Gaining knowledge in the workplace is essential and beneficial to the growth of any employee. Whether it is obtaining a new skill or strengthening an existing one, there is no denying that such experiences can prove to be highly advantageous to the individual. This is why developing new and improved skills should be a top priority for anyone looking to advance their career. In this blog post, we will be discussing the importance of skills acquired in the workplace; highlighting the advantages they can bring, and providing advice on how to best go about acquiring them. We will also look at some of the most sought-after skills and techniques that are in high demand from employers, as well as listing some of the most effective ways to learn and develop these skills. Ultimately, this post should provide you with a valuable insight into the value of acquiring new skills and the potential rewards that it can bring.
Acquired Skill vs. Innate Ability
Why are acquired skills important?
Developing new skills can help you advance in your current position and possibly open up new career opportunities. This course of study could assist you in staying up to date with shifting workplace norms and procedures. Some benefits of acquiring skills include:
What are acquired skills?
Talents and expertise that have been acquired through education or experience are known as acquired skills. These include both hard or technical skills, such as computer programming, and soft skills, such as communication. Developing your skills can help you get ready to take on other roles in your industry and perform the duties of your job at a proficient level. You can achieve this through perseverance, practice, seeking an apprenticeship or internship, pursuing on-the-job training, reading relevant materials, and enrolling in classes.
Examples of acquired skills
Each industry has unique skills that can help employees succeed. Include these acquired skills to demonstrate your expertise in the field on your resume and cover letters. You can work to develop the following examples of acquired skills from a variety of industries:
Administrative careers
The following are skills related to running a business and maintaining office organization:
Customer-service careers
Customer-service careers may require the following skills:
Education careers
People who work in education may acquire abilities like:
Information technology (IT) careers
In addition to learning a particular program relevant to your position, some IT skills to develop include:
Marketing careers
The following abilities will aid you in the marketing sector:
Medical careers
For those working in the medical or healthcare industry, the following abilities are beneficial:
Sales careers
Here are some skills for sales employees to develop:
How to get acquired skills
The following eight steps can help you learn new skills:
1. Learn which skills are valuable
Check the value of a skill in your specific industry before learning it. For instance, if you work in the medical field and are considering improving your communication skills, do some research to determine whether this is a skill that is required for your position. By doing this, you can make sure that you spend your time learning things that will benefit your job. Read job descriptions for positions similar to yours to find relevant skills, or ask your manager to find out what abilities hiring managers are looking for in candidates.
2. Set some goals for yourself
After deciding which skill you want to master, establish a goal. By considering the type of position you want to hold in the future and the abilities you’ll need to succeed, try to connect this to your career goals. Break up your overall goal into smaller ones to make your acquisition more manageable. You can start by learning the fundamentals of the skill, then move on to more complicated ones.
3. Choose the correct training
Reflect on how you learn when choosing the right training. You can become more effective by understanding your preferred learning style and choosing a training program that fits it. Consider enrolling in an online course where a professor will instruct you through a series of lectures if, for example, you learn best through auditory means.
4. Create time to work on skill
Set aside some time to devote to your development and make an investment in yourself in order to improve your skill. Try to establish a regular schedule to assist you in finishing your work and being dedicated to your learning. Consider your most productive hours when setting aside time to practice your skills so you can make the most of your time.
5. Find a mentor to work with
Look for a more seasoned worker at your company who can help you learn from their experience. Inquire if they have any advice or techniques that could help you. A mentor can also share their knowledge with you and advise against certain behaviors. They might even assist you in overcoming difficulties you encountered while practicing your skill.
6. Add more responsibilities
Ask your manager for more work or suggest a project that utilizes your new skills to put your newly acquired skills to use. Another way to do this is by identifying a challenge within your company. For instance, use the coding language you are learning to create new software if you can see a way to improve the workflow at your place of employment.
7. Consider skill sharing
Collaborate with a professional in your field to learn a skill that will be useful to you. In exchange for you teaching them a skill, someone who possesses your desired skill can instruct you on how to become an authority in it. This skill-sharing can benefit you both personally and the organization as a whole.
8. Solicit regular feedback
Receive regular feedback so you can evaluate your performance. This might entail asking a coworker or manager to assess your development in order to get their objective opinion. You can also assess your own performance to see what is working well and where you need to make improvements.
FAQ
What is meant by skills acquired?
Talents and expertise that have been acquired through education or experience are known as acquired skills. These include both hard or technical skills, such as computer programming, and soft skills, such as communication.
Are skills acquired or learned?
A skill is a capability that a person can learn. Although some level of proficiency may have been attained prior to learning a related or similar skill, skills are typically unknown until learned.
Why are acquired skills important?
Acquiring skills is very important. They aid in enhancing our way of thinking, our capacity for problem-solving, and the standard of our lives. The importance of developing skills and earning a living through self-employment are discussed below.
