Four challenges people face when upskilling in their career (and how to overcome them)
Looking to move forward in your career? You should probably be upskilling…
While upskilling is an essential part of progressing in your career, it’s not always easy. Not only do you have to figure out which skills and proficiencies are most valuable, you also have to know where (and how) to gain them.
We surveyed over 2,000 people from across the UK, to find out their biggest challenges when it came to upskilling in their careers. Here are the top four upskilling challenges, and our advice on how to overcome them:
1. “It’s too expensive to study”
The cost of upskilling is the most common challenge when it comes to upskilling for a career, with 30% of people selecting this as their number one barrier.
But what if we told you that you could learn for less, or even for free?
In addition to checking for training opportunities and new responsibilities within your current organisation, you can also find a range of free or low cost training online – in everything from office skills to health & care.
These discounted and free courses will enable you to progress in your career without breaking the bank. There are also a variety of payment options (such as paying by instalments, loans, bursaries, and scholarships) available to help you manage the cost of studying.
Five ways to make studying affordable
2. “I can’t fit studying around other commitments”
Struggle to balance your studies around other things? You’re not alone.
25% of people said that fitting learning around other commitments was holding them back from upskilling in their career. And while perfecting the ideal work/study/personal life balance isn’t always easy, it can be done.
For example, if the time required for studying is what’s standing in your way, you could consider part-time study options, with many online courses allowing you to study remotely at a pace that suits you. There are also a number of short courses that you can complete in as little as a few hours.
Other ways to fit studying around other commitments include setting realistic goals, not overcommitting, and giving yourself time off when you need it.
How to fit work around studying
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3. “I don’t know what kind of training I need”
OK, so you know you should be upskilling, but you’re not sure what qualifications you actually need. If you can relate, you’re the same as 16% of people we surveyed, who weren’t sure what kind of training would actually help them in their careers.
With so many training opportunities on offer, whether it’s university degrees, CPD courses, or professional qualifications, choosing the one that’s right for you can be challenging.
So how can you overcome this? Firstly, you need to be sure of your career goals, so creating a career plan or professional development plan is a great start. Then:
- If you want to progress in your current organisation – ask your line manager if there are any opportunities to progress, and see what you’ll need to tick the boxes – whether it’s gaining a particular qualification or taking on new responsibilities.
- If you want to qualify for a particular job role – the best way to find out what skills and certifications you need for a particular job is to do some research, checking job adverts for required skills and proficiencies. Even if you’re not looking to get a new job right now, finding out what employers are looking for is a great way to ensure you’re upskilling in the right areas.
What type of course is right for me?
4. “I don’t know where to go (or how) to upskill”
When it comes to figuring out where to learn, 15% of the people we surveyed were unsure and 12% didn’t know how to gain the skills they needed.
This challenge is similar to figuring out what kind of training you need, in that defining your learning goals is absolutely key.
And while 50% of the people we surveyed said they’d take a course to upskill, 21% of people turned to online tutorials and 20% said they’d read books or research papers, proving that there’s more than one way to gain new skills. Here are a few places you can go to learn something new:
- Online courses marketplaces such as Reed Courses or gov.uk’s education hub. These sites offer a range of courses and online bootcamps in everything from digital skills to health and care, helping you to gain the knowledge you need to boost your employability. And, many courses are entirely free.
- Online resources and social media. Whether you watch video tutorials, read how-to-guides, sign up to industry newsletters or blogs, or follow industry leaders on social media, you’ll be able to consume bite-sized knowledge on an ongoing basis. Not only will these resources help you learn, they’ll also keep your skills up-to-date with industry demand.
- Networking events and seminars. These can be online or in-person, and offer a great opportunity to remain at the forefront of industry and technological developments. With engaging and knowledgeable hosts and speakers, you’ll be able to learn from the experts, using their insights to help move your career forward.
Ready to upskill? View all available courses now.