Why is it so important for employees to upskill and reskill right now?
The need for employees to constantly upskill has only steadily increased in the past decade. Now, after the Covid-19 lockdown, upskilling and reskilling has turned into a necessity because of the sudden rise in online platforms offering upskilling courses.
Skill development has always been crucial, but recent events have increased the stakes. We are amidst the fourth industrial revolution, a period in which advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation are transforming the way we work.
In an era of rapid change and a short half-life of skills, upskilling cannot be an afterthought. Instead, upskilling and reskilling as prerequisites for successful career growth.
According to the Gartner Talent Neuron report, new skills are replacing old ones, making one-third of the skills required for a job in 2022 obsolete.
Are you still wondering why upskilling right now is crucial for your career trajectory? Digital transformation and the continuous evolution of technology are happening at lightning speed.
Moreover, the Covid-19 pandemic expedited this process of digitization dramatically. Thus, reducing the shelf-life of technological skills and significantly increasing the risk of becoming redundant.
Here are the top reasons why focusing on upskilling and reskilling is essential now:
1. STAYING RELEVANT
Building industry-relevant skillsets are critical when seeking newer career opportunities or advancing within your current organization. Upskilling will allow you to fill any skill gaps you may have.
You won't have to worry about potential stumbling blocks to your employability and retention if you stay abreast of the latest trends in your field.
After upskilling, aspirants' confidence and morale are usually so high that they can easily land the job they've always wanted. Organizations are always pleased to see confident and skilled professionals apply for a position because it eliminates the need to invest in additional resources to train them.
The Nasscom Tech CEO Survey 2022 reveals that two-thirds of CEOs expect digital skills to account for 50% of new hiring.
2. SKY-ROCKETING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Due to the rapidly evolving digital environment, there is robust demand for digitally-literate talent in IT firms. Companies like Infosys, HCL, TCS, Wipro, and more are planning to hire 2 lakh professionals in 2022.
Upskilling will offer you the competitive edge in grabbing these opportunities and increase your chances of getting more lucrative packages.
3. FUTURE-PROOF CAREER
Many organizations have already begun to bring workforces back to the offices. Companies are mapping skill requirements required to adapt to a new normal and a hybrid future, where a combination of remote working and office goers will change the workplace.
Taking advantage of opportunities like these to upskill your skill sets puts you in an advantageous position and ensures your future. You naturally become more committed to your work when you upskill.
By learning new skills and understanding the evolution of your industry, you will be more efficient and add more value to your company.
In today's world, having proficiency in emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, data science, business analytics, full-stack development and cybersecurity are high in demand as they drive productivity, automate processes, and perform complex computational tasks.
Upskilling enables you to strengthen your current skills, develop new ones, attract potential employers, and bag your desired career role. Thus, making it a crucial time to upskill and reskill for your career growth.
- Article by Gaurav Vohra, Chief Business Officer, UNext Learning