Aug 26: One thing that is important to note at this point is that upskilling has emerged as a key component of career development. With the continuous evolution of job roles because of artificial intelligence, automation and digitalization of work processes, individuals have increasingly been engaging in taking online courses and certification programs.
Yet, having new skill sets does not necessarily lead to career benefits. While professionals might spend more time on learning, employers are increasingly seeking for individuals who would be able to showcase their abilities in solving practical business problems through the skills that they have acquired.
At NextLeap, we observe this trend regularly in discussions with hiring managers and learners from rapidly growing industry segments, in which practical skill sets are gaining the same value as academic education and certifications.
Here are six reasons behind the inability of professionals to use their upskilling efforts in order to advance their careers.
1. Learning Too Many Skills Without Building Depth
There is a possibility that the drive to stay relevant could make some professionals pick skills instead of developing knowledge and expertise. Every day, new courses and technology emerge, and it becomes easier for one to keep moving from one topic to another without having developed a depth of understanding of any particular concept.
Developing multiple skills does not have to be an issue. Where one finds themselves in difficulty is where they are not able to relate those skills to a particular career objective.
The ideal situation would be where professionals develop a mix of expertise and skills that help them achieve their career objectives.
2. Focusing on Courses Instead of Practical Application
A successful completion of a course may yield knowledge; however, this alone does not prove capability in the professional field. Nowadays, companies want to see how professionals can apply their knowledge to solve real-life challenges.
Indeed, knowing about AI software is not the same thing as knowing how to apply this knowledge to automate the process, to analyze the data, to enhance the customer experience, etc.
Professionals have to stop studying passively and start working on projects, case studies, practical assignments, etc. What is more important now is not what professionals know but what they can do now because of their knowledge.
3. Upskilling Without Understanding Market Demand
Yet another reason why professionals are unable to view the results of upskilling from a career perspective is because they often select skills based on their popularity and not on their relevance.
The skill might be one that is popular across industries, but it does not necessarily mean that it is the correct skill for all professionals. It is important for professionals to have an idea about the type of role they wish to move to and the relevant skills required by their employers.
4. Overlooking Human and Business Skills
In the discussions about future-ready jobs, there is an extensive mention of digital and technical skills. However, technical skill alone does not ensure professional success.
In the era where AI is becoming capable of performing all the mechanical activities, professionals require skills like communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, adaptation, and business knowledge.
For instance, generating a report by using AI is helpful; however, professionals should have the ability to understand the findings, the business scenario and recommend accordingly.
Thus, the most successful professionals will be those who possess technical proficiency along with human insight.
5. Failing to Demonstrate What They Have Learned
One of the most significant differences between upskilling and employability is the capacity to demonstrate these new capabilities.
While a certificate may indicate that one has completed a particular course, it cannot be guaranteed that the individual possesses the capability to implement the new knowledge in a professional setting. This is when evidence comes into play.
Examples such as projects, portfolios, case studies, or measurable outputs may be useful for professionals to present their capabilities to potential employers. Even at the workplace, the ability to show how a new capability has helped to improve a process or solve a particular issue would strengthen the case.
Therefore, professionals should always ask themselves two questions: “What did I learn?” and “How can I prove my ability to apply this capability?”
6. Treating Upskilling as a One-Time Activity
However, upskilling is considered an action-oriented process in which a certain skill is learned through taking a course. The development of the labor market makes it necessary for people to view the process of upskilling as an ongoing process.
The technologies and approaches used by businesses keep changing very quickly. The skill that is important today can become obsolete tomorrow and require improvement or even acquisition of new skills.
This does not imply that professionals should always follow every technological trend in their field. It is important for professionals to develop a pattern of continuous learning through analysis of changes in their profession and improvement of their skills.
It is not those professionals who take the most courses that will reap the greatest benefits from upskilling, but those who learn consciously and adapt to changes in their environment.
Looking Ahead
The future of upskilling does not lie in the number of certificates that someone might possess. The success of a career going forward would depend on the extent to which an individual can develop necessary capabilities, use them in solving real-world problems, and show their value.
NextLeap believes that it’s time to rethink the way people talk about upskilling. It is not enough for professionals to think about the courses they can take; they should be asking themselves, “Which capability will allow me to solve bigger problems and deliver greater value?”
In an ever-evolving world, professionals who know how to combine learning, application, business knowledge, and good human skills who will succeed in their upskilling efforts.
