The Importance of Skill Development and Where to Start

Skill development, like getting a degree or work experience, is very important for getting your dream job. Ready to enhance your skills? Let’s begin.
 

When pursuing a new job or career, many people focus on making sure they have the right education and work experience to grab the attention of hiring managers. However, equally important is developing key skills, especially workplace or human skills.

Numerous surveys and studies highlight that these skills are a top priority for employers in the 2020s. For instance, a LinkedIn learning and development study revealed that 64 percent of learning and development professionals plan to reskill their current employees, which involves learning new skills for different roles.

Skill development is vital for both career growth and personal development. Knowing how to effectively showcase your skills on your resume can give you an edge over other candidates. Here’s everything you need to know about skill development, how to start improving your skills, and how to feature them on your resume.
 

What is Skill Development?

Skill development means improving skills to do tasks better and faster. In the workplace, skill development generally falls into three main types:

• Upskilling: Enhancing skills relevant to your current role

• Cross-skilling: Learning additional skills to support your current role

• Reskilling: Gaining new skills to prepare for a different role

You don’t need to be in a workplace program to work on skill development. You might be a college student pursuing a degree, exploring opportunities to change jobs, aiming for a promotion, or wanting to switch companies. Skill development can also be for personal growth, such as boosting confidence or improving a hobby you enjoy.
 

Steps to Begin Your Skill Development

No matter the reason for developing your skills, these steps can help you get started.
 

1. Define Your Goals

Start by setting a clear goal. Why do you want to improve this skill? It could be to get a better job, help others, enjoy a hobby, learn more, feel more confident, or even earn an award. There are many reasons to improve your skills.

For instance, if your goal is to become a journalist, identifying this goal allows you to pinpoint the areas where you need improvement.
 

2. Identify Your Skills Gap

Think about the skills you need to reach your goal. For example, becoming a journalist needs many skills, and maybe you already have most of them. But perhaps you need to improve your social media skills. Since social media expertise is essential for journalists today, focusing on enhancing this skill can prepare you better for job applications in the field.
 

3. Focus on Specific Skill Areas

Skills can be organized into many categories, but when it comes to careers, they often fall into two main types: human skills (also known as soft or personal skills) and technical skills (also called hard skills).

Human Skills

Human skills are important for working well with others and solving problems on your own. Some people are born with these skills, but others need to practice to improve them. Common human skills include:

• Communication
• Time management
• Adaptability
• Creativity
• Critical thinking
• Teamwork

These skills can be challenging to showcase on a resume since they’re often demonstrated through actions and interactions. They’re subjective and difficult to measure, making it important to highlight them effectively in job applications.
 

Technical Skills

Technical skills (or hard skills) are easier to show. For example, if you type very fast, you can show how many words you can type per minute. If you’re skilled in social media, you can highlight accounts you manage with high follower counts and strong engagement. Similarly, if you’re proficient in Microsoft Office, you can present a certification to validate your expertise.
 

4. Expand Your Network

A valuable way to begin skill development is by observing others who excel in the areas you want to improve. Start by meeting people who are good at social media and learning from them. If you’re a college student, try reaching out to a digital marketing company and see if you can speak with one of their social media experts. You can also explore social media to connect with a journalist who understands the platform well or even ask a friend or family member who’s skilled in social media. Learning from them can not only build your social media skills but also improve human skills like communication and active listening.
 

5. Find a Coach

If reaching out on your own feels challenging, consider looking for a professional coach who specializes in these skills. It might cost money, but a good coach can help you a lot and be helpful for your career in the future.
 

6. Read and Research

Social media plays a significant role in today’s world, so there is a wealth of information available, both online and in print. Reading extensively about any skill you wish to develop can deepen your understanding of it. Consider watching educational videos and listening to podcasts as well. Reading books, watching videos, or listening to podcasts about the skill you want to learn can help you get better and learn useful information.
 

7. Take Courses and Training

Taking courses and training is a great way to learn new skills. These can be online courses or in-person classes. Taking courses or training helps you learn new skills and practice using them in your life.
 

8. Seek Certification

Getting a certificate shows you have learned a skill. It can help you look better when applying for jobs. When you have a certification, it means you’ve officially proven your skills, which can help you advance in your career.
 

9. Practice

The key to mastering any skill is consistent practice. Start by applying what you’ve learned—whether through your personal social media accounts or in other areas of your life. Use the skills you’ve gained from your network, coach, or online courses, and practice them regularly. While practicing, be open to feedback from all sources. Your coach or mentor might offer valuable tips for improvement. For social media, low engagement or feedback from your followers can also provide insights into what’s working and what needs attention. You can even ask a friend to review your account and give constructive feedback.
 

How to Highlight Your Skills on Your Resume

Once you’ve gained proficiency in a skill, it’s important to showcase it on your resume. Create a dedicated “Skills” section and divide it into two lists: one for your human skills and one for your technical skills. Then, prioritize the skills that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for.

During the interview, the hiring manager is likely to reference this section. For technical skills, they may ask for proof of what you've listed. For example, if you mention strong social media skills, they may request to view your personal accounts. If you claim to have completed an online course in social media optimization, be ready to show your certificate.

Demonstrating human skills is trickier. In this case, the interviewer might ask for specific examples of when you’ve used these skills to solve a problem in a professional or academic setting. Prepare a few solid examples in advance and practice explaining them confidently.

To enhance your skills, explore the related courses in the following categories:

🔷 View the list of Interviewing Skills courses

🔷 View the list of Presentation Skills courses