Learning and development gives you a distinct advantage when competing against other candidates for a job. Recruiters look at hundreds of resumes every day. They want to see something different, something that will stand out. Showcasing that you are learning new skills can distinguish you from others that are not.
One way to use learning as a competitive advantage is to review job advertisements for roles that are of interest and then consider the skills that might be beneficial for such a role. In particular, assessing personal gaps can highlight areas for possible training. With a gap analysis like this, it is then possible to review available courses that might help show that you are developing or have mastered these skills. When looking for courses that might help fill gaps, SureSkills offers a wide range of possibilities. These include everything from professional effectiveness courses like business writing and conflict management through to project management qualifications such as PRINCE2 through to very technical courses in virtualisation and cloud management. Classes are offered both in-person and virtually, so it really couldn’t be more convenient to find something that will suit your needs.
This aside, the world of work is not a static place. Advancements are continually being made that lead to change within workplaces. For example, at the moment, artificial intelligence is impacting on employers. They are having to adapt and figure out how it can help. Demonstrating learning and continuous improvement of skills shows in a more general sense that you are adaptable and capable of developing new competencies, which is an ability that companies need at present.
Aside from showing adaptability, continually improving yourself demonstrates certain personal attributes that are very attractive to employers. For a start, learning and development under your own steam shows that you are a person that can take the initiative and that you are proactive. Companies want this because it means that they won’t have to spend their time hand-holding with you. It will also illustrate your tendency to be action-oriented. It also shows that you have a can-do attitude. You aren’t standing around waiting for someone else to spoon feed you or whining about what you “can’t do”. Instead you are going out there and doing what needs to be done to advance yourself and your career. This is admirable and a valuable attitude that all organizations need.
Ultimately, if you and another applicant are compared against one another, and you demonstrate capabilities that the other candidate does not, as a result of training and learning, this is going to put you ahead of them. What is more, going out there and learning new skills will make you feel empowered and confident, which are attractive qualities in themselves.
There is no doubt that learning will future-proof your career through setting you apart from other candidates. So what are you waiting for? Why not take a look at the training and development options that SureSkills provides today, to start building your personal competitive advantage?
