Be Your Best Self: Why Industry-Specific Skills Matter
Whether your goal is career advancement, improving your performance, or staying on top of industry trends, learning industry-specific skills is always a good idea.
The growing demand for industry-specific skills
If you’ve seen The Karate Kid, you understand that practice makes perfect. Mr. Miyagi had a point when he said, “Wax on, wax off.” If you’re continually polishing your skills, practising patience, and trusting the process, you’ll be prepared for any career opportunities that come your way!
Maintaining and improving both hard and soft skills is crucial to career success. Hard skills are job-specific abilities acquired through education and training, like programming for developers. Soft skills are general personality traits, like teamwork and communication, that are useful no matter the role or industry.
Business: skills to lead and innovate
The Business Fundamentals program is perfect for students looking for a career in business. Here, students develop a practical understanding of key principles in the field of business. This program is great for those with existing careers or credentials who wish to enhance their fundamental business knowledge and skills.
Students build and refine skills in project management, leadership, strategic planning, marketing, HR, communication, and much more. Strong communication skills are in especially high demand according to LinkedIn’s annual report, “The rise of artificial intelligence stands to make core skills more valuable for professionals looking to advance their career. Business leaders are looking for uniquely human skills to both work with AI — and drive organizational success. The report confirms that strong communication and leadership skills remain extremely valued among employers.” (PR Newswire, 2024)
Community and social change: adapting to an ever-evolving field
The Addiction and Mental Health program is a great fit for those who dream of making a difference. Students study mental health, mental illness, and substance use with a focus on holistic assessment and intervention strategies, recovery process, and promotion of ongoing mental health.
Here, students acquire the skills needed to deliver responsive and compassionate substance use disorder treatment and mental health services, while promoting empowerment, self-determination, and optimum quality of life to individuals.
The program focuses on the theoretical and specialized knowledge, and interpersonal skills required in roles that affect community well-being, vulnerable groups, and social justice. Skills like these enable students to enact change in their communities and better assist those in need.
Technology: staying ahead of the curve
For students pursuing a career in tech, the Computer Programming program has it all. This two-year program specializes in program development strategies, database design and database administration. Here, students use leading industry software products like Oracle and CASE tools, learn different programming languages, and study object-oriented analysis and design.
The three-year Computer Programming and Analysis program also specializes in information systems design, development and deployment. Students learn about cybersecurity, quality assurance and testing, development operations as well as business and information technology to design, develop and deploy information systems.
Both programs equip students with technical skills like coding, cybersecurity, and cloud computing in the rapidly evolving tech industry. This is super important in the tech world, “Skills in areas such as AI, machine learning, natural language processing are critical, while data science, analysis and visualization, as well as cybersecurity, cloud and DevOps skills, continue to be in high demand” (Silicon Republic, 2024).
Learn skills that matter
AC Online’s programs equip students with the skills they need to succeed. Students are empowered to work around their busy schedules and study when it’s most convenient for them. Though there are set timelines and due dates for all programs and courses, students can access their material 24/7 and study full or part-time.
On top of the skills you’ll gain from your program, AC Online also comes with its own set of learned skills. By graduation, AC Online students are masterfully skilled in time management, communication, prioritization, and self-discipline, to name a few.
“First learn stand, then learn fly.”
Improve your skills and enhance your resume through AC Online. Explore Algonquin College’s industry-specific online programs, and gain the skills you need for a long and successful career in your industry.
