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How Upskilling Improves Your Job Application
Are you struggling to get noticed by employers in a competitive job market? Upskilling can help you build in-demand skills that boost your confidence and your chances of landing a job.
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A great job application isn’t just a polished resume or a thoughtful cover letter; it’s a clear signal to employers that you have what it takes to succeed. Still, sometimes you may feel like your qualifications are close, but you lack the advanced knowledge to take your career to the next level.
That’s where upskilling comes in. When you take the skills you already have and build on them, you can close gaps, boost your confidence, and become more hireable.
Let’s break down what that means and how upskilling (and reskilling!) can help you move forward in your professional development.
What Is Upskilling and Reskilling? Definition & Meaning
So, what is upskilling, exactly? And how does it differ from reskilling?
Upskilling is when you learn new skills or strengthen existing ones to further your career. It’s about building on what you already know, taking what you’re good at and becoming a sharper, more effective professional in your field. As a result, upskilling makes you a stronger candidate for promotions and advanced job opportunities.
On the other hand, reskilling is when you learn new skills to pivot to a new career. It’s what you do when you’re changing directions, such as switching from an office to a remote job, transitioning after a layoff, or exploring a new passion.
Both offer benefits; it just depends on what your goals are, and either can play a role in your reasons for leaving a job.
To better understand the nuances between the two, consider these upskilling and reskilling examples:
- A graphic designer learning animation tools to expand their creative services would be upskilling. A graphic designer learning user testing methods to transition to user experience (UX) design is an example of reskilling.
- A teacher learning how to create their own online course is upskilling. A teacher taking night classes in woodworking to become a carpenter is reskilling.
- A customer support representative incorporating AI tools to streamline their workflows is an example of upskilling. A customer support representative getting certified to become a nursing assistant is reskilling.
Another way to think about the difference between upskilling and reskilling is that upskilling advances you down your current career path, while reskilling allows you to chart a new path.
Why Upskill Now? The Impact on Your Job Search
Upskilling is a great way to improve your job search by opening doors to new opportunities and making yourself more competitive among similar applicants.
By developing new skills or advancing your current ones, you’re not stuck searching for similar positions. Instead of making lateral moves, you can potentially apply for higher-level jobs that offer new or different responsibilities and greater earning potential, such as in management or cross-functional departments.
For example, upskilling can help you land some of the highest-paying trade jobs, such as building inspector, when you gain new certifications to expand your responsibilities and authority.
On top of that, expanding your qualifications will make you stand out. Employers don’t just want a good candidate who meets most of the job requirements; they’d prefer a great candidate who exceeds their expectations. An application filled with diverse abilities signals that you have what it takes to excel in the job.
Upskilling also demonstrates your seriousness in career development and shows that you’re proactive about achieving your goals. It’s basically a way of saying, “I’m an engaged and motivated employee,” which hiring managers love to see.
There’s also an important personal benefit to upskilling during a job search: When you’re learning something useful, you’re not just waiting for an opportunity to show up; you’re building crucial career momentum. Upskilling keeps you focused on small, tangible steps that lead to long-term success while simultaneously making you more competent and confident in your profession.
By taking stock of your current skill set and investing time in learning something new that helps you move forward, you’ll be able to write stronger applications, walk into interviews with more clarity, and speak to your strengths in a grounded, honest way.
Best Skills to Learn for Future Jobs
While choosing the right skills to develop will depend on your field and career goals, some skills stand out across industries for their long-term value and relevance in today’s job market. In general, you should develop both hard skills and soft skills to become a well-rounded professional seeking new career heights.
Hard skills are technical but teachable abilities, often tied to tools, platforms, or specialized industry knowledge. In today’s ever-changing economy, these are the types of skills that can emphasize your ability to adapt and contribute to the future needs of employers, such as:
- AI and large language models (LLMs): Tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Notion AI, and data visualization platforms are reshaping how teams work across industries.
- Data analysis: Analytics and reporting are critical to decision-making and process improvement, whether you’re working with a programming language (like Python), spreadsheets (like Excel), or a marketing intelligence tool (like Ahrefs).
- Project management tools: Platforms like Asana, Trello, Notion, and ClickUp are commonly used across remote and hybrid teams to track and organize projects.
- Digital literacy: Even if it’s not directly related to your role, understanding digital tools like email and social media, or search engine optimization (SEO) protocols, increases your ability to effectively communicate in the digital economy.
Soft skills are less tangible but just as important. These are the personal and interpersonal abilities that help you work well with others, navigate change, stay organized, and handle change in any workplace, such as:
- Adaptability: As roles evolve, so does the need to be flexible and learn quickly, which isn’t always easy but can be done with intentional effort.
- Communication: Whether you’re remote, hybrid, or in-person, strong written and verbal communication goes a long way in achieving mutual goals.
- Emotional intelligence: In the age of AI and automation, being able to give and receive feedback, collaborate across teams, and show empathy is still needed for any successful professional.
- Time management: Working on multiple assignments or time-sensitive projects means staying organized, on task, and efficient in how you spend your time.
If you’re not sure which skills to focus on, reflect on your past jobs and ask yourself key questions to identify gaps and strengths you may not have recognized before. Then, carefully evaluate job descriptions for new roles that interest you and make note of any trending skills or requirements to pinpoint in-demand skills you should target.
