According to a 2016 Glassdoor survey, 89 percent of the site’s users “are either actively looking for jobs or would consider better opportunities.” What do you have to offer current and potential employees that they can’t find elsewhere? How can you encourage employees to train for their desired position while generating value for your organization?

Push Employees to Pursue Their Education

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, higher education attainment is directly correlated with higher average weekly income, so if this is a driving factor for employees, they should consider returning to school. You can simplify this process by trying some of the following strategies:

• If an employee is limited by location, he or she might consider an accredited online graduate school program to earn the same level of education without moving.
• If employees have work experience, they may qualify for an online MBA GMAT waiver, which means they can submit an application sooner and avoid test-prep stress.
• Encourage employees to consider specialty certification or continuing education courses. If your organization offers a tuition assistance benefit, remind employees of that option.

Encourage Employees to Take Initiative

Let your employees know that advancing their education isn’t the only way to advance their careers. Encourage them to demonstrate their value by becoming a resource for other employees and managers. They can be the “go-to” person for questions or difficult projects and demonstrate their capability and dependability. Organizations should quickly notice the people who take the initiative to help build their team’s productivity and consider them for promotion, because they serve as an excellent example for other team members.

You can encourage your employees to do the following to better prepare for a leadership role:

• Seek accredited training for the software their department uses frequently, and become the essential point of contact when the technology is not functioning properly
• Volunteer for a project during a meeting
• Contribute to a project outside of their team to better understand the organization
• Understand the roles that each individual on their team fills and how to effectively communicate with them when conflict arises

Emphasize the Importance of Soft Skills

Some things cannot be taught in a classroom, including soft skills. Development and demonstration of these skills are a required aspect of promotion and management in most organizations. If an individual is seeking a management position, be sure that he or she considers questions like these: “How can I effectively lead a team with multiple personalities?” and “How can I motivate an employee whose work has recently been of lower quality?”

Developing On-the-Job Skills

Networking is an essential skill to advance professionally. In a 2015 Forbes article, Tom Farley, then the president of the New York Stock Exchange, wrote, “I owe every job I’ve ever had to networking.” The more people you know, the more chances you have to advance your career. Help your employees understand open positions and the required skills for them by hosting networking events. Encourage them to use social networking to their advantage. LinkedIn, Twitter and industry-specific Facebook groups can broaden their reach and increase their options.

The corporate ladder looks different today than it did for older generations. It is no longer a straight climb determined by length of service. In today’s global and mobile economy, success can come much earlier than it did for our parents and grandparents, but strategy is key. Education, expertise and networking are vital, but they’re just a start. Help your employees understand this process, and you will see the value it creates for your company.