Upskilling Your Employee’s Technology Careers

By John Bemis On December 8, 2020 · In Technology

Updated: August 22, 2023

Does your team possess the technical know-how they need to succeed? Do you invest in their technology careers? Upskilling is the process of teaching your current employees new technology management skills.

According to Emeritus, 77% of workers want to upskill. Technology is everchanging and constantly evolving, which as a result, means there’s always the possibility of a technical skills gap within your organization. However, the ability to upskill and increase training to develop your employees’ skillsets creates an advantage for your company in this technology-driven world.

Read on to learn more about upskilling your employee’s careers.

The Benefits of Upskilling Jobs in IT

We all know the challenges of recruiting top tech talent to fill organizational skills gaps. And we also know that turnover is expensive. Upskilling or reskilling helps retain valuable employees and minimize hiring and training new ones. Ramping up current employees’ skills creates a well-rounded and cross-trained workforce, saves money, and boosts your team’s confidence and knowledge base.

Other benefits of upskilling include:

• Employee retention
• Increased customer and employee satisfaction
• Boosted morale, performance, and motivation
• Employee growth opportunities
• Strengthened employer brand

Determine Your Upskilling Strategy for IT Employees

There are many ways to approach upskilling, but first and foremost, you’ll need a strategy. Keep the following in mind as you develop yours:

1. Determine the skill and knowledge gaps within your organization
2. Understand each employee’s personal career goals
3. Develop training programs
4. Think both short- and long-term

Understanding these criteria will help you develop the right upskilling strategy for your employees.

Let’s dive deeper into each point that’s listed above. Once you’ve identified which skills gaps to address, you’ll need to create personal development plans. Which skills do they want to learn or improve upon? Where do your employees wish to be in their careers?

Once these are determined, compare them to which skills are most in-demand within your organization. Empowering your employees to develop their plan is better than telling them exactly what they need to learn.

That said, 74% of people think training is more of a personal liability. By doing this, you benefit your employees who want to advance their skills and get the ones you need for specific projects. In the world of Covid, 40% of workers feel their digital skills have improved.

The next step is to create training programs or identify existing training programs. Offer your employees specific training to enhance their skills. For example, let’s say you have a java developer that you believe will benefit from learning .Net. Discuss this possibility with the developer, ask them to develop their personal goals, and create a training program that improves those skills.

In many cases, these programs offer specific certifications. Once achieved, not only does it benefit your organization, but it also adds the credential to their resume. Finding the right approach based on organization priorities and current technological trends can determine how your upskilling strategy helps your organization and employees in the short and long term.

Determining your upskilling strategy helps your organization and employees in the short- and long term. Find the right approach based on organization priorities and current technological trends.

How to Implement Upskill Training

There are many ways to implement upskilling training, such as:

1. Classes – Professional training companies can conduct upskilling classes within your organization. These have typically been conducted in a classroom setting, or more relevant today, a virtual classroom setting. Learning directly from a professional allows for an abundance of training topics.
2. Microlearning- This process includes short web-based training modules that cover topics in short periods. This allows employees to enhance their skills during work breaks or free time.
3. “Lunch and Learn”- An activity where your company organizes a training session over a complimentary or brown bag meal. In today’s environment, it’s easy to conduct a video call.

When upskilling, your company should also feature subject matter experts. For instance, if you have an employee with a PMP certification and want other employees to learn those skills, offer that SME an opportunity to develop their leadership skills by teaching or mentoring others.

Upskilling your employee’s careers helps your organization fill skills gaps and improve your employees’ skillsets and knowledge. Invest in reskilling to retain your current employees and ultimately allow your organization to grow and thrive within the massive IT transformation we see throughout the technology industry.

About Benchmark IT –Technology Talent

Benchmark IT offers technology consulting, executive search, and direct hire recruitment and staffing services. We service a wide range of clients and industries throughout the metro New York area and beyond. Our proprietary recruitment process, and dedication to precision, ethics, and personalized service sets us apart from other recruiting firms. As a result, Benchmark IT has become a trusted partner among Fortune-ranked companies, mid-market, start-up, and growth-phase firms since 2007. For additional information, visit: www.bmarkits.com.