Developing your vocational skills might be more effective than you think!

Why you should develop your vocational skills.

You are out of college and ready to step into the world with a degree or two in your hand. The job market is overly competitive. You find it difficult to get your first job. You have strong theoretical knowledge about your field, but you still find it difficult to perform in a way that satisfies both you and the company. What could have helped you in this situation? Your vocational skills. Now, why do you need to develop your vocational skills? Read on.

Vocational skills are first-hand or practical skills that help you master a trade or a job. They are skills you gain towards becoming knowledgeable in a specific trade or profession. These skills can be obtained through hands-on-experience on a job and also at a vocational school. Examples are electricians, truck drivers, medical records technicians, hairstylists, and emergency medical technicians. There are also diploma vocational courses in childcare, leadership, project management, amongst others.

Here are the reasons why you need to develop your vocational skills right now:

• It helps you in obtaining jobs faster. This is because vocational workers are in high demand; after all, they are specialised in that field. Employers will readily hire you because of your relevant core skills. It makes you stand out and makes you an asset to the company.
• The majority of vocational skills are applicable all over the world. Thus, investing in learning vocational skills would be advantageous to work in any country.
• Takes lesser time and is also cost-effective compared to other alternatives.
• Hands-on work activities allow for a direct application of acquired knowledge. It trains you for a career and helps develop and impart industry-specific skills. This will help you to perform and excel well in your career.
• You get exposure to a workplace experience. You will learn skills practical for the workplace. It also equips you with the practical skills necessary to begin or enhance your career. You would be ready to live and adapt to the real-world situation.
• Vocational classes provide a good learning environment. You will gain both classroom learning as well as a workplace experience.
• Studies show that those who developed their vocational skills are more satisfied with their work.
• You get to know more about your strengths, and it helps in your personal development as well. You can improve your current skills as well. You will also figure out your weaknesses, and you can try improving on it. It empowers you and makes you more independent and confident in your work.
• It makes you more marketable.

There is no guarantee of getting a job just because you have a degree, even if it is from a reputational university. Skill is the most valuable asset in life. Developing your vocational skills will, no doubt, be the launching pad in your career life. There is a saying by Franklin D Roosevelt. It goes,

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

Hanan Ashraf Muhammad