Upskilling / Reskilling
Upskilling is developing new competencies to advance in your current field, while reskilling is learning entirely new skills to transition to a different career.
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Upskilling / Reskilling
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PLAIN ENGLISH
What it means
Upskilling refers to acquiring advanced or updated skills within your current professional domain to stay competitive, qualify for promotions, or adapt to evolving industry requirements. For example, a data analyst learning machine learning techniques or a marketer mastering marketing automation platforms. Reskilling, by contrast, involves learning fundamentally different skills to transition into a new career — such as an accountant learning software development.
Both practices have become increasingly important as technological change accelerates and job requirements evolve. Employers value continuous learners, and demonstrating ongoing skill development signals adaptability and initiative. Common upskilling and reskilling pathways include online courses (Coursera, edX, Udemy), professional certifications, bootcamps, company-sponsored training, graduate programs, self-directed projects, and open-source contributions.
When listing upskilling or reskilling efforts on your resume, focus on outcomes rather than just course completion. "Completed AWS Solutions Architect certification and architected a serverless application handling 10K daily requests" is far more compelling than just listing the certification. If you are reskilling for a career change, build a portfolio of relevant projects that demonstrate practical application of your new skills.
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Related terms
5 connections
01
Professional Development
Professional development is the ongoing process of acquiring new knowledge, skills, and experiences to enhance your capabilities and advance your career.
02
Career Change
A career change is a deliberate transition from one profession or industry to a different one, requiring repositioning of skills, experience, and professional identity.
03
Transferable Skills
Transferable skills are versatile abilities developed in one context that can be applied effectively across different roles, industries, and career paths.
04
Certifications Section
The certifications section is a resume area that lists professional certifications, licenses, and completed training programs relevant to the target role.
05
Career Gap
A career gap is a period of time in a candidate's work history where they were not employed, which may require explanation on a resume or during interviews.