Why skills training is important

Expanding your skills and keeping them up to date can improve your job prospects in today’s ever-changing labour market. That’s why training is important, no matter what your professional goals are.

Whether you’re looking for a new job or a career change, or if you just want to grow in your current role, training can help you get there.

To pick the right training for your needs, consider what skills you already have and which ones employers are looking for. The easiest way to do this is to review a few job postings that interest you and pinpoint the requirements that you do not currently meet.

As you review job postings, you may notice that employers typically look for a mix of two kinds of skills: hard and soft skills.

Hard skills are practical and technical abilities involving a level of expertise that comes from a combination of classroom education, on-the-job experience and vocational training courses.

Soft skills are aptitudes, behaviours and habits that have to do with how well you work on your own and with others. These skills are also known as Skills for Success.

Once you know which type of skills you need for the job that you want, you can look for training opportunities that will allow you to develop or improve them.

If you want to learn from home at your own pace, many short-term training courses are available online. Some are even free. You can search trainings for specific skills on the Internet, or check out the list of websites below.

Provincial and territorial governments across Canada also offer free training programs and career guidance services to help you develop new skills.

If you are not eligible to receive financial assistance from government programs, you can consider applying for an education loan or a student line of credit from a private financial institution. Some schools and training providers may also be willing to work out a low-interest payment plan with you.

Getting financial help

While many training opportunities are free, others come at a cost. You might be wondering how you will be able to pay for it.

Many government programs provide financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, loans or tax credits. Each program has specific eligibility requirements.

Federal Programs

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