As technology and the industries it powers rapidly evolve, the skills that are in-demand shift, as well. Current research shows that candidate talent isn’t keeping pace with the skills needed to maintain business momentum. 

According to research by McKinsey & Company, 43% of companies report they currently have skill gaps. An additional 22% expect to have them in the next 2 years. 

Skills could be improved in technology sectors. Korn Ferry reports by 2030, in tech alone, the U.S. could lose out on $162 billion worth of revenue per year due to talent shortages in technology. Globally, an estimated 85 million+ jobs are expected to go unfilled due to a human talent shortage.

To stay competitive in your industry and maintain your career momentum, consider taking these steps to stand out during the talent gap crisis.

1. Create a Career Development Plan

A career development plan is a roadmap that outlines where you want to take your career in the future. It includes:

• Roles you want to achieve, on the timeline you want to achieve them by
• Training and credentials that can help you move into advanced positions
• Details on which responsibilities and education you can complete to continue to advance
  

It can be helpful to look at job descriptions of advanced positions in your field to see which responsibilities and requirements roles you aspire to include. You can add those to your career development plan, so you have a strategy for which skills to develop. 

2. Talk with Your Manager

Share your career goals with your manager if you’re currently employed. There may be on-the-job training available to help you develop your skills. Some employers will also reimburse you for tuition and courses you take to strengthen job-related skills.

There may also be mentorship opportunities at your job, where you can learn from a higher-up and gain more resources on cultivating skills. By making your career goals known to your supervisor, you position yourself as more likely to get assistance to reach those achievements. You can also put yourself on a path for an internal promotion by taking the steps you need to grow and develop professionally. 

3. Join Industry Groups

Most industries have national societies and local groups dedicated to supporting professionals who are members. These groups may offer educational courses, conferences, networking opportunities, publications and other resources.

In the industries AccruePartners specializes in, consider the following: 

• Accounting and finance: Financial Planning Association, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, Society of Financial Service Professionals 
• Information technology: American Society for Information Science (ASIS) International, Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), Internet Society
• Marketing, digital and creative: American Marketing Association, Social Media Association, Association of International Product Marketing & Management
• Human resources: Academy of Human Resource Development, Association for Talent Development, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Executive Network
• Corporate support: Association of Support Professionals

You can also join industry groups for free on LinkedIn, where you can connect with other professionals, start and join discussions, ask questions and get career resources. Stay up-to-date with industry news, so you can learn about which skills are emerging as in-demand in your industry.

4. Never Stop Learning

To continually advance in your career, you’ll need to continue learning new things to help you be more productive. The good news is there’s a wealth of educational resources available for free online. You can access on-demand training and pursue industry certifications and credentials that you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Sites like Coursera, edX and Udemy offer expert training in a wide variety of subjects. Some courses are derived from actual college courses and taught by university professors. Many are free to take, and some offer the option to gain a credential by paying a fee.

Joining courses like these also may provide networking opportunities when they offer message board capabilities within the program. If you’ve thought about changing roles or industries altogether, free online courses offer a convenient way to test whether or not you’d be a fit for switching careers. 

Looking for a New Job or Career? AccruePartners Can Help

AccruePartners can help you move closer to your goals wherever you are on your career journey. As a top recruiting firm in accounting, finance, technology, human resources, marketing, digital, creative and corporate support industries, we match talent with relevant job opportunities.

Search our job bank for open positions. Contact us if you’d like to connect with a recruiter.