In a rapidly changing job market, practicing one profession is truly passé
The beginning of the year is the time to start making good intentions in both business and personal areas. MobieTrain research shows that business owners consider the business growth of their employees immensely important. Indeed, staff training is a priority at 91 percent of companies.
Guy van Neck, CEO of MobieTrain talks more about the importance of developing new skills in the workplace and how employers can best facilitate this.
1. Step out of the comfort zone
Breaking patterns, as well as making taboos negotiable, is necessary for this. It’s not easy, but if “stepping out of your comfort zone” was easy everyone would do it. We would rather feel comfortable than risk a conversation about mental health, want to discuss the glass ceiling or dare a job change. But living outside your comfort zone, on the contrary, produces something enormously valuable. Development.
2. The changing labor market
Change stress plays out in both employees and employers. Employers, for example, also find it difficult to engage in career conversations. This conversation is too often not had because of uncertainty about dissatisfaction and the fear that employees may even leave the company. While keeping staff happy is vital in today’s tight labor market. Expressing needs and talking about development opportunities are important parts of this.
It’s not just about staff growth; companies themselves are constantly evolving. In today’s digital age, jobs are constantly changing and some jobs are even becoming obsolete. The days when you took one education and then practiced one trade until retirement are a thing of the past. Attending training and education has become necessary to develop skills and learn new work and practices.
3. Ways of learning
Further developing or learning new skills takes time, and let that be exactly what we often lack. Those who want to remain relevant as employers in a turbulent job market must put training high on the agenda. Employers can support staff in this regard by actively offering training that suits the employee in both form and content. This is often difficult. For example, 35 percent of companies admit that training is not properly tailored to the needs of their staff.
I am convinced that it bears fruit to match the method of learning to the recipient. Enjoyment of learning has a positive effect on its outcome. For example, consider taking a course on a cell phone. Almost everyone has a smartphone in their pocket, making it a very accessible tool. Anywhere, and at a self-selected time, learning becomes so possible.
Learning new skills while doing normal work is challenging. Employers play an important role in enabling this side-by-side, not just by listening to this but by acting on it.
