Further development on the job - the career booster
2023-02-28T10:53:00Z
People and workforce
Staying in the one job you until you retire is uncommon practice these days, with many employees often switching roles in favour for something that will challenge and inspire them. So, why is personal development important for job satisfaction, what are some ways you can upskill and how can it step up your career game?
It is human nature to want to grow; this applies to personal life as well as to work. Those who are just starting their careers have different ideas and goals than older colleagues. Employers who want to have a motivated – and ultimately productive – team should therefore attach great importance to the further development of their employees.
Research from Hays and GO1 reveal that 92 per cent of Australian professionals say they always, frequently, or occasionally need to learn new skills at work, with 83 per cent expressing interest in learning something new. Despite this, only 48 per cent of employers believe their employees are inclined to learn something new, and only 52 per cent of employees actually receive resources to learn and develop within their role. This mismatch means that many employees are frustrated in their attempts to upskill and grow within their roles, and may be tempted to look elsewhere for elevated growth opportunities.
Lots of good reasons to continue your education
The world of work is dynamic and constantly changing, with digitisation always placing new demands on employees. The catchphrase of lifelong learning is becoming increasingly relevant: those who do not continue their education regularly run the risk of falling behind. After career breaks, such as unemployment, longer parental leave, or a sabbatical, it is often even the basic prerequisite for successful re-entry to adapt and expand previously acquired qualifications.
In addition, professional training is the basis for higher salaries and better positions within a company - and it increases the chances of finding an attractive new employer if you want to change jobs. In addition to these more factual arguments, there are also various soft skill factors that give the topic meaning. Further training not only increases competence, but also increases the satisfaction, motivation and self-confidence of employees. Learning new things protects you from monotony and boredom in everyday life and broadens your horizons…and more and more people (especially younger people) are looking for exactly that.
What companies offer
Many companies have adapted to this expectation and now offer their employees various options for further training. One example is coaching, which can be done individually or in a group, depending on the topic and goal. If suitable premises are available, in-house training courses by external trainers or internal specialists can be a good opportunity for the further development of employees.
With on-the-job training, employees receive new knowledge and skills directly at the workplace under the guidance of an experienced colleague or manager. A targeted expansion of competencies in certain areas can be achieved through internal or external workshops and seminars. Job rotation has also become established in some companies, in which employees swap jobs and thus have the opportunity to learn new areas of responsibility. Project work and workshops can also provide new impetus for both the company and employees to expand their skillsets.
