With the rise in the gig economy, more and more people are working freelance, part-time, or contract jobs. If you’re working part-time or freelance, you’re still likely looking for ways to break into full-time work. Fortunately, you don’t have to quit or get a full-time gig. Upskilling is a great way to get ahead in the freelancing and part-time job market and an excellent way to get a leg up in landing a full-time job. So, what is upskilling all about? Up-skilling is a phrase that refers to the process of learning new skills and gaining new experiences. While upskilling can take many forms, it is generally considered a lateral or lateral move between two or more jobs in the same field. Upskilling helps to improve your skills, increase your earning potential, and increase your job satisfaction.

What’s the value of upskilling?

There has been an increasing focus on upskilling in the last ten years. Businesses and educational institutions have realised the benefits of upskilling employees and students. With rising education costs, upskilling employees within an organisation is a cost-effective way to address skills shortages. Upskilling will enable students to enter the workforce with skills that set them apart. For businesses, upskilling employees will enable them to meet the demands of a changing workplace, and upskilling students will enable them to meet the demands of the changing world of work.

The value of upskilling (also known as re-skilling) is applying your knowledge and skills, not from a career or educational background, but your current work experience. The idea behind upskilling is that by redistributing work among two or more people or reassigning work from one employee to another, companies can save money, and employees can learn new skills. As a result, upskilling has become a popular option for companies, who often see it as an efficient and cost-effective way of training their employees.

Ways to upskill and boost your CV

If your CV looks a bit patchy, maybe it’s time to upskill and hone your skillset. Upskilling isn’t just for millennials, either. A quarter of job hunters are aged over 50.

Upskilling is a way for individuals to improve their skills when job hunting and signify to an employer that they are committed to development and growth.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills and meet new people, and it can also give you the confidence to tackle bigger challenges. But did you know that volunteering can also boost your career prospects? Indeed, volunteering can open up opportunities to experience different industries, make you stand out to employers, and give you the skills you need to shine in internships and job interviews.

Volunteering is a great way to upskill and boost your employability. Here are five ways to get started:

1. Be Strategic

Start by thinking about the type of volunteering you want to commit to. Are you looking to join a cause you care about, or do you need the experience to add to your CV? Think about how you’re going to use your volunteering experience.

2. Find a cause

Countless causes and organisations are looking for volunteers. Make a list of organisations matching your interests and values, then research each.

3. Assess your skills

Think about the skills you can offer. For example, is a second language useful, do you have skills in a particular field, or can you offer your time and skills to an organisation?

4. Get involved

Get involved and speak to someone at the organisation about how you can help. Remember, what you can offer and what you can make a huge difference in whether you volunteer.

5. Make it part of your plan

Volunteering can help your employability, so make it a part of your plan.

Take a course

It’s tough to find a job these days. It would help if you stood out from the crowd; standing out means being current and relevant. Many opportunities exist to learn a new skill or earn another qualification online. You could enrol in a short course, usually between six and 12 weeks, that equips you with new skills and broadens your employment potential. Additionally, you could even become a certified personal trainer and complete an online personal trainer certification course.

You must decide what course to take to upskill or further your career. A course can be a great way to learn new skills, fill gaps in your knowledge, and boost your CV. These days, upskilling can happen online via several free courses available on various websites and apps. Free courses are a great way to gain new skills and knowledge.

Talk to your employer

If you’ve been looking for a new job, now might be a good time to talk to your employer or someone you know who works there. Employers are increasingly receptive to employees who want to upskill or switch careers, but sometimes, it takes a little push.

Chatting with your employer or HR about switching careers is scary, but it doesn’t have to be. You can present yourself as an ideal fit for your new position in many ways, and one of the best ways is to be thoughtful about your recent experience.

Join an industry association

Join an industry association. Whether it’s for your career, your education, or your interests, joining an industry association is a great way to keep up-to-date on industry news, build a valuable network, and upskill your career. These associations are also a great platform for connecting with other like-minded people.

One of the best ways to upskill and boost your CV is to join an industry association. This allows you to interact with other professionals in your field and helps you gain experience or new skills, making you more employable.