| Everyone has an area of expertise when it | | | | are in a job, it is worth looking to the future. |
| comes to using their skills to the fullest. If you | | | | Statistics show that many people spend on |
| have been to college and have graduated, then | | | | average two to three years in a job. This comes |
| you can justifiably consider yourself an authority | | | | about for many reasons - career breaks, layoffs, |
| on that subject. Equally, if you have a long | | | | illness, and more - besides - and often the change |
| employment history in a certain area, you can | | | | is unforeseen. So it is worth having the extra |
| point to that as a demonstration that you know | | | | knowledge in your armory. Studying another |
| how things work in that regard. In each of the | | | | language, taking an accountancy course, or |
| above cases, these are things that employers will | | | | learning a trade like plumbing or electrics are just |
| be looking for when you come to apply for a job | | | | a few of the extra skills that crop up particularly |
| with their company. They are above all useful | | | | often. |
| strings to your bow. | | | | There are differing opinions on how to choose the |
| However, let us say that you have a diploma in | | | | best extra skill. Some would say that if, for |
| engineering. Or equally, you have been working as | | | | example, you work as an electrician, learning |
| an engineer for ten years. Through no fault of | | | | plumbing is a useful second skill to pick up. After |
| your own, the company you are working for | | | | all, when new houses are being built, plumbers and |
| goes bust and you find yourself looking for a new | | | | electricians will both be needed to complete the |
| job. But as the dissolution of your old company | | | | work. You will build up a range of contacts who |
| now shows, the market for engineers is crowded, | | | | will be able to put work your way. Others |
| and those companies that are still operating are | | | | disagree and say that learning a skill that differs |
| looking at keeping costs down so that they can | | | | meaningfully is best because when there are not |
| compete in this crowded market. You could be | | | | many new houses being built, electricians and |
| looking for a job for a long time before you strike | | | | plumbers may well find themselves in the same |
| gold. In times of economic downturn especially, | | | | boat - but an accountant may have a lot of work. |
| specialist knowledge can be less beneficial than it | | | | There are pros and cons to both sides of the |
| should be. | | | | argument, but really you are best deciding for |
| There is never a bad time to learn a second (or | | | | yourself as it is undeniable that people learn best |
| third, or... you get the picture) skill. Even while you | | | | when they are most comfortable. |