What does the future of work hold for you? What skills will you need, and what skills will become redundant? Whether I’m giving my keynote address for “Alexa is Stealing Your Job—The Future of Work” or discussing future skills, the one thing that is crystal clear is the need to upskill.
I spoke at an Administrative Professional celebration event in Bermuda last week. They host an annual workshop to bring new skills to the country’s sizeable administrative population. It was electric. One of the day’s highlights was the acknowledgment of the 33 admins who had recently earned their PACE designation (Professional Administrative Certificate of Excellence) in the past year.
Everyone hooted and hollered in congratulations to the group. It was exciting to see so many committed to improving their skills. This was motivating for those who hadn’t committed yet and confirmed for those who had already earned their professional designation that it was a smart decision.
One admin shared that once she received her new designation, she was able to secure a job at twice the pay!
Imagine the confidence she feels. Imagine the change in attitude knowing that when she choose to take responsibility for her own skills, she had the ability to control her career and not feel trapped!
On the other hand, consider the consequences of not investing in your own skills and knowledge. You would feel trapped and like you are at your employer’s mercy.
Unfortunately, I know exactly how that feels. When I was a trainer at a national real estate company, I was one of the “unlucky” ones (although I don’t see it that way) who was let go when interest rates peaked and sales went down (similar to our current economy). I took every course they suggested I take. I was happy to learn more and gladly embraced all their suggestions.
What I didn’t do was look to the future to see what was on the horizon and seek out those upcoming skills before my employer decided I needed them.
You see, my problem was that I was perfectly skilled and educated to work for the company I was working for. I had all the skills they needed. What I didn’t have were the skills that other companies/industries needed. My upskilling was limited to what the company was willing to pay for.
And I found out the hard way that is a very narrow-minded approach. I had a hard time finding another job. There were a lot of applicants for each position, and I needed to gain skills that made me stand out from the others. I had what everyone else had.
And I never found another job. I jokingly say that the reason I started ON THE RIGHT TRACK in 1993 was because no one else would hire me. But the reality was that I had a really hard time finding another full-time job that paid in the same bracket I was previously being paid.
I’m not suggesting you spend thousands of dollars. I’m not even suggesting you pay hundreds or any dollars. Yes, you can, and I know that many spend their own money to attend workshops, get degrees, and take responsibility for their own skills. There is a lot of free education online and many opportunities to see what is coming in the future and teach yourself (especially tech skills). It is hard to return to college or university for free if you need a formal degree, but that isn’t the only upskilling I’m discussing.
We have to add value to be valuable. We must develop our competencies, keep up with the changes in our profession, and maximize our potential.
This isn’t all just a benefit to your employer, though. Think about how much pride those recipients of the new PACE designation felt. They were satisfied, motivated, and proud. They took on more which added value but it also boosted their confidence which feels good.
Self-Assessment. Before you upskill, you need to figure out the areas where you can improve. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses (both soft and technical skills). Look at your past performance reviews. Ask your supervisors and mentors what they see as opportunities for you.
Industry Demand. Even though you aren’t looking for a job, look at job postings online at your salary range to see if you lack what employers are looking for. Your company may not need those skills, but it is in your best interest to have them before you find yourself looking for a new job.
On LinkedIn, it is commonplace for people in your network to post that they have received a new accreditation or certification or attended a workshop. Start paying attention to the courses, certificates, and accreditations they are getting. If your resume is in a deep pile, this is your future competition. Will they stand out more than you because they’ve taken the time to get this education? It also shows you what is popular or trending and what might be needed in the future.
Create a Plan. Once you’ve identified your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, decide what you want your future to look like professionally. Set clear, achievable goals. You may plan to spend an hour a month on YouTube videos learning about Teams or go to the library and check out books on dealing with difficult people. You’ll likely want to have a conversation with your manager about how you’ve noticed that “X” is popular in the industry, yet your company isn’t utilizing “X” (perhaps it is a software program) and discuss if it makes sense for you to learn it so you can be in the in-house expert, or teach others.
Research the online courses, workshops, and certifications you need to add value to your employer and you. Check out Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, and regularly read my newsletter to find out what I’m offering (as there is always something free each week).
Keep Going. This really has little to do with looking for a new job. It has much more to do with keeping yourself motivated, boosting your confidence, and knowing that you could if you needed to find another job.
You need to stand out from the crowd when there are 1000 responses to each job posting. Back when I was in that position, I thought that meant using ivory linen paper to stand out or following up with a thank you card. I know now that it is all about value and not a gimmick.
I need to add value to be valuable to my employer and to myself. Upskilling is up to me. Anything my company (or association) offers me is a huge bonus (and I always take what they offer), but ultimately, it is my responsibility.
This article was written by Rhonda Scharf and not by artificial intelligence.
