In the past, managers and directors had a staff of subordinates that drafted documents, input data, compiled information and ran reports. Many managers would draft or produce handwritten content for a letter or proposal and pass the document on to a subordinate to finish up it up by formatting, adding the recipient's address, printing out the document, filing or scanning it, seeing that it got in the mail and so-forth. Email blasts, fliers, and newsletters were often developed by outside vendors under the direction of a company's manager. Now many of these tasks are the duties of managers and directors. This means that today executives not only need to know what is needed, they need to know how to create it.
It also means that those with technical skills need to know more than how to create reports or how to develop attractive eye catching designs or running a bulk email system. They need to know when, why and how this work is needed as well as have the ability to independently manage their work. They need to know how to present their work and findings to senior management, potential customers and stakeholders. This makes management skills essential in today's job market even for the technology set.
This is where training comes in to play. Many who held subordinate roles and lost their jobs may need to take management courses. These courses will allow them to see the company as a whole and help to clarify the role of information within a company. Those who lost their management positions may need courses in technology. These classes will allow them to become familiar with utilizing technology.
Many job seekers have probably noticed that they come up short in one of these areas. They have technical know how, but lack management experience or they have management experience and lack technical knowledge. It has come be known as skill mismatch and it leaves many jobs unfilled. This is because many companies want people with all or most of the skills outlined in the job description.
This may seem like bad news to job seekers whose funds are short. However, there are many free and low cost ways to help bring skills up to today's standards. Below are a few suggestions:
Find someone in the field who is willing to teach you. Of course nothing is free, but try to barter. Tell them that you will help them out in some manner if they help you by teaching you something. For example, a person with technology skills may offer to teach a small business owner how to to build a database, create and edit their company website or help them to sync to their i phone to their calendar and contact list. In exchange the small business owner would allow them to write a few new business letters, write some content for a marketing piece or attend a couple of business networking events with them. Ask for their opinion of your work and continually strive to improve. This would allow the techie to learn some management skills.
Search Google for free webinars in your area of interest. There are many companies and industry experts that offer free webinars on a variety of subjects everyday. Also, in many cases if you missed a webinar they are normally archived and can be found after the live event has taken place. This can help anyone.
Alison offers free online courses in a variety of subjects. Most of the classes are developed off-shore, but do not make the mistake of assuming they are easy, some are pretty intense. Courses are designed for those who want to brush up on skills, need technical skills as well as those who want to explore skills within the management field.
Go to your local Workforce or One Stop office and look into free courses. In many cases, even if you have a degree they will pay for training to update your skills. They often offer courses through local colleges in both technology and management skills. Most offer courses in areas that complement employment opportunities in your region or community.
If you do not qualify for free courses, see if your local community college offers online courses. Typically noncredit, continuing education online or blended courses cost a fraction of the price of a regular classroom for credit course. Some continuing education courses can cost as little as $50.00.
Go to the library and borrow DVD's or CD's on courses of interest. Most libraries have a section where videos on a variety of subjects are available and can be borrowed for a week or even a month depending on the subject matter. You can borrow videos that cover everything from business writing to basic math to a foreign language courses. Of course you can also borrow books on a variety of subjects there as well.
Check out industry newspapers and trade magazines. They often have articles on new technology and how it can be useful from a management perspective. Many trades have online versions.
If you read and mark-up books like I do, then I would not suggest the library. However, Amazon now offers Kindle desk-top, laptop and i phone apps which will allow you read up on your subject of interest for a fraction of the cost of a traditional book. And if you read with a highlighter and make notes in margins this may be right down your alley. You can't really cozy up with your computer at bedtime like you can with a book but, you can make a ritual of reading a few chapters before retiring at night. Often times, technology books will provide information on websites where free or trial versions of software are available for practicing what you've learned.. Also many ebooks on management and leadership are available as well.
Join a group like ToastMasters to enhance or practice your presentation skills or find a group on MeetUp that is geared to your area of interest. For example, if your background is in technology and you need management skills than join a management group. If you are in management, but want to know more about technology then join a tech group.
Not only will doing these things help to increase your skills many of them will also help to broaden your network and increase your chances of learning about an available position. Also learning new things has a way of boosting confidence and demonstrating that you are flexible and willing to learn, which will make you more appealing to potential employers.
