Five Ways Working from Home Can Help You Upskill or Reskill in Your Career

Are you maximizing the potential of remote work to upskill or reskill in your career? Working from home offers unparalleled opportunities for professional growth, allowing you to acquire new skills and qualifications without leaving your home office.

Remote work has revolutionized how many professionals work, offering greater flexibility and new opportunities for professional growth. One of the most significant advantages of working from home is the potential for career upskilling and reskilling. These are necessary endeavors for virtually all professionals with the quickening pace of change in how work is done across industries.

According to Coursera, upskilling “means learning new and enhanced skills that relate to your current role” and reskilling “involves learning new cross-functional skills” to move into a new role or widen the scope of your current role. In this article, we present some ideas suggested by remote workers and those working remotely with our client companies. Upskill or reskill from home by leveraging these ideas to take greater control of your professional development.

Working from home provides the ideal setting to upskill or reskill by attending online classes. Online education has evolved, offering a vast array of options to meet your professional development needs.

• Advanced degrees: Professionals working remotely can pursue graduate and post-graduate degrees, such as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, a Master of Business Administration, or Master of Computer Science and Cybersecurity. Take advantage of the technologies that make online education possible, without having to relocate and take time away from work to enroll in a traditional on-campus program. Many of these programs even offer the flexibility to listen to lectures and complete coursework at your convenience.

• Certifications and credentials: Consider earning industry-recognized certifications, such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified Solutions Architect (CSA), or Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) to boost your qualifications.

• Microcredentials: Microcredentials, often offered through platforms like Coursera or edX, provide quick, focused skill development. Examples include Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), HubSpot Content Marketing Certification, Tableau Desktop Specialist, and Cisco Certified DevNet Associate.

Remote work offers access to a wealth of online tools and resources for upskilling and reskilling, making you more indispensable in your field.

• Coding bootcamps: Le Wagon is a renowned coding bootcamp that offers a full-stack web development program. In just nine weeks, beginners can transform into proficient web developers, capable of building web applications from scratch. General Assembly is a global education company that provides a wide range of tech-focused bootcamps and courses, from software engineering and data science to digital marketing and UX design.

• Google Analytics Academy: This is an excellent resource for individuals seeking to become experts in web analytics, a skill that is highly sought after in digital marketing. Through Google Analytics Academy, you can master the art of data analysis, understand user behavior on websites, and gain the ability to make data-driven decisions.

• LinkedIn Learning: This platform offers a vast library of courses covering a wide range of subjects. Whether you're interested in leadership and management, project management, data science, or graphic design, you can find courses taught by industry experts, tailored to your specific career goals.

Mentorship is a cornerstone of career growth, and remote work makes it easier than ever to find and connect with experienced mentors who can help you upskill or even reskill. If you work in a small to midsize company without these programs, seek a mentor through a professional or industry association. If you work in a larger organization, explore your intranet for these programs or ask human resources what your company has to offer.

• Industry leaders: Connect with seasoned professionals in your organization, or outside of your organization, who can provide insights and guidance related to your field or industry.

• Cross-functional mentorship: Remote work allows you to establish mentorship relationships with individuals from different departments or industries, providing diverse perspectives on career growth.

Joining a professional association is a strategic move for career advancement as it offers a multitude of upskilling and reskilling benefits that can significantly impact your professional growth. These include access to industry insights and experts, real-world and virtual events, networking opportunities, certifications and designations, and mentoring programs. Here are two popular examples:

• Project Management Institute (PMI): If you're in project management, joining PMI offers access to exclusive resources, networking opportunities, and certifications like the PMP credential.

• American Marketing Association (AMA): Marketers can benefit from AMA's wealth of industry insights, conferences, and workshops.

Career mapping is a strategic and proactive approach to planning and managing your professional trajectory. It involves setting clear goals, identifying key milestones, and charting a path toward achieving your aspirations in your chosen field.

• SMART objectives: Utilize the SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) framework to set precise career objectives. For instance, set a goal to earn a certification in data science within six months.

• Skill enhancement plans: Map out a plan for upskilling or reskilling, whether it's learning a new programming language, improving data analysis techniques, or enhancing leadership skills.

Working from home isn't just about flexibility and convenience; it can also be a gateway to expanding your intellectual capabilities and career potential. Embrace the era of remote work and take advantage of online education, skill development resources, mentorship, professional associations, and career mapping tools. By proactively upskilling, reskilling, and charting your career path, you can position yourself for success and personal fulfillment, no matter where your workspace may be. There has never been a more empowering time for career growth, so seize the opportunity to invest in your future.

Remote work is more than just a convenience—it's a pathway to expanding your career potential. By embracing online education, skill development resources, mentorship, and strategic career planning, you can upskill or reskill effectively. Take control of your career journey and turn your home workspace into a launching pad for future success