Right now, many industries that employ skilled workers are experiencing significant changes that are shifting how they hire. As the transformations continue, it’s never been more important for the staffing industry to keep up.
If you work in staffing, there is no better time to pursue professional development, gaining new skills and knowledge to stay on top of the latest hiring trends and practices. Upskilling can help to accelerate your career by equipping you with new strategies to offer to clients and colleagues.
To help our partners in the staffing industry who are looking to get ahead this year, we put together a list of some of the top options for upskilling.
What are the best ways to upskill as a professional at a staffing agency?
Ready to learn something new in the staffing industry this year? Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Pick up a book on recruitment
This year, try picking up a book on recruitment to expand your knowledge. A longform read is a great way to dig deeper into concepts and grow your understanding of leading hiring practices.
In such fast-paced industry, it can be tough to set aside time to get through a dense non-fiction book, but it’s worth it. If you’re struggling to find a gap in your schedule, we recommend setting aside just fifteen minutes in the morning or evening to read a passage. You might be surprised by how the time adds up.
Now that you have the time scheduled, all you need to do is find a book to read. Not sure where to start? We’ve compiled a list of some of the top recruitment reads in this blog post.
Keep up with HR podcasts
If you’re more of an auditory learner, a podcast might be the perfect medium for you. There are dozens of great podcasts out there on HR, recruitment, and the staffing industry to follow. And the best part about podcasts? They come out regularly, so they offer the most up-to-date, leading-edge insights from the industry.
Podcasts are the perfect accompaniment to your morning or evening commute, your workout, or chores around the house. A good listen can be an ideal way to multitask, pairing learning with another part of your daily routine.
To help out staffing professionals, we put together a list of the leading HR and recruitment podcasts online right now. Check it out here to discover the options and start listening.
Use AI to create a learning plan
Did you know that you can now use AI to help you upskill? Many generative AI tools available today can support you in building a customized learning plan for your professional development.
It’s easier than you might think. Simply input your experience and education, and the right platform can identify skill gaps, creating a step-by-step pathway to fill them. It’s a great method for understanding what you need to get the next stage in your career.
Attend a conference
If live, in-person learning is more your thing, consider attending a conference this year to boost your skills. With events back in full force, there are a range of one-day and multi-day professional development opportunities available for staffing professionals in Canada, the US, and all over the world.
Not only are conferences an excellent opportunity to upskill and discover new practices from industry experts, but they also provide spaces for networking, allowing recruiters and HR professionals to connect with peers. If that sounds like your speed, do some quick research to check out the options for your job and location. There’s no better time to learn and make new connections.
Take a course or certification
Of course, formal courses are always one of the top ways to upskill in any industry. In staffing and recruitment, there are a range of courses and certifications to pursue that can help you develop your skills, learn new techniques, understand the latest technologies, and stay up to date on best practices.
Plus, many employers will offer funding to help you complete a course. Don’t hesitate to approach your employer for support to help you learn a skill or gain new credentials. Staffing agencies know that when their employees are more informed, they will perform better and help to grow the business. It’s a win-win.
The bottom line
It’s worthwhile to make 2024 the year you up your game and accelerate your career in the staffing industry by upskilling. Set aside some time to make a plan (perhaps even with the help of AI). Then, use the resources we’ve laid out here to put your plan into action. Whether you decide to supplement your knowhow with a book or podcast, or you decide to take your career to the next level with a conference or course, you’ll benefit from the new knowledge and opportunities.
