Employees often find themselves stuck in careers that they don’t want to be in. They imagine that they will have a lot of fun and success early on. But soon the reality dawns on them, and they find out what the world of work is really like.
For this reason, retraining is becoming more popular. People are trying to gain the skills they need to move into better or more lucrative types of work.
Retraining, though, is something that a lot of people put off for the future. They tell themselves that they’ll go for what they want in life when they’re “older” while they slog away right now.
This approach though, has some serious costs. Continuing in a career you don’t like or failing to update your skills can leave you even more stuck than before.
In this post, we take a look at some of the reasons why retraining is so valuable. Here’s what you need to know:
Your Current Job Is Killing You
While it might sound a little extreme to write it down, your current job might be killing you. It sounds far-fetched, but today there is a lot of evidence for this. People with bad managers and bosses, or those who simply have too much work to do, can struggle to function happily in their lives. It’s not just working hours that are affected, but everything else.
People who work jobs they don’t like have higher rates of heart disease, gallstones, and even infections. Working for a bad boss can suppress the immune system, raise blood pressure and leave you feeling rotten most of the time.
If your current job is harming your wellbeing, consider whether you really need it. Think carefully about how much it really contributes to your life. Would your time be better spent doing something else, even if it paid less money.
You Need Knowledge To Progress
In today’s business environment, knowledge is key for progression. People who don’t understand their industries are far less likely to move up the ranks in the way that they hope.
In today’s economy, there are plenty of jobs available. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of people to fill them. And companies appear unwilling to raise wage rates as much as in the past to get them.
For instance, firms are looking for people with business analyst skills. They want workers who have the ability to tell them where they stand in relation to other firms.
They also want individuals with advanced digital marketing skills. They need people who can go out there and sell their products and services in a highly competitive space.
You Need To Prove Your Productivity
You also need to prove your productivity. People who fail to update their skills may attract suspicion from employers. Perhaps they don’t know the latest processes or how to work in the most effective way.
Retraining eliminates this risk. Team members and other staff view you as someone who has all the skills and knowledge they need to make a valuable contribution.
You Can Secure Your Job
If you’re a coder but you still do your job in the same way as you did back in 2000, then you’re in trouble. A lot of the skills you use are either hopelessly out of date, or completely redundant.
With training, though, you can avoid obsolescence. New skills equip you with everything you need to know to serve modern employers. This way, you can protect your livelihood long term.
Today’s companies are making significant investments in their people. They want to make sure that they have all the skills they need to succeed in modern markets and working conditions.
Amazon, for instance, spends hundreds of millions of dollars every year on improving skills and training for its staff. It believes that these approaches are worth it because of how they enhance productivity and customer service.
You Need To Hop On The Bandwagon
Times are changing. And more people than ever before are deciding that they need to update their skills.
In many ways, retraining is a way to stay relevant in today’s marketplace. Those who commit to lifelong learning are more likely to secure promotions and rise through the ranks. Retraining is, in essence, a way of hopping on the bandwagon.
You Need A Quick Payoff
Updating your skills and investing in yourself is the most valuable thing that you can do. In fact, it is far more valuable than, say, putting your money in the stock market.
Your skills are ultimately what will determine your financial success. The more value you can deliver to the market, the more money you’ll make. It’s a simple equation.
If you invest in things outside of yourself, the payoff is slow. It can take ten years for your plans to come to fruition.
If, however, you do a course today, you can start gaining new skills immediately. You can then put them to good use in whatever you want to do. Even if you don’t plan on changing your job, it could enable you to make more money than before. And that’s a good thing.
Before you retrain, consider which skills you are most suited for. Don’t just do something because you think it’ll be good for your career. Instead, play to your strengths and create opportunities from that. You’ll be happier and you will be able to provide more value to the people around you.
You Have Financial Ambitions You Want To Fulfill
If you have a lot of financial ambitions, retraining can be a great way to fulfill them. Instead of waiting for many years to get what you want out of life, you can have it right now.
Most people put off the good times until retirement. They tell themselves that they need to work now and save up money for the future. But with retraining, you change the calculation. All of a sudden, you can have the things that you want because you are making more money. Saving and investing is no longer as appealing.
