A common issue many face in their lives is that it can often be a significant source of stress. As humans, we crave certainty, yet the uncertainty of not knowing what we want to do or whether we’ll enjoy our career can be profoundly unsettling. And even if you happen to be aware of your chosen career direction, there is no guarantee it will lead you to enjoy a thriving and well-paying job—many cause more concerns. This career anxiety is expressed as self-examination about whether we are following what we want with apprehensions and self-doubts about being fulfilled or not by our current jobs.
In this situation, skill development programs come out as a ray of hope. These programs not only relieve the aspirants from career anxiety by providing them exactly with what they are looking for but also boost career prospects significantly. This article takes you through the multiple benefits of skill development programs, touching your professional life with insights provided by behavioural science and practical tips in choosing the right program for you. ETASHA Society is one of the leading organisations in offering very well-rounded and comprehensive skill development programs for your career goals.
Skill Development Benefits
- Increased Employability: Whenever you can learn or acquire a new skill, you are quite attractive to any potential employer. In highly competitive job markets, most people’s existence revolves around highly varied skill sets. (Dayal, 2016)
- Career Advancement: Skill development can result in promotion and new opportunities in job placements. For example, advanced data analysis techniques enable a marketing professional to take on a more strategic role. (Sukmawati et al., 2019)
- Higher Earning Potential: The more you learn new skills, the more you sharpen your employability factor. A study by the American Economic Association showed that workers who are constantly learning and skill-building end up earning higher wages. (Gandhi & Bhushan, 2016)
- Job Satisfaction and Confidence: Learning new skills increases job satisfaction and makes an individual confident. When one can perform the job competently, it naturally boosts inner satisfaction and motivation.(Karuna & Reddy, 2018)
Seven Evidence-Based Techniques of Career Success
1. Task Over Title
People believe that a fancy title is what matters. But it’s more about delighting in the work performed every day. Reflect on your daily tasks, not just what you’ll be called. Will you enjoy the daily tasks? Much will be accomplished when you take delight in your daily chores.
2. Visualize your “Me Plus”
Think of you as the superior version: “Me Plus.” Think of where you would work in your dream job, the type of work, and the location. These can be put in place to begin having a clear image of your future. From here, you will know the skills that you need to better yourself.
3. Audit Your Time
Write in what activity you are doing and if you like it. Note that you have liked this activity. You can put a “+,” “++.” or a “-” in those activities that have been enjoyed by you, have resulted in some happiness, or helped you achieve your goals. Minimal positive activities get a “+” or “–.” Focus on adding positive activities.
4. 13 Minutes of Your Time
Invest 13 minutes every day in developing a skill. The small daily steps can aggregate and, over time, deliver outstanding results. Whether you’re looking to learn how to code, write, or practically any other skill, just 13 minutes a day might make an enormous difference in your life.
5. You probably don’t need to go back to university
You don’t need an expensive degree to learn something new. Online, you find several resources ranging from free to inexpensive. More often than not, real-world experience weighs heavier than formal degrees.
6. Embrace U-Turns
You can always change your mind about your career at any time. Interests and goals of human beings change with time. Do not be afraid to change your path when something you enjoy is discovered.
7. Grid Search Mentality
Test out different activities and see what you like. Another thing to take into consideration would be your career goals. You can use this method to discover what makes you truly happy at work.
Follow these tips to find and excel in a career you love!
Source: World Bank
Types of Skills to Build
Technical Skills: The ability and expertise concerning specific work are conveyed through technical skills. Mainly, these skills are only required for areas such as IT, engineering, and health care.
- Examples of Technical Skills: Programming languages (Python, Java), data analysis, cybersecurity, and project management.
- Importance: Most times, your job relies on one or more technical skills. For example, a software developer would require comfort with coding languages, but a data analyst should know statistical software.
Soft Skills: The other skills are interpersonal or people skills :
- Requirements: Soft skills are essential for proper communication and cooperation.
- Examples of Soft Skills Include: Communication, Teamwork, Problem-solving, Leadership, and Time Management.
