Micro-credentials are also known as digital badges collected through apps, websites or data systems. They demonstrate learning in work or community settings rather than inside an academic institution. For example, collecting badges for volunteering in a food bank, completing an online course or taking a workshop on coding.

Micro-credentials

A digital credential carries information about a learning achievement someone has earned. The credential includes the training provider, a description of the learning, when the credential was issued and who received it. These badges can be shared through social media, an e-portfolio or a CV. The benefit of micro-credentials is their potential reach to individuals of all ages, education levels, socioeconomic and racial/ethnic groups, and industry backgrounds.

How micro-credentials work

Pros<ul><li>Learners can use micro-credentials to “stack” new modules and skills on top of previous education and training.</li><li>They are more affordable and flexible than traditional higher education courses.</li></ul> Cons<ul><li>A potential obstacle is ensuring governments recognize these digital badges as steps on a learning path that might lead to the equivalent of a degree. </li></ul>

The pros and cons of micro-credentials

The pandemic has accelerated the arrival of the future of work, especially automation and the adoption of new technologies.
Four in 10 workers will need reskilling of six months or less, and over 90% of companies expect employees to pick up new skills on the job.

Future world of work

Micro-credentials – or digital badges – help you boost your skills in less time than a traditional degree. Here’s what you need to know.



Stashed ideas

Micro-credentials – what they are and how they can help you

<ul><li>The management upskill begins with building new professional networks. All the studies mention a solid managerial approach will be the cornerstone of the Future of Work.</li><li>For this reason, managers must learn how to be great communicators and coaches to develop their team members through supportive and consultative behaviors before challenging them.</li><li>This is the only way to build upon the Maslow Pyramid to reach the ultimate levels: the collective sense of belonging, and the esteem and self-actualization needs. </li></ul>

Managament upskill and professional networks

When leaders believe in innovation to make the change happen, it’s called transformational leadership. They work on inspirational motivation while challenging their people with trust and respect. Many organizations went through this process successfully during the pandemic.Changing a culture to adapt to the virtual world is about giving a new meaning to the effort that transcends everyday problems.It can be addressing a new market segment with new customers, launching a new product, or simply serving customers better as an underlying purpose.

The hard work of changing company culture in the hybrid world

The majority of people redefined their professional success through work-life balance, mental health, and flexibility – the top three new priorities for most of us.

Redefining professional success

An example of best practice within the team is formalizing the values and expected behaviors in a team contract.<ul><li>For example, showing respect or giving the benefit of the doubt are compelling values in the virtual world to create a shared feeling of safety within the team.</li><li>It helps shut down and reprogram the “catastrophizing” cognitive bias that causes our brains to imagine the worst-case scenario, especially when limited communication or data is missing.</li></ul>It might be counterintuitive, but thinking about the worst doesn’t prepare you at all. Instead, it makes us continually feel bad.

Promote healthy mental behaviors and individual accountability

How to Upskill Management while Increasing Individual Accountability for an Inspiring Hybrid Culture

When taking an online class, especially in a subject seemingly unrelated to your profession, it’s tempting to be overly modest.
But pursuing a multi-week course requires long-term commitment, a strong work ethic, and time management skills, especially when you’re balancing it against other responsibilities. Emphasizing all that helps you stand out as a strong, dependable candidate.

Don’t downplay the significance of completing a class

There’s such a thing as being overcommitted to your education. This may sound like obvious advice, but in the course of ordinary conversation, it’s easy to slip up and confess something you shouldn’t. Therefore, keep your professional surroundings in mind and don’t let your guard down too much.

Don’t admit to tilting the balance on work/life to complete training

When an adult decides to upskill, it’s often with their fantasy career in mind. Maybe they’re imagining transitioning from accounting to web design, or from lawyering to calligraphy.
Authenticity is a good thing, but don’t be so authentic as to spill the beans to your supervisor or hiring manager—they won’t look upon you favorably if your end game includes ditching their industry to pursue your dreams.

Don’t share your plans of an exit

Not everyone is going to take the time to review your self-evaluation or résumé in acute detail: managers are spending countless hours recruiting new employees and bending over backward to keep the ones they have. To make your achievements known, it’s important for you to personally raise the subject instead of waiting for the person you’re talking to bring it up.

Bring up your training

Maybe you finished your class just before that big job interview or performance review, or maybe it’s been a couple of months. Either way, it wouldn’t hurt to give yourself a refresher on what you actually did during the class so you can drop some impressive details in real-time.
The last thing you want to do is find yourself searching your own memory during a critical conversation with a hiring manager or supervisor.

Review your new skills before holding a discussion with managers

Sometimes, making the direct connection between your work and the class you chose is easy—no one’s going to be surprised, for instance, when a financial analyst decides to brush up on her Excel skills. They might be more skeptical, however, if that same analyst says she’s pursuing training in a creative field, like songwriting or food photography. Blow skeptics away with this fact: Creative activity that’s unrelated to work can actually help workers perform better at their jobs,

Explain how the class relates to job performance

So you’ve completed an online course or training. Here’s how to use it as a selling point for that new job or promotion.

How to talk about upskilling at a performance review or job interview

During the Great Resignation, companies increasingly invest in upskilling to keep their workforce engaged.
A recent Amdocs survey showed that 90 percent of respondents considered training and upskilling programs an important feature of prospective employers. In the tech industry, it is 98 percent. By training employees, companies can help employees progress in their careers or make lateral moves while remaining in the same company.

Upskilling and the Great Resignation

If you can't find workers who have the skills you're looking for, commit to on-the-job training.
Establish apprenticeships to re-skill existing employees. Apprenticeships are paid, entry-level opportunities while learning.

Adopt existing-employee apprenticeships

Invest in continuous learning. It can lead to lateral moves or promotions, but employers shouldn't view training and education as a means to a specific end. 
Instead, thinking about education as part of the employee journey can create long-term relationships with your employees.

Create education-fueled pathways to growth

Workers want to advance their skills so they can progress in their careers, but it shouldn't feel like extra work.
Leaders should ask their employees to target specific career goals and help them understand how they can reach their goals.

Don't make it feel like homework

As more and more workers quit their jobs en masse, upskilling is a tool that can help retain them. Here's how companies are successfully training employees--and keeping them engaged.

Bite-sized knowledge
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your career

#upskilling

IDEAS ABOUT #upskilling

Micro-credentials – what they are and how they can help you

How to Upskill Management while Increasing Individual Accountability for an Inspiring Hybrid Culture

It's time to

READ

LIKE

A PRO!

How to talk about upskilling at a performance review or job interview

For Smart Companies, Upskilling Is the Perfect Antidote to the Great Resignation

Bite-sized knowledgeto upgradeyour career

#upskilling

IDEAS ABOUT #upskilling

Micro-credentials – what they are and how they can help you

How to Upskill Management while Increasing Individual Accountability for an Inspiring Hybrid Culture

It's time to

READ

LIKE

A PRO!

How to talk about upskilling at a performance review or job interview

For Smart Companies, Upskilling Is the Perfect Antidote to the Great Resignation

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career