Skill development has become as essential as degrees or work experience for landing your dream job. Beyond education, mastering both human and technical skills can set you apart in today’s competitive workplace.

What is skill development?
It’s the process of improving your abilities to perform tasks more efficiently. Key approaches include:

• Upskilling: Enhancing current role skills

• Cross-skilling: Learning new skills for the same role

• Reskilling: Preparing for a new role

How to start:

1. Define your goals: Identify why you want to improve a skill—career growth, personal development, or hobbies.

2. Identify skill gaps: Find the areas where you need improvement, e.g., social media for modern journalism.

3. Focus on skill types:

   • Human skills: Communication, creativity, adaptability, teamwork

   • Technical skills: Social media, software proficiency, typing speed

4. Expand your network & get a coach: Learn from experts and mentors.

5. Read, research, and practice: Apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios.

6. Take courses & earn certifications: Show tangible proof of your skills.

Highlight skills on your resume clearly, separating human and technical abilities, and prepare examples for interviews to demonstrate proficiency