Ensure your skills are future-fit: Upskill for free

The World Economic Forum estimates that almost two-thirds (65%) of children starting primary school now will work in job roles that don’t yet exist. A diverse range of skills and knowledge will undoubtably be required for these future job roles, so continual upskilling will help ensure that your skillset is compatible with a very different future.

Forbes have recently acknowledged that rapid technological advancements and growing requirements for specialised skills have meant that upskilling is now more crucial than ever before. So what can you do to ensure your skills are future-fit and what should you consider before starting your upskilling journey?

Create an organised learning plan

Before jumping straight in, first ask yourself some questions to make sure you’re upskilling in the most effective and efficient way.

• Do you have any specific skills gaps?
• What should you upskill to set yourself apart from the competition – whether that be to progress in your existing career, or to get into a brand-new industry?
• What skills would improve your career path in future?
• In particular, what digital upskilling should you focus on so that your skills are future-fit?

By answering these questions, you should get a clearer picture of what your upskilling plan will look like in reality. Then, you can set up a way that works for you to organise that plan, whether that be on a spreadsheet or by adding your learning time to your calendar. There are also plenty of free mobile apps if you prefer a more comprehensive way to plan and organise your learning time. Todait is a handy app that allows you to schedule tasks, set times for learning, and mute all other notifications during this time to help avoid any distractions.

Establish realistic goals

Allocate a portion of time to focus on your learning each week. As upskilling is a continuous process, you should make this a realistic goal that you will be able to stick to long term. Whether that be allocating some time to it every evening, or just once per week for an hour, it should be a manageable commitment that doesn’t have a negative impact on the quality of your work and home life.

Utilise free resources

Upskilling doesn’t need to be an expensive task. There are an extensive range of tools and courses that you can access for free online.

Our My Learning portal has a plethora of free courses to choose from, which are focused on a variety of upskilling areas, including project management, business skills, leadership, and many more. There are a whole host of courses specifically dedicated to digital upskilling, including programming, coding, data analytics, and AI. These courses are particularly useful for ensuring your skills are future-fit, and range from beginner to intermediate level, so there should be something suitable for everyone.

Podcasts and TED talks can also be valuable upskilling tools, especially as they are so easily accessible anywhere, anytime. These are great resources to use while commuting to work, for example. 

Continuous learning

LinkedIn data shows that between 2015-2022, employee skills altered by an average of 24%. By 2025, it’s estimated that skills will have changed by 41%, compared to 2015. The requirement for perpetual upskilling is imperative in ensuring the workforce is keeping up with the continual technological developments and changes in job responsibilities. Future-fit skills are something many employers look for when hiring, as well as promoting from within. The world of work is constantly evolving, so you should be continuing your upskilling journey your whole professional life.

Explore My Learning now to access a variety of free courses at a range of experience levels, some of which can be completed in as little as 30 minutes.