HR Insights

How to Create a Career Development Plan with Upskilling

Blonde employee holds laptop with excitement about upcoming upskilling opportunities
Julie Johnson headshot.
Julie Johnson
Talent Acquisition Partner
September 27, 2024
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Leveling up your career game and landing that dream job doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. If you’re ready to make big moves and turn ambition into action, you’re in the right place. Let’s make your next career flex your best one yet. 

Today, we’re here to help you spot opportunities to enhance your skill set, expand your knowledge, and make your career dreams a reality.

How to Spot Opportunities for Skills Enhancement

If you’re on a mission to become the best version of your professional self, you’re probably wondering the best place to start. 

Simply put: the secret lies in spotting opportunities to enhance your skills. Here’s where to start…

Look for Gaps in Your Resume

Male employee sits outside on steps and spots gaps in his resume

Have you ever looked at your resume and felt like something was missing? Perhaps you’ve been excelling in one area, but there’s a glaring lack of expertise in another. 

Career development and upskilling provide an opportunity to bridge that gap. 

Think about the skills and qualifications that top employers in your field are looking for. Are there any trends or emerging technologies that you haven’t leaned into yet? By pinpointing these gaps, you can identify the missing puzzle pieces that will make your resume shine even brighter.

Follow Natural Interests + Strong Suits

When it comes to skills enhancement, one of the most effective strategies is to leverage your natural interests and capitalize on your strong suits. 

What gets you all fired up? Is it crunching numbers, helping people, or creating killer marketing campaigns? 

Following your natural interests and strengths can lead you to opportunities where you can excel and grow. Additionally, by aligning your skill enhancement journey with your natural interests and strong suits, you are more likely to stay motivated, engaged, and committed to the learning process. 

Identify Skills Necessary for the Future

Leadership is gathered at a table and a group of three look for skills that will be needed in the future.

In today’s fast-changing world, it’s all about staying ahead and picking up the skills that’ll prepare you for whatever comes next. Take a proactive approach to anticipate the needs of employers in next year’s job market, rather than just focusing on your current skill set.

Start by conducting research on industry trends and emerging job roles. Identify the skills that are projected to be in high demand.

Once you have identified these future-proof skills, assess your current proficiency levels in each area. Pinpoint the gaps between your existing skill set and the skills that will be vital in the future.

Building the right skills now helps set you up as a highly-desirable, forward-thinking professional, who is ready to tackle new challenges and jump on fresh opportunities without missing a beat.

Why Skill Enhancement is Important

Female employee holds laptop and shares the importance of upskilling

It’s clear that skills enhancement is key to staying ahead of the game. As industries shift and technologies reshape job requirements, the constant pursuit of new skills is essential for maintaining your competitive edge. 

Leveling up your skills isn’t just about keeping up with the times —, it also opens doors to new opportunities for career growth and advancement. 

By making continuous learning and development a priority, professionals can future-proof their careers, broaden their skill sets, and position themselves as the valuable assets they are. 

Landing Your Dream Job

One of the most compelling reasons to invest in skills enhancement is its direct impact on your ability to land your dream job. 

Yep – you know that dream job you’ve been eyeing for ages? 😉

Aligning your skill development with the specific requirements of a potential future role can significantly enhance your candidacy. Employers are not only looking for candidates with the required qualifications. They are also looking for individuals who possess a diverse set of skills and competencies. 

Expanding Your Mind

Engaging in continuous learning and skill development exposes you to new ideas, perspectives, and ways of thinking that can enrich your personal and professional life. 

The process of exploration and learning not only fosters growth but also cultivates a mindset of curiosity and adaptability. Expanding your skill set sparks the creativity and innovation needed to inspire fresh ideas and creative solutions.

Establishing Yourself as a Go-To

A group of colleagues sit around a table working to establish themselves as industry go-tos

Imagine being the go-to person in your field, the one everyone looks up to for advice and expertise. By enhancing your skills, you position yourself as a leader in your industry, opening doors to exciting opportunities and collaborations.


A study by the Pew Research Center revealed that individuals who continuously learn and upskill are 45% more likely to be promoted at work. You read that right! Expanding your skill set not only makes you a more valuable asset but also establishes you are a resource in your field.

How to Create Your Career Development Plan

Getting started with upskilling by creating a career development plan requires a strategic and intentional approach. 

Here are some ideas to help you get started:

Find a Mentor

A female mentee confides in her mentor about her career development plan

The right mentor can provide you with guidance, advice, and insights based on their own experiences and expertise, helping you navigate challenges and make informed decisions. 

Additionally, building a strong mentor-mentee relationship can not only accelerate your skill development but also broaden your professional network and open doors to new opportunities in your career.

Explore Opportunities for Continued Education

In the year 2024, knowledge is at your fingertips. Take advantage of online resources such as books, webinars, and courses to learn new skills and stay updated with the latest trends in your industry.

Engaging in continued education can help you expand your professional network, connect with like-minded individuals, and discover new opportunities for collaboration and career advancement. 

Overall, prioritizing continued education is a powerful move to sharpen your expertise and set yourself up for long-term success in your field.

Don’t Neglect Soft Skills

While technical skills are crucial, soft skills play a significant role in defining your professional success and effectiveness in the workplace. 

Soft skills encompass attributes such as communication, emotional intelligence, adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities, all essential skills for thriving in any given role. 

A 2019 study by LinkedIn found that 92% of talent acquisition professionals and hiring managers believe that soft skills are equally or more important than technical skills when evaluating candidates. 

Adding soft skills development into your career development efforts doesn’t just boost your abilities, it also makes you a stronger, more well-rounded candidate for any role. 

Okay, now who wouldn’t want that?

Partner with That’s Good HR

A TGHR shakes hands with a client who they've helped create Employee Upskilling Programs for

Here at That’s Good HR, we understand the value of continuous learning and skill enhancement. Our team is dedicated to helping you find the perfect opportunities that align with your goals and aspirations. 

When you partner with us you gain access to a network of top employers and personalized career guidance that puts you on a path of learning, growth, and success. 

The future belongs to those who are willing to invest in themselves. Reach out to That’s Good HR today and let’s turn your career dreams into reality.

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