If you kicked off 2025 with New Year’s resolutions, there’s a good chance you’ve already quit.
According to one source, 23% of adults terminate their New Year’s resolutions by the conclusion of the first week of January. And by the end of the year’s first month, 43% of adults call it quits. But just because many people get derailed and fail to accomplish their objectives doesn’t mean you can’t set goals, complete them, and reap the benefits of doing so.
Investing in your skill set is never a waste of time and can help you personally and professionally. With that said, here are five things to consider to boost your skill set in 2025.
1. Distance Learning
According to Statista, revenue in the online education segment is on pace to reach $203.8 billion in 2025. User penetration in the segment will reach 15.9% this year. Statista adds that people are increasingly leveraging the power of online education due to flexibility and convenience.
Since online education means students don’t have to be tethered to a desk in a classroom, they can work from anywhere at their own pace. That’s a big benefit if you’re a busy professional who can’t afford to take a sabbatical to go back to school – whether that’s to obtain respiratory CEUs or pursue a master’s degree.
Distance learning can be your ticket toward advancing in your career and increasing the value proposition you offer your employer.
2. Get into a New Industry
It’s also worth exploring new career opportunities if you’re tired of the same old results. The good news is there are ways to start a new career path without taking a multi-year program in a classroom.
Consider your existing skills and what new skills you could pursue via certifications. Going this route might open up doors leading to gainful employment. The internet makes it much easier to pick up skills that can open up new career opportunities.
3. Join Online Freelance Marketplaces
Another option to acquire new skills is to join one or more freelance marketplaces. The Brainy Insights says the worldwide freelance platforms market was worth $4.95 billion in 2023 and could expand at a 15.2% compound annual growth rate from 2024 to 2033.
While online freelance marketplaces have various processes to gain access, the steps are usually fairly straightforward. You can, once admitted, apply for different projects. Over time, you can gain experience by tackling various projects, sharpening your skills, and adding new skills.
4. Find a Mentor
Yet another way to bolster your skill set this year is to find a mentor. The mentor-mentee relationship can be beneficial to both parties. You can find a mentor at work, among your contacts on sites like LinkedIn, and elsewhere. It’s about aligning with someone who has the experience that can help you at whatever stage of your career you’re at.
By working with a mentor, you can polish your skills and pick up additional ones. When you find the right mentor, you can pick the brain of someone with a great deal of experience and expertise. Whether you want to grow in your career or branch out, a mentor can help.
5. Seek Feedback
Getting feedback from people you know and whose opinions you trust can also help. Again, ensure the people you seek feedback from will be honest. Get input from your boss, co-workers, family, and others. What you learn could help you prioritize skills to focus on.
Investing in bettering yourself is never a waste of time or effort. You can help your cause by doing one or more of the five things mentioned above to grow your skill set and get ahead this year.
