Up your game by Upskilling

By Linda Bicho-Vachon

I’ve always been a learner. In my former role, I completed my association’s certification program and stayed updated by attending industry seminars. The certification demonstrated that I had the skill and expertise to do my job and gave me confidence to grow my career.

When I decided to transition to a career in communications, I enrolled in a post-graduate diploma program in Contemporary Journalism where I honed my writing skills and learned about other forms of storytelling using audio and video platforms. Even after three years working in the news industry, I continue to learn new ways to improve my own writing style and gain new skills to help me adapt to rapid changes in technology.

In fact, employers are putting greater emphasis on upskilling and retraining to address a growing skills gap in the workplace. A recent report by the ManpowerGroup found that 79 percent of employers continued to have difficulties finding skilled talent in 2023. Furthermore, employers identified upskilling and retraining as one of their organization’s top three priorities according to the report.

Upskilling can help you stay current with the changes in technology that are happening due to digitalization, automation, and the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). Learning skills that are in high demand can supplement your professional experience and help you advance your own career.

Job Search Consultant Kamara Toffolo says that in most cases, a professional certification can also be helpful in landing your next job.

“Depending on your profession and/or industry, a professional certification might be a major plus, or might be considered a basic requirement,” Toffolo said in an email.

Fortunately, it’s never been easier to acquire new skills beyond earning a traditional degree or diploma which can be costly and time consuming. There are more suppliers offering online training that can be taken any time at a student’s own pace.

Some of the most well-known software platforms offer their own certifications so that users can maximize the capabilities of their products. Some of these include:

• Google’s free certifications in Data Analytics and Digital Marketing which can help you expand your career in digital marketing.
• HubSpot’s certification in Social Media Marketing through HubSpot Academy and Hootsuite’s certifications promise to build your skills in social media marketing
• If you want to get creative, becoming an Adobe Certified Professional will give you a certification in their web design, visual design or video design tools.

E-learning platforms such as Coursera, Skillshare and Udemy provide access to free writing courses offered by universities around the world. You can find a variety of specialty courses on everything from science to business writing. If you want to bring AI into your organization, LinkedIn Learning offers an hour long session aimed at beginners entitled How to Research and Write Using Generative AI Tools.

When I want to quickly familiarize myself with some new video-editing or graphics software, I often turn to YouTube for additional tutorials.

Since my passion is in writing and editing, I decided to pursue the CP Style Certification offered by The Canadian Press (CP). The certification is available at three different levels of proficiency depending on your results after taking an 80-question exam, which is not as easy as it looks. However, once I pass the exam, I’ll be able to show my in-depth knowledge of the CP Style guide.

With so many choices, picking the right training program to follow can be daunting. Toffolo suggests that before you decide on any investment, research is key.

“Research is needed here as it’s important to identify what certifications are in demand and well-recognized before investing time and money in pursuing them,” she says. Toffolo suggests reviewing several of your target job’s employment postings to see the types of certifications listed.

Toffolo also suggests that job seekers not hold off on their search until they’ve obtained their certification.

“If a certification is the only thing that you’re missing, but (you) meet the other requirements, apply, and continue to work towards the certification at the same time as your job search,” she says.

If you’re already working, your employer may offer access to job-specific training or tuition reimbursement for courses that support your career development.