We explore these two terms, which are key in an employment landscape marked by professionals who, in response to a greater need to adapt, are seeking to redefine and strengthen their careers.
In the context of an unprecedented digital revolution, many people have shifted their career paths to other, more cutting-edge sectors, which include the most sought-after digital profiles.
In an effort to adapt to a constantly changing work environment, concepts such as reskilling and upskilling are key for those seeking to redefine or strengthen their career path in response to the need to adapt.
What is upskilling?
Upskilling refers to the process of acquiring new skills or upgrading existing ones to keep up with developments in a specific field. This strategy focuses on strengthening the skills an individual possesses in order to adapt to the changing demands of the labour market and improve their competitiveness. Rather than making a radical change in career path, upskilling seeks to optimise and expand existing skills to ensure continued relevance in a constantly evolving work environment.
What is reskilling?
In contrast, reskilling involves a more radical change by acquiring a completely new set of skills that may be in a different field than the initial experience. This approach is essential when an individual’s current skills are no longer relevant due to technological, economic or other factors. Reskilling is a process of reinventing the career path, allowing individuals to migrate into new areas of specialisation to remain competitive in the modern labour market.
Key differences between upskilling and reskilling
The fundamental difference between upskilling and reskilling lies in the magnitude of change. While upskilling enhances and broadens existing skills within the same field or professional field, allowing for continuous evolution within the current specialisation, reskilling involves a more profound transformation by adopting an entirely new skill set, requiring a more extensive commitment to learning and adapting to new disciplines.
In short, while upskilling is a strategy of continuous improvement, reskilling is a tactic of radical reinvention.
A key aspect to consider is the time and investment required. Reskilling can take longer, as it requires acquiring a completely new set of skills. Upskilling, on the other hand, can be more agile, as it focuses on refining and expanding skills already possessed.
How to get started on your journey of job reorientation
For those who are just starting to familiarise themselves with the terms reskilling or upskilling, the process can seem overwhelming at first.
For this reason, here is some practical advice and we recommend some digital tools, that can help you through each step:
- Self-Assessment and Goal Setting: Reflect on your current skills, interests and career goals – are you looking for radical change or incremental improvement? At this point, our Orientador Profesional Virtual, a chatbot that finds the best career path for you and recommends in-demand professions and online training that matches your profile, can help you.
- Labour Market Research: Explore labour market trends so you can make informed decisions about your direction. The Mapa del Empleo shows you, in real time, which professional profiles and skills are most in demand in Spain.
- Explore Training Platforms: Research online training programmes, courses and events that align with your goals. You can find some courses of your interest (for free!) on Conecta Empleo, as well as following the recommendations of the counsellor.
- Networking and Collaboration: Connect with professionals in your new area of interest. Collaboration and sharing experiences can be invaluable in this journey.
- Continuous Engagement: Keep up to date with the latest trends and technologies in your field.
If you are looking for a change… Explore the tools it offers you and reorient your career towards the employability of the future!