- Importance: soft skills are critical across various job roles and industries. They help you communicate effectively with your peers, organize projects for efficient implementation, and lead teams to success.
Advantages of Skill Development Programs
- Employability: One of the main benefits of a skill development program is a gain in employability. With newly acquired skills, you shall become a more attractive candidate from the pool of many who are hankering for that position. This is very important in the workplace since, without it, employees tend to lose their jobs quickly.
- Career Mobility: Skill development programs can lead to career mobility, such that a marketing professional can obtain a strategic position through the learning of advanced methodologies on data analysis. Skill development prepares you for fresh opportunities and may tend to gear you into a highly competitive promotion cadre in the organization where you currently serve.
- Higher Earning Potential: Investment in skill development can only enhance high earning potential. A study conducted by the American Economic Association concludes that employees who continuously learn and intellectualize tend to earn more money. Acquiring new skills will help you in negotiating better pay and job postings for yourself.
- Satisfaction with Job and Confidence: Learning new skills can result in increased job satisfaction and confidence. You will enjoy your job more when you know what you are doing. This will enable you to develop skills that you are going to use in executing tasks on the job. Hence it will boost your job satisfaction.
How to Choose the Right Program for Skill Development
Choosing a program for skill development is crucial in influencing one’s career growth. Consider the following when choosing the right program:
- In line with Career Objective: Align yourself with that program that meets your career aspiration. An example of this is a leadership development course if you are looking forward to future positions in leadership or management.
- Accreditation and Reputation: The program should have a good reputation. Look at online reviews and past participant testimonials.
- Practical Application: Look for a course that has practical applicability—for example, projects, case studies, or internships.
Flexibility: Flexibility regarding time-bound progression and schedule is essential for working professionals. Look for online or part-time options if needed.
Researching and Evaluating Programs
- Recommendations: Ask colleagues, mentors, or industry professionals for recommendations.
- Curriculum Comparison: Compare curriculums of different programs to be sure the skills you want to develop are covered.
Check Credentials: Look for relevant industrial experience and expertise in the instructors.
Case Study:
Mohini can be called a customer service professional, and further down the line, she received a course on Vocational Training and Placements from the ETASHA Society. It was the course that equipped her with sophisticated communication skills that helped her finally get placed at an advanced level in the company. Therefore, Mohini got promoted to customer service executive at Uniqlo, which did her career a great deal of good.
Testimonials of ETASHA Society's Programs
Tanu Gautam: “ETASHA Society’s Vocational Training and Placement Program has built my confidence and skills to earn a living and support my family as a sales executive at Croma. I want to pursue a management stream with the knowledge and my learnings.”
Krishna: “ETASHA Society not only helped me to polish my communication and job interview skills but also prepared me for professional development at Paisa Expo to have a great future.The course has opened new avenues for me in the IT field. “
The Role of Lifelong Learning Now, the clock is running fast enough for everyone. Continuous learning allows one to keep up-to-date with industry trends and, hence, in turn, stay professionally competitive.
How to Integrate Lifelong Learning into Your Career Strategy
- Set Learning Goals: Decide where you want to scale and set clear learning goals.
- Use Online Resources: Many courses on several online platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning are available.
- Connect with Professional Networks: Engage within professional and industrial networks and be part of industry conferences such that the latest trends and developments are to be tracked.
How ETASHA Society Can Help
ETASHA Society has a bouquet of programs for skill development designed in a manner to meet the heterogeneous requirements of professionals. From technical courses to soft skills training, their curriculum is designed to increase your job prospects.
Unique Features and Benefits
- Experienced Instructors: Learn from experienced industry experts.
- Comprehensive Curriculum: Cover your basics to application across all programs.
- Flexible Learning Options: Online, Part-Time, and Full-Time Courses designed around your schedule.
Conclusion
In today’s challenging job market, skill development has become the nucleus of career growth. The suitable investment in the development of skills can enhance your employability, making a positive impact on your career and job satisfaction. Designed comprehensively, the programs at The ETASHA Society serve diverse professional needs, making it a way to take yourself and your team closer to realizing their full potential.