Upskilling is the process of acquiring new or more advanced skills so that a person can do their current job better, adapt to changes, or take on a different role. Organizations also use the term for training programs that prepare employees for new technology or processes.
Why it matters
Tools and job requirements change quickly, particularly in technology, so skills need renewal. Upskilling is distinct from reskilling, which means learning a different set of skills for a different job. Common routes are e-learning courses, a coding bootcamp, MOOCs, mentoring and project-based work. It works best when connected to real tasks and when time is set aside for it.
Example
A support engineer plans a three-month goal to learn scripting:
- Complete a beginner course in a scripting language, 2 hours a week.
- Automate one repetitive task, such as renaming log files.
- Present the script to the team and add it to a shared repository.
- Choose the next skill, such as basic SQL, using the same loop.
Common mistakes
- Collecting course certificates without applying the skill.
- Choosing a skill by trend rather than by use in your work.
- Trying to learn too many topics at once.
Related
Get notified when this term updates
Plus occasional practical tips on uptime and monitoring, nothing else. Unsubscribe anytime.
This page is general information written by our editorial team and updated when documentation changes. Servers and providers differ, so test changes safely first. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.