Do these sentences resonate? 👇
- “I keep saying I want a ‘better job,’ but I’m not actually learning anything new.”
- “I save posts about upskilling, but I don’t know where to start—or what actually matters.”
- “I’m doing my job well, but it doesn’t seem to be opening new doors.”
You’re not the only one who feels like “work hard” is not giving the results it was supposed to.
A lot of us are doing our jobs well, picking up extra responsibilities, and still not seeing clear paths to better pay, better roles, or better options.
Upskilling isn’t about fixing something “wrong” with you. It’s about giving yourself more leverage in a system that doesn’t always reward effort on its own.
“Face challenges, fear, and frustration by seeking out knowledge and opportunities for growth.” – Fanny Mairena
Why do our goals so often stay goals?
Every January, graduation season, or life reset moment, many of us write the same kinds of goals:
- Money goals: Make more, get a raise, land a better-paying job.
- Responsibility goals: Move into a lead role, manage a team, be more trusted.
- Skills goals: Learn Excel, improve public speaking, understand AI tools, level up in design/coding/data.
But we often stop at vibes:
- “I should learn more.”
- “I need to level up.”
Without:
- A specific skill
- A realistic plan
- A way to show it
The result is goals that feel inspiring, then heavy, then invisible.
Will skill goals actually bring in money and responsibility?
Increasingly, yes. And Gen Z knows it:
- 79% of Gen Z would consider leaving a job that doesn’t offer access to skills development
- Deloitte’s global survey finds nearly 60% of Gen Z believe AI and tech changes mean they’ll need new skills just to stay employable.
- LinkedIn and WEF data show that around 70% of skills used in jobs today will change by 2030, with AI, data literacy, and human skills leading the way.
Upskilling is one of the few levers we can pull in a job market that doesn’t always feel fair.
What skills are actually in demand right now?
Across LinkedIn and employer reports, a pattern keeps showing up:
- Tech / AI / digital skills:
- Using AI tools, basic data skills, CRM tools, Excel/Sheets, digital marketing.
- Business + communication skills:
- Analytical thinking, written and verbal communication, social media marketing, stakeholder management, project management.
- Human skills AI can’t replace:
- Leadership and social influence, resilience, adaptability, curiosity, and continuous learning.
Think of it as: One technical skill + one human skill = a stronger personal brand.
Examples:
- Excel/Sheets + communication → operations, admin, analyst-adjacent roles.
- Canva/Figma + storytelling → marketing, content, social.
- AI tools + problem-solving → tech-adjacent roles, even if you’re not “in tech.”
The underrepresented reality: why “just doing your job” isn’t enough
Many of us grew up with:
- “Keep your head down and work hard.”
- “Don’t make trouble—just be grateful to have a job.”
But workplaces reward skills + visibility, not just effort:
- Entry-level roles are shrinking; one report shows a steep drop in entry-level postings, pushing Gen Z to piece together experience, gigs, and skills on their own.
- Workforce and policy research warns that skills-based hiring can still leave first-gen and underserved communities behind if access to training is unequal.
So no, “do good work and they’ll notice” is not a strategy. Upskilling is about:
- Making your skillset harder to ignore.
- Being able to point to specific tools, projects, and outcomes.
- Building leverage so you have more options, not just hoping someone picks you.
A simple framework for upskilling (rYOUminate-style) 🎯
To keep this doable, it's three steps: Aim it → Learn it → Show it
1. Aim it – connect skills to outcomes 👇
Instead of “I should upskill,” we get specific.
- Ask: What do YOU want most right now—more money, more responsibility, or more mobility/options?
- Then connect it to skills:
- Money goal example:
- Goal: “Earn more in the next 1–2 years.”
- Skills: Excel, customer success tools, basic data skills, online sales, or AI tools that are common in better-paying roles in your field.
- Responsibility goal example:
- Goal: “Be trusted to lead projects or people.”
- Skills: project management basics, communication, facilitation, conflict resolution, documenting processes.
- Skills goal example:
- Goal: “Learn [X] so I can move into [Y type of role].”
