Choosing the Right Online Course to Upskill_ A 7-Step Guide

Choosing the Right Online Course to Upskill: A 7-Step Guide

Today, upskilling employees is crucial to staying competitive. But it can be challenging for employers to select the right programs. Here are some tips to make the right choice:

1. Assess Business Needs and Skill Gaps

Identify specific skills your business needs for growth. Conduct a skills gap analysis to understand where your team is lacking. (Maybe in digital marketing, data analysis, or customer service). Find courses that directly address these gaps.

2. Choose Industry-Relevant Courses

Find programs relevant to your industry and that provide practical applications. Make sure the course content matches the specific roles and responsibilities of your team.

Visit Skillmaster who offers a wide range of e-learning courses on their platform to help employees excel in their professional journey.

3. Check Accreditation and Certification

Opt for courses that offer accredited certifications or are recognized in your industry. This ensures high-quality training and gives employees credentials that should improve their professionalism and productivity.

Look for flexibility and accessibility

4. Look for Flexibility and Accessibility

Since employees have daily responsibilities, choose courses that offer flexible learning options (eg.self-paced modules or mobile access). This allows them to learn without disrupting their workflow.

Evaluate the course content and format

5. Evaluate the Course Content and Format

Review the course structure before enrolling. Is it interactive, with hands-on projects or real-world case studies? Does it provide practical skills that can be applied immediately? A mix of video lessons, quizzes, and projects can help reinforce knowledge retention. This way your employees gain valuable skills that can be applied to their roles.

cost vs return on investment

6. Cost vs. Return on Investment

Within your budget, focus on the return on investment (ROI) for the course. A higher-priced course that provides in-depth, relevant knowledge may be more valuable than a cheaper, generic course. Compare the course cost to the potential business benefits, such as increased productivity, efficiency and innovation.

encourage continuous learning

7. Encourage Continuous Learning

Upskilling should be an ongoing practice. It’s essential to select the right course and provide a supportive environment that encourages continuous learning. You can:

  • Celebrate achievements
  • Allow time for learning
  • Create opportunities for employees to apply their new skills.

With the right online courses, employers can foster a culture of growth and development. You can improve both individual performance and business success.

Visit our website, www.skillmaster.co.za to browse our extensive range of high-quality, industry-relevant courses and programs, or contact our Head of Learning, Deon, at deon@skillmaster.co.za to discuss your specific needs.

Together, we can help your team achieve its full potential and drive business success in 2025 and beyond!

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Articles main 2024 - Leave - what are you entitled to?

Leave – what are you entitled to? Skillmaster’s HR Law Series explains!

Skillmaster’s HR Law series covers all Acts (including the BCEA) to empower you. From knowing ordinary hours of work to managing leave pay and sick leave policies, our course provides clarity and practical solutions.

Contact Skillmaster to enroll in our HR Law series.

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Articles main 2024 -  Unreasonable working hours?

Unreasonable working hours? Skillmaster’s HR Law series will empower you

  • Ordinary hours of work
  • Annual Earnings Threshold
  • Temporary employment services.
  • Those struggling to balance their workload within ordinary hours.
  • If you’re worried about meeting the Annual Earnings Threshold for fair pay.
  • Are you confused about your rights as a temporary employee?

Contact Skillmaster today and enroll in our HR Law series.

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HR LAW series: HR Compliance with Skillmaster

HR Law Series: HR Compliance with Skillmaster

HR Law series: Skillmaster Online courses
  • employment laws and regulations
  • employment equity
  • discrimination
  • harassment
  • dismissal procedures
  • labor union rights
HR Law series: Our online courses offers flexibility

Demonstrate your commitment to ethical conduct, legal compliance and employee well-being by investing in online courses with Skillmaster.

HR Law series: Skillmaster

Contact Deon Macauley for more info at deon@skillmaster.co.za or 072 440 2710.

