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Labour Day lasts just one day, but work itself is something we talk and think about for years. Is it simply an unpleasant obligation until retirement, or can it also offer opportunities for development and be a source of satisfaction? Can words such as ‘employment’, ‘working life’ and ‘career’ have positive associations for us?
The benefits are obvious – or are they?
Earnings, stability, development… Development? Does it really make a difference to us? For some people, professional development is an important part of employment. Employers often list training and support for employees’ ambitions among the benefits of working for their organisations.
Nowadays, however, it’s difficult to imagine a job that doesn’t require you to expand your knowledge and competences. Are there still many employees who haven’t taken part in any course or training since completing compulsory education?
Education and the labour market
According to data from the Occupational Barometer, demand remains strong for certain occupations, such as electricians, car mechanics and carers for older people or people with disabilities. Sectoral vocational schools and technical secondary schools prepare students for specific occupations, enabling them to gain qualifications appropriate to their stage of education. Yet even in these fields, modern technology is playing an increasingly important role (for example, renewable energy equipment or devices that monitor vital signs), alongside new labour market needs (such as upskilling and reskilling). Even highly specialised university programmes, such as medicine or computer science, cannot prepare students for every innovation that will emerge in 10 or 15 years, or for the new qualifications that may be needed by then.
The world and the labour market are changing rapidly in terms of technology and the qualifications required – encouraging employees and employers alike to develop their competences, knowledge and skills. Fortunately, there are now many opportunities to gain additional training or validate what you already know and can do, including through non-formal education.
Not sure where to start? Explore the Register and tools
Improving your qualifications or gaining new competences can be rewarding and provide a strong argument when discussing a potential promotion. There are plenty of opportunities. To help you find your way, you can always turn to reliable databases and tools – they organise information and provide a good starting point.
- Looking for a qualifications database? Explore the Integrated Qualifications Register (IQR). Adjust the filters to suit your needs: choose the level you want to start at, the type of education or certification you’re interested in, and the sector that appeals to you. Find suitable options and plan your next steps.
- Not sure how to develop your competences and potential? Chat with ZeteRKa, our chatbot. It will help you analyse your strengths and suggest qualifications that could be a good starting point.
- Want to organise your achievements or need to create a CV? My Portfolio can help.
What makes a good job?
It’s very difficult to define objectively what makes a so-called good job. For one person, it might mean earning enough to fulfil long-standing plans. For another, it could mean doing something they enjoy, or perhaps achieving a good work-life balance.
We could therefore say that, above all, a job should be a good fit for us, meet our everyday needs and match our competences, ambitions and plans.
If you already have a job like that – congratulations! It’s something worth appreciating more than just once a year.
And if you’d like to make a change and find a job that suits you better – visit kwalifikacje.gov.pl, explore your options, make use of the tools available and take the first step.