Skills-First Practices for Individuals: Skills Development & Learning

You choose learning based on whether it builds a skill you’ll actually use at work, not for the certificate it comes with.

Try this:

• Before enrolling, ask yourself where you'll apply the skill in your work or next role.

• Prioritise learning that fills a real gap over learning that just adds a credential.

• Let the skill you need drive the choice of course, not the other way around.

You weigh up whether a skill is likely to still be useful in a few years before committing time to learning it.

Try this:

• Assess whether a skill is linked to rapidly evolving technologies or represents a broader capability that remains relevant across different roles and contexts. 

• Consider how demand for the skill is evolving within your industry and the opportunities it may create. 

• Balance the development of skills needed for immediate job requirements with transferable capabilities that support longer-term career adaptability. 

You set out a plan for the skills you want to build over time, and follow through on it.

Try this:

• Pick 2–3 skills to focus on over the next year.

• Break down your learning goals into manageable steps, such as attending a course, undertaking a project or applying new skills at work, and set aside time to work towards them. 

• Review your plan every few months and adjust as your goals shift.

You look for opportunities to learn new skills through your actual work — for example, a new project or assignment — rather than only through formal courses.

Try this:

• Volunteer or ask for projects that stretch a skill you want to build.

• Treat challenging assignments as learning, not just extra work.

• Reflect on what each project taught you so the learning sticks.

You learn at a pace that fits your work and family commitments, rather than trying to match a pace that doesn’t suit your life stage.

Try this:

• Choose learning formats such aspart-time, self-paced or on-the-job learning that fit your schedule.

• Break larger learning goals into smaller activities you can realistically complete rather than trying to do everything at once

• Focus on steady progress over time by setting achievable learning goals that fit your current circumstances.

You consciously let go of outdated habits or ways of working, so a newer, more relevant method can actually stick.

Try this:

• Reflect on existing ways of working and identify practices that may no longer be effective or relevant. 

• Apply and practise new approaches consistently to build confidence and integrate them into your everyday work. 

You make use of shared tools, such as Skills Frameworks and Jobs Transformation Maps, to better understand your skills, career options and changing job opportunities, without needing expert interpretation.

Try this:

• Align how you describe your skills with the Skills Framework.

• Use Jobs Transformation Maps to spot which of your skills are in demand.

• Describe your skills in terms that employers and tools easily recognise, using industry-standard terminology, examples and accomplishments from your work experience.  

You keep your Careers & Skills Passport and career planning documents up to date, so they reflect your latest skills, experience, career goals and next steps.

Try this:

• Seek endorsement of your skills from your peers, such as managers, supervisors, and colleagues. 

• Gather evidence, such as work samples and testimonials, that can illustrate the skills that you have.

• Add new skills to your Careers & Skills Passport as you acquire them 

At every major career transition, you discuss your skills and career plans with your employer or a career coach, and review whether your actions are improving your career opportunities, skills and earnings.

Try this:

• Use career transitions as opportunities to reassess your aspirations and explore new pathways, rather than simply seeking a similar role. 

• Discuss your options with your supervisor or a career coach and identify possible pathways forward. 

• Check whether your recent learning and moves are opening better opportunities.