How to acquire new skills to improve your employability
The conditions for hiring a job, regardless of the sector, primarily include specific skills. Therefore, job seekers need to meet the specified criteria to land the desired position. Acquiring new skills can be the solution to achieving this.
Moreover, in the era of globalization, numerous companies within the same sector strive to dominate the market and gain greater control. For these companies engaged in fierce competition, the ideal is to recruit professionals willing to update their skills as the sector or profession evolves.
What are the different ways of acquiring professional skills?
When it comes to skills development, there are different approaches. All these actions can be grouped into two categories:
- skills development or reskilling within the context of a career change,
- skills optimization or upskilling to increase expertise in the same profession.
Before acquiring new skills, you need to identify your professional needs and be able to convince your sponsor and/or employer that you are an employee.
Skills development or reskilling
When someone wants to change careers, a lengthy learning process is generally required. Reskilling, or professional retraining, becomes necessary when there is a shortage of qualified candidates in certain sectors. Applicants who receive the highest scores during interviews join the company but must undergo training to develop their technical skills.
Retraining is also a possibility as part of a career change. Since the applicant lacks sufficient experience for the position, they will need to receive in-house training. In sectors that have become automated, for example, tasks are no longer performed by humans. These individuals will need to learn a new profession.
Skills optimization or upskilling
Upskilling is just as valid as reskilling, but it’s carried out with a focus on continuity within the original job. Therefore, the training workshops are short and specific. For a company whose employees aspire to become true experts in their field, the benefits extend far beyond individual performance.
The employer can anticipate the skills development process as the job evolves, which allows for better organization of work within the company and ongoing training. In other words, the company could implement a skills development plan for its employees.
What skills do you need to develop to land a job?
When we talk about acquiring new skills, we need to remember two: hard skills and soft skills.
Technical skills or hard skills
Professional expertise is built upon the sum of an individual’s intellectual and technical skills. In other words, it’s what they have learned to do. The following are included in hard skills:
- the use of software such as Word, Photoshop, Excel, or others;
- Proficiency in a foreign language is necessary for the performance of the work.
- The ability to write mission reports or summaries;
- The ability to sell products for a company.
Technical skills are multifaceted. They can be acquired formally through apprenticeship or informally, i.e., on the job.
Interpersonal skills or soft skills
Soft skills include the ability to manage interactions with close friends and colleagues. These skills also highlight emotional intelligence. They demonstrate public speaking skills, teamwork abilities, ingenuity, creativity, and so on.
Although they may seem innate, these skills can also be developed. “Without work, talent is just a firework: it dazzles for a moment, but it’s nothing,” said Roger Martin de Gard. Effort is also necessary to improve. In the professional world, career progression is a process strongly encouraged by companies, which are always on the lookout for new strategies to stand out from the competition.
So, if you develop management skills, your contribution can help the company stay within its budget. Besides project management, soft skills include management, customer service, sales, communication, and more.
Who can acquire new skills?
Skills development is relevant to all professions. Managers, medical staff, lawyers, engineers, accountants—absolutely everyone can learn new skills to thrive in their professional lives. In France, there are employment support programs ready to finance young people and adults, provided they meet certain criteria. This government-backed measure facilitates access to professional training.
Thanks to the various support programs offered by organizations such as OPCOs (Skills Operators), Local Missions, ôle emploi (the French public employment service), and the CPF (Personal Training Account), finding a job is possible. Employees with a career change project can also benefit from support. Depending on the program used, job seekers or employees can discuss their careers with an advisor.
Together, they assess the training plan and prepare the necessary documents to implement it. This meeting is not only an opportunity to discuss career development prospects, but also to acquire knowledge and new skills to be acquired.
How to conduct a skills assessment?
A skills assessment is a valuable tool for personal development and career optimization, providing a wealth of information. It helps you confirm your career path. When you’re happy with your current trajectory, you can explore opportunities for advancement or a higher salary. A skills assessment can also help you anticipate potential job restructuring. It reveals areas for improvement, allowing you to perform your job with greater confidence.
