Telecom and IT are constantly expanding and so are the skills required to excel in Telecom-related fields. Not keeping up with new technological advances in a rapidly evolving market increases the risk of creating huge skills gaps in your organization.
In this article we’ll give you a run-down of everything you need to know about skills gaps related to Telecom, the risks they present and how to prevent them.
What are skills gaps?
A skills gap means there is a difference between the skills that are needed to do a job properly and the skills that the employee has.
These skills are partly decided upon internally in your organization but are mainly driven by the demands of the market. Telecom- and IT skills are very sensitive to these demands and change whenever new technology or resources arrive.
Why do skills gaps happen?
Technology is evolving at a rapid rate and is one of the professional areas that has changed the most in recent years. Half of the jobs in Telecom- and IT didn’t even exist ten years ago and they all require a completely new set of skills.
The skills gap doesn’t only apply to Telecom- or IT job roles. Even employees who have nothing to do with Telecome still use software, technology and IT in the workplace. Skills in these areas are also required for your organization to run smoothly.
Because of the fast-paced market, skills have to be constantly renewed and invested in, otherwise, gaps occur.
What are the risks of having skills gaps in your organization?
It is both costly and ineffective to rely on new hires for new skills. If you don’t prioritize learning in your organization, you run the risk of stagnating in your development. Below, you can read the biggest challenges you will face if your skills gaps become too large:
- Difficulty implementing, maintaining and utilizing new technology. If employees don’t have the skills to handle new technology when it arrives, you risk falling behind more adapting companies.
- Increased vulnerability to cyber-attacks. Most cyber-attacks happen due to human error. If there isn’t enough knowledge within your organization on how to protect your assets, you risk unnecessary security threats.
- Losing agility in a fast-paced market. Companies set in their ways have a hard time keeping up with the latest developments and trends.
- Loss of efficiency and productivity. Having personnel that cannot properly use your company software or hardware results in both time and resources being wasted.
- Difficulty recruiting new talent. The best talents are attracted to companies with an exciting outlook for the future. Having old Telecome- or IT tools and software could potentially cost you new hires.
- Loss of motivation and increased turnover. A lot of employees want to learn and acquire new skills. Having constant Telecome- or IT difficulties without the ability to solve them themselves, causes lack of motivation. Not giving your employees training and the opportunity to learn is a recipe for increased turnover.
How can you decrease skills gaps?
So, million-dollar question. How do you decrease skills gaps? The most important thing is to create a consensus and culture about the importance of learning and sharing skills internally. Because remember, in a dynamic market, new skills have to be acquired all the time. Here are different ways you can bring new skills to your company:
- Reskill. When a new role appears, or when an employee is considering leaving to seek other opportunities, reskilling is a great option. By reskilling an employee, you train them to do a different job within the company. By doing this, you get someone who’s already familiar with the company but in a new role.
- Upskill. Upskilling is a necessity for all employees if you want your company to have longevity. By upskilling, you provide training for new skills that can improve the employee’s performance. This is not only optimal for your productivity but it’s also a great benefit that your staff will appreciate.
- Providing the right kind of training. When you decide to train your employees, make sure you provide training that will actually help them in their day-to-day work tasks. Ask your employees what they need and make accurate assessments for what they’ll need in the future.
Do you want to prevent Telecome- and IT skills gaps from happening in your organization? Contact Apis Training here and we’ll help you out!
