Reskilling is an excellent way to learn about your desired career options
When you are thinking about making a career move or undergoing a more significant transition, at some point, you need to be aware of your skills - what skills you already have and which of them you enjoy using the most. Equally important is to consider what new skills you might need to acquire to support your transition and how much effort that might require.
Skills are not the first thing to consider in career change
An analysis of your skills becomes relevant at some point of your transition journey. Do you have skills that are required in your ideal career direction? What new skills do you need and what skill you don’t need any more? You can use reskilling as a way to look into the world of your desired career choice. For instance, taking a course to learn a new skill or to update an non-active skill that might be needed in your potential career choice, gives you more information about you new career direction and might help you extend you network.
What is a skill?
A skill involves a combination of knowledge, practice and experience. Dictionaries commonly define a skill as the ability to do something well or competently, to use one’s knowledge effectively, or as work or activity that requires training and knowledge. Career strategist John Lees puts it simply: “Skills are what we do at work. ”
Skills can be acquired through education, practice, or hands-on experience. They typically fall into several categories:
Soft skills or people skills, like communicating or teamwork, which help us interact with others.
Cognitive skills referring to abilities like to reasoning, problem solving or information processing.
Technical skills, such as coding or repairing, which are specifit to particular fields or occupations.
Motor skills, which involve psychical abilities, like playing a musical instrument or participating in sports
Transferable skills are related to context
A transferable skill is an ability or expertise that can be applied across various roles or industries. These are universal skills like communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and teamwork—skills that can serve you well no matter where your career takes you.
However, it is essential to understand that skills are always related to context. The way you describe them matters. John Lees, a well-known career strategist, emphasizes the importance of recognizing your skills, giving concrete examples where you used this skill, and framing them in language that resonates with your ideal employer. “Name, frame, and measure the skill,” Lees advises.