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Maximize Your 1% SDL Investment

Maximize Your 1% SDL Investment with Skillmaster

In our December newsletter, we explored the untapped potential of the 1% SDL investment Levy (Skills Development Levy) and how it can be transformed into a powerful catalyst for business growth through a skilled and empowered workforce. If you missed it, here’s a quick recap. Click here for the newsletter excerpt. 🎞️

1% SDL newsletter excerpt
Streamlined Solutions with Skillmaster

Ready to make the most of your 1% SDL investment? – Contact Skillmaster Today

Contact Deon Macauley, Lead of Skillmaster, at deon@skillmaster.co.za or 072 440 2710.

Visit our website at www.skillmaster.co.za to explore how Skillmaster can empower your organization through effective skills development.

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Access to Employee Training

Access to Employee Training

Access to Employee Training – with Skillmaster

In the business environment today, if you’re not learning, you’re falling behind. Hrmaster believes in empowering people to take control of their growth and development – personal and professional. And that is why we are excited to tell you about our new skills development service from Skillmaster that provides access to employee training.

Skillmaster is your entry into a world of opportunities for self-improvement and skills development. We understand the importance of providing employees with the tools and resources necessary to manage their own training effectively. Skillmaster learning platformFor this reason, Skillmaster was developed to offer access to a training platform that will start them on the journey of life-long learning.

When you sign up with Skillmaster, you’ll be provided with a personalized login that offers a treasure trove of e-learning courses. These courses are carefully designed to build knowledge, address skills gaps, and develop the confidence to thrive in today’s fast-paced work environment.

Investing in your staff is one of the most meaningful decisions you can make for your business. After all, your team is the most important asset of your organization. Skillmaster upskills your employees to reach their full potential. This investment in your people impacts your business in countless ways. They will be more engaged and ready to take on the challenges the world of work throws their way.

Once you have finished one of our courses, you’ll receive a certificate of completion. It’s tangible proof of your commitment to growth and excellence, and your readiness to meet industry demands in your sector.

  • Workplace Readiness Program
  • Workplace Efficiency Training: Administrative Skills Online Courses
  • HR Mastery: Elevate Your Skills for Strategic HR Leadership
  • Sales and Marketing Strategies Package
  • Leadership and Management Program
  • Microsoft Office Essentials/Expert
Skillmaster E-learning

And the newest tool to make training access easier is the Paymaster App, to be launched soon. You will be able to access training, payroll and Time and Attendance solutions on one platform.

When you’re ready to take charge of your professional development, Skillmaster is at your fingertips. If you have any questions, please contact Deon Macauley, the head of Skillmaster, at 072 440 2710 or via email at deon@skillmaster.co.za.


8 Soft Skill on your CV

Don’t Leave These 8 Soft Skills Off Your CV

Don’t Leave These 8 Soft Skills Off Your CV

When applying for a job, there are many ways to optimize your CV. You can research the employer’s priorities in terms of experience, and highlight what’s most important to them, for example. You can include any major achievements, like exceeding sales goals. And you can include a link to your LinkedIn profile.

A set of skills that career advisors say are also crucial to mention, are your soft skills. These include a variety of abilities, and might just be the feature that sets you apart, and lands you the job.

Here are those 8 soft skills:

Communication skills

Why the importance of communication?

This is partly as a result of the new remote and hybrid work arrangements that rely heavily on tech. 

It matters how you respond to someone who sent you an email, for example. You should formally respond to them within 24 hours.

The importance of communication is also as a result of various companies’ initiatives regarding diversity, equity and inclusion.

Time-management skills

When it comes to scheduling and time management, no matter what kind of role you have, if you can’t organize your time, you won’t be effective.

Finally, when it comes to flexibility, people really have to be able to turn left, or turn right at a moments notice, join a Zoom meeting, and be able to manage their own messages and emails coming in.

There’s an element of ease with multitasking and being able to switch what you’re doing at a moment’s notice that has increased since the pandemic and as many people continue to work between their home and the office.

E learning with Skillmaster

Skillmaster’s E-Learning platform will train you to develop these soft skills, and are easily accessible. Contact Deon Macauley at Skillmaster to kickstart your upskilling journey.

Workplace Readiness registration

deon@skillmaster.co.za Meeting with Deon


Written by Leslie Hurst