and get guidance/advice.
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Leverage your network to embrace change and enhance your skills. Carly's comments: Yes, with my business email newsletter, social media accounts, & my business website blog.
- Develop a strategy to articulate and improve your skills.
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Conduct research on the skills and the industry. Carly's comments: Yes, I did prior to starting my business.
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Check the courses offered by accredited organizations. You may choose between online and offline course options. Carly's comments: Yes, please refer to my list above under "Improved Competitiveness" in this article.
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Consider volunteering for a cause to learn new things. Carly's comments: Yes, please refer to my volunteer experience listed under that section on my LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlycalabrese/
Upgrading your skills can be highly beneficial for your personal and professional development. You may implement these strategies to advance and propel your career. Enhance your skills by implementing them into your real life.
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