When is it time to upskill?
Keeping your knowledge and skills up-to-date is crucial for a career that is fulfilling and thriving. While networking, experience and commitment to your sector can contribute to your career advancement, upskill training is how you can take your career to the next level.
Whether you’re looking to work your way up in your current employment, fill gaps or access fresh opportunities, retraining is important to get ahead. Knowing when it’s the right time to upskill depends on your individual goals and circumstances. Getting a clear view of where you are in your career and where you want to be will help you create the best path to achieving your career ambitions.
Upskilling and retraining — what is it?
In a fast-paced world, constantly updating what we know is vital in any industry. To upskill or take up retraining is to commence further learning in your chosen sector to improve your knowledge, gain new skills and advance in your career.
Upskilling may be provided or encouraged by an employer within the workplace, or it can be sought out by an individual who is seeking to develop their skills, fill skill gaps or increase their knowledge within a sector.
Four reasons it’s time to enhance your knowledge
Whether you’re ready to progress in your career or want to broaden your skillset, there are many reasons why you might be looking to upskill:
1. You want to update your knowledge and skills
Retraining can help you get up to date, enhancing the way you approach your work. Taking the time to learn new skills can make you feel more confident in the workplace, fill skill gaps and improve your productivity.
2. You want to feel inspired at work
No matter how much you love what you do or the sector you are in, there are times in your career where you will feel less than inspired. Upskilling can increase your job satisfaction and reignite passion for your work.
3. You want to progress in your career
If a promotion or new position is what you are after, taking steps to upskill can help get you there faster. Enhancing your skills and knowledge can assist you to transition easily into a new role, take on new responsibilities or manage others in the workplace.
4. You want to improve your employment prospects
Deepening your skills through retraining can make you more appealing to prospective employers, now or in the future. You also become more valuable to employers, as workers who engage in further training are more likely to be self-motivated, productive and innovative in their roles.
Finding opportunities to enhance your knowledge
Once you have decided it is the right time for you to upskill, you need to assess the options and resources required to get started. Consider what you are hoping to achieve — do you want to gain leadership and managerial skills, or are you exploring new areas of interest within your sector?
You can upskill in a range of ways, including:
Working with a mentor
Get paired with an experienced mentor who can support you in gaining new competencies. Your mentor can be in the workplace or outside of the workplace, but should be someone who’s knowledge you can rely on.
Joining industry groups and attending events
Conferences, webinars and publications are full of fresh information to help you stay at the top of your game. Seek them out as a way of keeping your knowledge and skills up to date.
Enrolling in a course
The most thorough and measurable way to upskill is by enrolling in a relevant course. This can be an option for those who are currently working as well as those who are not.
If you are not currently working, updating your skills can improve your employability and open new doors for you. Choose a course that compliments your existing skillset, adding more value to your qualifications. Evaluate your career options and then find out what skills and knowledge are sought after for those employed in your desired roles.
If you are currently employed, you could explore undertaking a course as a professional development venture with your employer. Professional development definitely benefits you as an employee, and providing upskilling opportunities to staff also has many benefits for workplaces. These benefits include retaining and motivating staff, increasing productivity and enhancing the standard of the workplace. Of course, you can upskill separate to your current employment, but consider how you might approach any potential practical placement components of your course.
Aged care learning and growth opportunities
As leading training provider in aged care courses, Royal College offer various pathways for learners to enhance their skills and knowledge. For those seeking to take on specialised tasks in residential, home or community-based care environments, the Certificate in IV Ageing Support (CHC43015) will provide the necessary qualifications to move into care supervisor and care team leader roles.
In addition, the Certificate IV in Leisure and Health (CHC43415) enables individuals to move toward becoming a Lifestyle Co-ordinator, tailoring programs and activities for the elderly to enhance their quality of life.
Upskill now for a thriving future
Choosing to retrain can deliver benefits over the duration of your career. Learning new skills, updating your existing training and expanding your knowledge are vital to building a career that you love now and well into the future.
Helping aged care professionals reach their career goals, is what we do here at Royal College. Get in touch with our team to learn more about the opportunities available.
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