5 Strategies for Effective Upskilling & Reskilling Programs
In today's dynamic professional landscape, the emphasis is on continual education and skill development rather than merely relying on resumes. By 2025, an estimated half of the workforce will require reskilling or upskilling to meet evolving job demands. Professionals are increasingly recognizing the need for ongoing learning to stay competitive and adaptable in their careers. Here are five strategies to ensure professionals are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive:
1. Embrace a Learning-Centric Culture
Make professional education a core value of your organization. Job descriptions aren’t static, neither should your employees’ skill sets be. Establishing a culture of professional growth attracts ambitious professionals eager to advance. Integrate training seamlessly into the workday through mobile, microlearning platforms rather than sporadic workshops. Whether at all-hands meetings or casual check-ins, learning should be a constant topic of conversation.
2. Set the Tone with Onboarding
Today’s workers expect on-the-job learning. Communicate that shared vision from day one with engaging, interactive onboarding. From onboarding to ongoing training, a learning management system with powerful content creation tools will boost employees' engagement and desire to learn. Train—and retain—staff at scale with a one-stop learning hub.
3. Foster "Horizontal" Growth Opportunities
Gone are the days of traditional career ladders; today, professionals seek diverse pathways for advancement. Upskilling should offer horizontal advancement as well as vertical. The majority of candidates rank training as a top perk when evaluating a new job opportunity. Expose employees to different avenues for advancement — whether vertical or horizontal — by organizing professional education opportunities in one centralized place. Empower them with choice in their path, in whichever direction they are climbing.
4. Match with Mentors
Collaboration is at the heart of work. Learning should be too. Ensure your employees aren’t learning in a vacuum by matching them with a mentor (and not necessarily their manager). Mentorship programs — even remote ones — are highly sought after by today’s workers and improve retention and engagement. Offer frequent check-ins rather than annual reviews to assess progress and reinforce your professional education culture.
5. Partner with Universities
Learners of all ages benefit from ongoing skill development to navigate a modern workplace. Higher education institutions are expanding beyond the traditional four-year model and are attracting lifelong learners. From college-to-career pipelines and apprenticeship training or internship initiatives to c-level executives upskilling on the latest technology, university partnerships offer a promising return on investment.
Level Up Professional Education with an LMS
More than 4,000 organizations worldwide trust Canvas LMS for professional education and training at scale. Thinking about investing in a LMS? Read our guide to choosing an LMS to ensure your organization's learning needs are met effectively.
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