Second-skilling: Developing Skills for a New Job While You’re Still Working

In Ted Ideas Barbara Oakley, PhD details an institutionalized program in Singapore for constant skills development. The essay is an excerpt from her book Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential

Today Singapore has roughly 2.0 percent unemployment, among the lowest in the world. Its per-person gross domestic product is more than 3oo percent of the global average. Singapore’s children regularly score among the top students in the world in the PISA, an international assessment of 15-year-old students’ abilities in math, reading and science. They’re doing a lot of things right.

Since the 60’s when the numbers were not nearly as positive, the city-state has made a serious investment in education. This includes annual contributions to studying new skills for existing workers, including older workers. So they are preparing for what’s next while in their current jobs.

This is a unique partnership between government, unions and employers. The simple thinking goes — if the entire region is successful so too for each of their interests.

Traditionally, careers have been stepping stones where you linger for a few years at each step … but modern careers are more like nonstop conveyor belts.

Second-skilling — or developing skills and learning about other sectors is healthy for flexibility and options through fluid, multi-step careers.

You often have more talent and ability within you than you think. Second-skilling is about respecting your multifaceted ability to be good at different things.

Read the full article: Could Singapore hold the secret to preparing workers for an uncertain future?

Photo by: Michaela Loheat