Many people think that upskilling is similar to reskilling in meaning and intent. They believe that upskilling is merely a portmanteau of upskilling and reskilling. This is not always the case; upskilling often refers to acquiring new skills without having to relearn old ones. For example, if you're a computer whiz, you can upskill yourself by taking classes on how to use computers better. This way, you're adding to your current skill set without having to relearn old skills.
In my last blog, I explained what reskilling is. My goal in this blog is to clarify the difference between reskilling and upskilling.
Employers and job seekers often have different ideas about what it means to upskill or reskill. Your choice of these words can greatly affect your career and the way you interact with the people in your community. Essentially, you choose which term best expresses your intentions for a specific skill. Choosing the wrong term can make you seem unprepared for a job, whereas choosing the right term can help you advance in your field
A reskilling program differs from an upskilling one in that it refers to an existing skill rather than a new one. For example, if you're a soccer player, you can improve your skills by training for a game or playing more regularly. On the other hand, if you're a computer whiz, you can improve your skills by taking a computer course. Employers often hire coaches to help their employees improve their skills. In this way, they are reskilling themselves for new jobs.
By reskilling, you are teaching your employees how to perform a whole new job function. Such a transition is usually taught to those employees who are capable of it. For example, you can reskill a customer care executive into a web developer.
An upskilling program helps employees improve their skills in their current occupations. In the case of upskilled employees, there is no need to change their career position or path. Basically, you teach them the skills so they can improve what they're already doing.
Some jobs are inaccessible for reskilling because they're government jobs and cannot be downgraded or eliminated from existence. For example, teachers cannot downgrade their jobs and police officers cannot be laid off from their positions. This is where the concept of reskilling becomes important- as a citizen, you have the power to convince politicians to pass laws protecting your hardworking neighbors. You have the power to vote out officials who are unwilling to pass these laws- after all, they're elected by you!
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