looking to develop skills

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking to develop skills" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a desire or intention to improve or acquire new abilities or competencies. Example: "I am looking to develop skills in project management to advance my career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Others might be looking to develop skills or to get back into work.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And one of the first questions tackled in our webchat was what resources are there for small businesses looking to develop skills among staff.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

We're just looking to develop their skills more broadly".

Independent

You may be looking to develop specific skills to fulfill application requirements.

Columbia University

The Picker Center offers open enrollment short duration certificate programs for mid-career professionals looking to develop specific skills.

Columbia University

Book now Led by Guardian photographers Kevin Rushby and Andy Earl, this full-day masterclass is ideal for enthusiastic photographers looking to develop their skills.

The Guardian

The clinic also offers veterans estate planning under the guidance of Clinical Instructor Tamara Kolz Griffin, an excellent opportunity for students looking to develop their skills outside the courtroom.

Harvard University

Glass blowing in particular lends itself well to this as most of the time you need at least one assistant, who tends to be someone looking to develop their skills further.

The Guardian

In addition, the "learn to code" niche itself offers a variety of resources, like Codecademy, Code School, Programr, Treehouse, and more, all aimed at those who are looking to develop programming skills.

TechCrunch

The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School will launch an Executive MBA program for senior-level professionals and fast-track managers looking to develop the skills necessary to succeed in today's global business environment.

Johns Hopkins University

You can talk to instructors and students and learn more about the Certificate on Aging at an information session on Thursday, Sept. 7. Whether you're looking to develop a skill or feed your curiosity, Odyssey offers something for everyone.

Johns Hopkins University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "looking to develop skills", ensure it's followed by a specific area or type of skill to provide context and clarity. For example, "looking to develop skills in data analysis".

Common error

Avoid using "looking to develop skills" without specifying which skills. This can sound generic and lack focus. Instead of saying "I'm looking to develop skills", specify the skills you're targeting, such as "I'm looking to develop my leadership skills".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking to develop skills" functions as an introductory phrase indicating intention or purpose. This is a common way to express a desire to improve one's abilities. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this expression is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "looking to develop skills" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express the intention to improve or acquire new skills. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's appropriate across various contexts, particularly in news, academia, and professional settings. For more formal situations, consider alternatives like "seeking to enhance capabilities". The phrase's versatility makes it a valuable tool for anyone aiming to articulate their aspirations for personal or professional growth. Remember to specify the skills in question to avoid sounding too generic. The examples provided by Ludwig offer insight into how this phrase is used in real-world scenarios, making it easier to incorporate into your own writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wanting to expand skillsets

Uses a more modern term "skillsets", implying a collection of skills.

seeking to enhance capabilities

Uses more formal synonyms "enhance" for "develop" and "capabilities" for "skills".

aspiring to hone competencies

Uses sophisticated terms like "hone" and "competencies" to denote refining existing skills.

aiming to cultivate expertise

Replaces "looking to develop" with a more formal and sophisticated expression, and "skills" with "expertise", suggesting a higher level of proficiency.

planning to build competence

Focuses on the planning aspect of developing competence.

intending to acquire proficiency

Emphasizes the intention to gain a high level of competence.

motivated to refine abilities

Highlights the motivation behind improving one's abilities.

determined to foster expertise

Emphasizes the determination to nurture and grow expertise.

desiring to improve knowledge

Shifts the focus from skills to a broader understanding of a subject.

eager to cultivate talents

Replaces skills with talents, suggesting innate abilities.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "looking to develop skills" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "seeking to enhance capabilities" or "aiming to cultivate expertise" depending on the specific context.

What's a more concise way to say "looking to develop skills"?

You could use phrases like "skill enhancement" or "skills development" as nouns, or simply state the skill you want to gain, such as "learning Python".

Is it correct to say "looking to skill up" instead of "looking to develop skills"?

While "skill up" is an informal and increasingly common term, "looking to develop skills" is generally more appropriate for professional or academic contexts.

How does "looking to develop skills" differ from "wanting to learn new skills"?

"Looking to develop skills" suggests a more proactive and intentional approach to improving existing abilities or acquiring new ones. "Wanting to learn new skills" is a broader and can also refer to acquiring completely novel abilities.