As employees, we’re always looking for that next pay rise or promotion, and often feel discouraged if we’re passed over for an opportunity. Instead of taking it to heart, it’s important that we ask ourselves what we could be doing to make ourselves stand out in the future.

It’s often assumed that the length of time you’ve been with a company should make you eligible for a promotion, but this isn’t always the case. It’s about how much value your contributions add to the team and the overall company goals.

An easy way to start your journey of self-improvement is to embark on some training courses. The importance of training is often overlooked, partially due to presumptions made about the purpose and potential results of training. In this article, we look to dispel these myths and inspire you to start upskilling yourself.

Training is only used to upskill for a new job

It’s common for workers to start their training journey as part of finding a new job, and although there’s nothing wrong with this, it shouldn’t be the sole reason to undertake training.

It’s important to take advantage of any training budget available without worrying about the impression it gives off. Any respectable employer should be enthusiastic for their staff to learn new skills, even if they do leave in the future. Feeling supported means the employee is much more likely to remain at the company. Or, if they do leave, have a favourable outlook on the company once they’ve left, potentially leading to recommendations or positive reviews.

Only under-performing employees need to undertake training

If your employer suggests that you undertake some training, it can sometimes set off alarm bells in our minds. However, this is not something that you should be worried about. If the business is willing to invest in your professional development, it’s actually a great sign.

Everyone should be looking to upskill themselves, whether they’re underperforming or not. In fact, underperforming employees may be less likely to embark on training, especially of their own accord. This is often due to a lack of motivation to improve or becoming stagnant.

Training courses waste working hours

A common concern when pursuing professional development is that it’ll take away from working hours. Although it will require some time to be set aside from your typical daily duties, this training could lead to increased productivity in the future. Learning new skills and building on existing ones can not only teach you ways to be more efficient at work, but it can make you feel more motivated.

The cost is too high

According to a 2020 survey, the average cost of workplace training is £1,530 per employee. Although this might seem like a lot of money, the long-term value that upskilling adds to a business is invaluable.

Employees developing new skillsets could mean that fewer new hires are necessary in the future, as one person is able to cover multiple bases. Compared to the cost of recruiting, investing in training is a much more favourable option.