The way we work is changing. Technology innovation and economic disruptions such as the pandemic are impacting traditional job roles, increasing automation, and changing the skill sets that are in demand.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report, technology adoption will transform tasks, jobs, and skills by 2025. The report estimates that “by 2025, 85 million jobs may be displaced by a shift in the division of labour between humans and machines, while 97 million new roles may emerge that are more adapted to the new division of labour between humans, machines, and algorithms.”
To establish a successful career, it’s more important than ever to ensure your skills are aligned to employers’ needs. In this blog, Jan Vandevelde, BENL Practice Manager, Architecture at global consultancy Wipro Ltd, shares his tips on how to successfully upskill to develop your career.
What is upskill training?
Learning additional skills can help employees:
Perform their jobs more effectively
Branch into more interesting roles
Maximise satisfaction
Whether you want to learn about a specific technology, or develop soft skills such as communication and leadership techniques, upskill training can be the route to achieving your goals.
“Rather than taking upskilling as a one-off activity, I’d recommend setting aside some time every week, or even every day, to continuously improve skills,” advises Vandevelde. “It’s not just about meeting your employer’s needs or getting a new job – it will stop you stagnating and it’s great for mental health.”
Vandevelde also knows all about the benefits career-wise. After starting out in a call centre, his continuous efforts in upskilling mean he is now a Salesforce architect and manager for global consulting firm Wipro Ltd.
How to upskill yourself
The demand for Salesforce expertise is growing all the time and the ecosystem is expected to create 7,400 new jobs in Belgium and generate around €2.9 billion of business by 2024. So now is a great time to improve your Salesforce skills.
“Upskilling in Salesforce is easy as there are so many resources out there.”
“From in-person and virtual classes at the Trailhead Academy to YouTube channels, networking events, and the free online training with Trailhead, you can pick and mix a learning route that best suits your needs,” explains Vandevelde.
Upskilling to build a successful career
After gaining experience as a Salesforce user, Vandevelde leveraged all the resources available to him to grow his Salesforce knowledge. Eventually, he was asked to make the move from the business side to the Salesforce admin team.
“I was suddenly working with a team that had much more expertise than I did, and I was determined to catch up!” Vandevelde explains. “I loved learning about all the different Salesforce capabilities and by the end of the first year, I had five Salesforce certifications.”
Vandevelde now has 22 Salesforce certifications and five years’ experience in a consultancy role.
“My upskilling journey will never stop. In a consultancy role, I get to learn more about business processes, new industries, and how Salesforce can support them every day.”
Upskilling while working
Today, Vandevelde is lucky enough to be able to study and learn at work. On average, employers expect to offer reskilling and upskilling to just over 70% of their employees by 2025.
“Investing in upskilling is a no-brainer for organisations – it makes employees more productive, improves job satisfaction, and means that when you face a new challenge, your employees are already primed and ready for it,” confirms Vandevelde.
In the past, however, much of his knowledge was gained from watching YouTube videos or completing Trailhead modules on the sofa in the evening after work. “It’s like going to the gym or going for a run,” he adds. “It won’t do any harm if you miss a few days here or there, but you won’t learn anything unless you try!”
Upskilling for free
Upskilling doesn’t have to cost loads of money either. Trailhead and Salesforce YouTube channels are accessible to anyone and for free.
“You don’t have to be technically-minded, and you’ll probably find that all the experience and skills you’ve learned in your previous roles will really benefit your understanding,” confirms Vandevelde. “Some of the best Salesforce admins come from the business side and customer-facing roles, as they already understand the processes.”
So, if you work in a retail or call centre environment and are keen to develop your skills in a slightly different direction, try some Trailhead modules. You can get hands-on experience straight away, and without paying a penny.
Start your Salesforce upskilling journey today with Trailhead.
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