The ability to rapidly acquire new skills is no longer a nicety; it has become a necessity in today’s rapidly evolving world of technology. As someone who coaches many successful professionals, I have found that the most successful individuals are generally not those who hold the highest degree levels; they are the professionals who have mastered the art of strategic upskilling and career growth short courses, i.e., identifying and acquiring the most impactful skills at the most opportune times in their careers.
Short courses, certifications, and boot camps are extremely effective methods for achieving the strategic acquisition of new skills; however, there are simply too many options available to be able to afford to be indiscriminate with how you spend your time and money.
To get the most from your educational journey, start approaching your training differently than you did in the past years. Training is not merely a method for adding lines to your resume; it is a method for resolving career-specific problems or capitalizing on career-specific opportunities.
Before you invest in any training, ask yourself some very strategic questions:
- What is the exact gap I am looking to fill? (Example: “I need to know how to write my own SQL queries, so I don’t have to wait on the data team to create the reports I need.”)
- What is the exact tangible result I expect? (Example: “I would like to move from being a generalist marketer into an SEO Manager position.”)
- Will I be applying what I learn in the near term? If you cannot see an immediate opportunity to apply your new skills, you are unlikely to retain them.
Identifying the Most Valuable and Logical Skills to Learn
Your end goal is to develop skills that are both valuable to potential employers and a natural fit with your existing skill set.
Use Job Descriptions to Determine Which Skills to Focus On: Look at 5-10 job postings for your target role and identify which software, tools, methodologies, etc. appear frequently. Those are your top priorities.
Pay Attention to Who Influences the Industry: Who are the thought leaders in your industry, and what topics are they writing about? They may be indicating where trends are going.
Develop T-Shaped Skills: Develop a deep understanding of one or two key areas (the vertical bar of the “T”) and add additional skills to enhance your versatility (the horizontal bar). Example: Software Developer (Deep Understanding) + Project Manager (Additional Skill)
Knowing The Quality of the Course or Certification
You must know that not all certifications are created equally. Having a shiny badge does not mean anything if it does not demonstrate that you possess actual recognized competence.
When evaluating the quality of a course or certification, look for the following characteristics:
Does it receive recognition from a major player in the industry? Examples include Google, Amazon AWS, Microsoft, HubSpot, and PMI. These certifications are often accepted and respected by all employers.
Is it practical, project-based learning? The most effective courses require you to take action and complete projects, not just sit through videos. Ideally, you will leave the course with a project portfolio that you can reference during an interview.
Are outcomes transparent? Will the provider give you information about graduation rates, job placement statistics, and salary increases for graduates? If they don’t want to provide you with this type of information, be cautious. Many courses promise the world without delivering.
Was the curriculum developed recently? Technology and best practices evolve quickly. Find out when the course materials were last updated. A course on social media marketing from 2020 is probably outdated.
Making the Most of Your Education: Beyond the Certificate
The absolute value of education is in developing the skills and expressing them as part of your professional identity.
Applying What You Have Learned: Use the 70-20-10 model for learning. Spend 70% of your time applying what you have learned in your work, 20% of your time engaging in social learning (colleagues, mentors), and 10% of your time in formal training. Use the course as your 10% spark, then find ways to apply the new skill in your present role, even if only for a limited project.
Showcasing What You Have Learned: Make sure to always refresh your LinkedIn profile and resume with a summary of the project you completed or the problem you solved utilizing the new skill. That will tell a more compelling story than simply listing the course.
Making the Business Case for Company Funding: If the course aligns with company objectives, consider making a case to your supervisor for funding. Present it as an investment that will enable you to meet a specific company objective (i.e., “Using the Google Analytics course will enable me to produce reports independently on our campaigns, reduce our reliance on outside consultants, and save the department money”).
High ROI Categories for Professional Development
While the ideal course is subjective, the categories outlined below offer high ROI for a large number of professionals:
Data Literacy: Courses in SQL, Data Visualization (Tableau/Power BI), etc., are essential, as data-driven decision-making is becoming increasingly important across virtually all industries.
Digital Competence: Digital Marketing (Google Digital Garage) and Cloud Computing (AWS Cloud Practitioner) certifications are establishing a foundation of basic digital literacy that is now expected across a broad array of professions.
Project Management: Using methods such as Agile and Scrum, traditionally used in tech teams, can also significantly enhance an individual’s ability to manage complex initiatives across virtually all departments.
Upskilling strategically is an ongoing process, not a single event. In order to have a long-term plan for your career, you must develop a mindset of continuous learning. By strategically choosing short courses that address key areas of missing skills, you will continually ensure that your professional abilities are relevant, valuable, and in demand.
Do not view each course as a separate occurrence, but rather as a strategic component within the broader structure of your career.
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