A skills assessment provides you with the guidance you need to take control of your professional life and become the architect of your career. Generally, a skills assessment is accessible to everyone. It is, in fact, a right recognized by the French Labor Code. It can be funded through the CPF (Personal Training Account), subject to certain conditions.
Everyone is free to have their skills assessment done by an organization of their choice, provided that the organization is accredited. The assessment itself lasts a few hours, but it takes place over several days. The skills assessment comprises three essential stages.
A preliminary phase
Also known as a preliminary interview, this allows you to understand the candidate’s expectations and needs. Objectives are then defined by both parties. It’s worth noting that the organization conducting the assessment also handles the personal development of the employee or job seeker. If the conditions set by the organization suit you, you can proceed. The fees charged for an assessment vary from one center to another.
A testing or investigation phase
The organization uses various tests to assess a student’s career path and define their technical and personal qualities in relation to their objectives. This stage also aims to identify the candidate’s aptitudes and potential in other sectors. This is a crucial phase for those seeking to acquire new skills. A concluding phase
At this stage, the results obtained allow for the development of career paths for the candidate. A clear summary is written to guide them in implementing their skills development plan. After this concluding stage, a fourth phase can be added. This essentially consists of following up on the recommendations proposed by the organization.
A skills assessment can be conducted over several sessions and lasts a maximum of one day (24 hours). Often, the evaluation is completed within five interviews of an average duration of two and a half hours.
How to develop your skills?
Following your skills assessment, you now have a clearer understanding of your career path. There are several methods for acquiring new skills, including experience, continuing education, self-directed learning, and more. Each of these methods has its own advantages and limitations.
Through experience
In both professional and personal life, engaging in similar activities daily allows you to build genuine experience. To develop new skills, it is therefore necessary to immerse oneself in the target sector.
Through observation, experimentation, and repetition of tasks, you will master previously unknown skills. In this learning method, it is important to regularly assess your progress. This allows you to focus on areas where you still lack mastery and to improve your expertise.
Through vocational training
Interested in a particular profession? Learn that trade by enrolling in the relevant training program. You’ll likely find many options, but it’s essential to inquire about the quality of the programs before choosing an institution. In fact, a training center certified by state and international institutions offers high-quality courses.
Earning a certificate from such a center also increases your employability in the job market. The cost of the program, its duration, and payment terms are all criteria to consider to acquire new skills under the best conditions.
Through online training
Speaking of excellent study conditions, it’s important to remember the difficulty job seekers and even employed individuals face in attending classes in person. Therefore, online training seems much better suited to this type of learner. The internet provides access to universities and accredited training organizations.
To validate your skills, it’s best to pursue a certified training program. The advantage of e-learning lies in its program flexibility. Generally, each learner can decide their own class schedule. Electronic and audiovisual resources are available to ensure a more enriching learning experience.
Through self-training
Self-study is a perfectly viable option. If you enjoy reading, it will be even easier. Simply gather all the information available in the literature about the targeted skills. However, you must be careful regarding the quality of the materials.
With experience and by seeking advice from experts, you will undoubtedly be able to make the most of different sources. While exciting, acquiring skills independently is a process that can take some time.
Why acquire new skills at L’Ecole Moderne?
Are you wondering how to acquire new skills? École Moderne is a training organization registered with Data Dock. We offer skills assessments to better guide you. This service is not only eligible for CPF funding, but it also takes place via videoconference with an experienced coach. F. your convenience, we have recruited two passionate coaches.
Their professional backgrounds in human resources demonstrate their expertise in guiding individuals through career transitions. You can fully trust them to help you showcase your strengths. They listen attentively to help you discover your potential talents, enabling you to become more assertive, confident, and fulfilled in your work.
Furthermore, you can join a support group to accelerate your learning, regardless of your chosen training program. We offer three options for completing a skills assessment. The GOLD package is the one we recommend, as the interview lasts fourteen hours. You’ll have ample time to discuss your needs with a coach.
With this option, you benefit from an action plan with specific professional objectives. Especially for those changing careers, we assist in creating a CV. With our team by your side, your professional future is secure. At L’École Moderne, we offer nearly twenty online courses, all of which lead to a certificate. You can learn new languages, computer skills, e-commerce, architecture, and many other available courses.