- Skills: specific software (e.g., Figma, HubSpot, Python), portfolio projects, certifications.
Pick:
- One focus skill
- One outcome it’s connected to
Example: “Beginner data skills in Sheets/Excel so I can qualify for operations or analyst-type roles.”
2. Learn it – make a realistic learning plan 👇
Most of us get stuck here because the internet is loud.
Instead of 10 sources, pick one main learning path:
- A YouTube playlist or channel
- A TikTok educator you trust
- A free or low-cost online course
- A community college / library / nonprofit program
- Employer-provided modules or certifications, if available
Then set weekly actions instead of giant resolutions:
- “20 minutes, 3 times a week”
- “One module per week”
- “One small project each month”
This matters especially for underrepresented folks who are:
- Working multiple jobs
- Supporting family
- Dealing with burnout, discrimination, or limited bandwidth
We design upskilling that fits our life—not someone else’s ideal morning routine.
3. Show it – turn learning into receipts 👇
Learning only helps you if other people can see it.
Ways to show it:
- Keep a learning log: a notebook, Google Doc, or Notes app with:
- Date – What you learned – How you practiced it
- Create tiny “proof” pieces:
- A simple dashboard in Sheets
- A flyer or social media post in Canva
- A mock presentation summarizing something you analyzed
- Add it to your public story:
- Resume bullets (e.g., “Used Excel to track and summarize weekly sales, reducing manual errors by X%”)
- LinkedIn “Projects” or “Skills” section
- Talking points for interviews or check-ins with your manager
Aim it → Learn it → Show it
That’s the loop.
“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” – Muhammad Ali
Take a moment to reflect on YOUr approach to skills-based career growth. Here are five questions to help YOU explore YOUr vibe:
- Why do YOU want to learn a specific skill—mostly for professional use, personal interest, or both?
- What kinds of goals do YOU usually set—money, responsibility, skills—and how often do YOU connect them?
- What barriers might exist for YOU when it comes to learning—money, time, energy, community, confidence?
- When have YOU already taught yourself something (inside or outside school) and how did YOU do it?
- If YOU picked one skill to focus on for the next 3–6 months, what would it be and why?
“Success isn’t about the end result, it’s about what you learn along the way.” – Vera Wang
Click on the dropdowns below to see the easy action items:
Do one of these things TODAY 👇
- Make a commitment: Write: “For the next 3–6 months, I’m focusing on [one skill], and I’ll learn it from [YouTube/library/course/etc.].”
- Pick a tracking method: Start a habit tracker (app, bullet journal, or simple grid in your Notes) a mark a box for each day you engage with that skill, or start a learning notebook or doc titled “Skill Stack” and log each session.
- Connect it to future you: Open 2–3 job postings you might want one day, highlight every skill that repeats, and check if the skills you chose to learn appear there. If not, tweak it so you’re learning something that actually moves you forward.
Say one (or all) of these affirmations out loud 👇
- "I am capable of learning skills that change my opportunities."
- "My background may not have given me everything, but it gave me the ability to adapt and grow."
- "I don’t have to learn everything at once; I can focus on one skill at a time."
- "I deserve roles that value my skills, not just my effort."
- "Every small step I take to learn is an investment in future me."
Channel that feeling 👇
Feeling behind? Many jobs are being reshaped right now. No one is fully “caught up”—we’re all learning in real time.
Feeling overwhelmed? Pick one skill, one source, and one weekly time slot. That’s it.
Feeling energized? Share your upskilling goal with a friend or group chat; invite someone to learn alongside you for accountability.
Some vibes to close us out
Upskilling is about making your path less random and more intentional.
It's not about becoming someone else.
As underrepresented young adults, we’ve already learned how to figure things out without a roadmap.
Choosing one skill at a time is one way we turn that path from survival energy into strategy.
YOU got this. 💭✨
Sources
- “Deloitte Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey 2025.” Deloitte (2025).
- “Gen Z And Millennials Are Racing To Upskill In AI.” Forbes (2025).
- “Skills on the Rise in 2025.” LinkedIn (2025).
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