How to Upskill: Programs to Consider
Learning how to upskill starts with understanding yourself. Much like deciding whether a part-time or full-time job better aligns with your needs, developing your skills depends on your career goals, schedule, and learning style.
There are many upskilling programs to choose from, but these can get you started:
- Online courses: Platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, and Skillshare offer short, flexible courses on topics from Excel to public speaking to generative AI, and many offer certifications you can add to your resume or LinkedIn profile.
- Workshops and bootcamps: If you’re looking for a more immersive or fast-paced format, consider a live workshop or bootcamp. These are especially helpful for breaking into tech, marketing, or creative fields.
- Certification programs: Some industries value formal certification more than others, but if you’re in fields like marketing, IT, or data, a certificate program can boost your credibility in a matter of weeks or months.
- Self-directed learning: You don’t need a formal program to learn something valuable. Reading industry blogs, watching tutorials, building projects, or experimenting with new tools can go a long way in advancing your skills.
- On-the-job learning: If you’re currently employed, see if there are opportunities to stretch your skills by volunteering for a new project, shadowing someone from another team, or asking to try out a new tool.
No matter which method you choose, remember that becoming proficient in any new skill takes time, but consistency matters more than intensity. Devoting just one hour per week to upskilling can add up over time, especially when you focus on small steps that support your long-term goals.
Showcasing New Skills on Your Resume: Making Your Job Application Stand Out
Once you’ve built new skills, make sure they show up clearly on your resume.
Highlight your new skills in your resume summary, so they stand out right away. Showcase skills that accurately represent your best, most relevant qualifications. If you’ve recently reskilled for a career change, this is a great place to briefly mention your pivot and reframe your experience in terms of where you’re headed.
Here’s an example resume summary to that effect:
Dedicated education administrator with over 15 years of experience managing elementary school logistics. Recently state-certified in Developmental Psychology Management to assist teachers in building diverse and sustainable education environments, including using AI and LLM supplemental tools to expand resources to children. Seeking to leverage experience to schools in need of new leadership.
You should also weave your new skills into the bullet points in the experience section of your resume. This is especially important in demonstrating to employers how you used your skills and to what effect, adding credibility to your application. Combine your new skills with action words and metrics that show your impact with data to reinforce the extent of your qualifications.
Here are a few impactful bullet point samples to inspire your own:
- Implemented a Notion-based workflow system to streamline project tracking, increasing early deployments by 75%.
- Completed Google Analytics training and used insights to inform digital outreach strategy that expanded services to 5,000 new customers per month.
- Incorporated ChatGPT to automate 25 tracking metrics that reduced supply chain delays by 12.5 hours and saved $18,000 in production costs.
Finally, update your skills section. Mention specific tools by name, list certifications, and use keywords that match the jobs you’re applying for. Don’t just say “project management” if you’ve completed a Notion or Trello course. Instead, list the specific skill you gained and your level of proficiency.
Here’s what that can look like:
- Certified ScrumMaster – Advanced
- Project Management in Trello – Advanced
- Power BI Data Modeling – Advanced
- Azure Cloud Management – Intermediate
- Machine Learning Project Oversight – Intermediate
By incorporating these new skills into your resume, you’ll elevate your application to a new level. Not only can this increase your standing among jobs you’re currently interested in, but you can also consider more advanced positions that allow you to put your upskilling into action.
How Upskilling Sets You Up for Career Success
Upskilling doesn’t just make you more competitive in the short term; it’s also the path to becoming a resilient and dependable professional, building a stronger foundation for long-term success. Every time you learn a new skill, you’re investing in your future earning potential, career satisfaction, and personal growth.
Whether you want to apply for higher-paying jobs, become a subject matter expert on your team, or simply want to feel more confident when facing unfamiliar challenges, upskilling helps you develop a learning mindset that allows you to grow with your industry instead of falling behind it. When you approach your career with this growth mindset, you’re more likely to recognize opportunities, ask better questions, and stretch into roles you may have previously hesitated to pursue.
Another benefit? Upskilling helps you tell your story. It gives you something concrete to talk about in job interviews, performance reviews, and networking conversations. You’re not just saying you’re motivated, you’re showing that you’re motivated, and how. Employers pay attention to that.
The truth is, careers rarely follow a straight line. Industries shift. Interests change. New roles emerge. By continuing to upskill, you’re giving yourself the tools to navigate that inevitable change with more flexibility and direction, on your terms.
Upskill and Find a New Job
Once you’ve put in the work to upskill, you’ve added real value to your job search. Your next step is to show off your new skills to potential employers, and Sonara’s AI job search automation platform can help you move quickly and strategically.
With Sonara, you can target jobs that match your new skills, tailor your applications with ease, and apply to more roles in less time. Instead of starting your application from scratch every time, you’ll be able to focus on what matters most: presenting your qualifications with clarity and confidence.
Additionally, our career guides offer plenty of resources to optimize your job hunt. From learning about great online jobs you can do from anywhere to leveraging AI in your search, you can learn how to take the next big step in your professional life.
Upskilling might have started as a way to advance your career, but Sonara will help you build one that grows with you.
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