If you’re looking for an industry that isn’t driven by innovation and an urgent need to keep ahead of the game, chances are you should start your car… and head to a museum. Because that’s the only place where you can see an industry that is content to remain where it is, stagnant and ready for its photo-op (pro tip: don’t use a flash when you take your picture, it will reflect on the glass). (And really, even museums, minus their interest in history, are hardly stuck in the past. Ever take a tour of a museum using an app on your phone?)
If you are feeling a bit rushed nowadays, the good news is you are far from the first to have the sense that everything is constantly changing while you try to keep up. In fact, that feeling is likely as old as industry itself.
Be that as it may, motivated professionals then and now know that keeping up with the times isn’t a luxury--it’s an absolute necessity if you want to excel in your chosen field.
If you are feeling a bit rushed nowadays, the good news is you are far from the first to have the sense that everything is constantly changing while you try to keep up. In fact, that feeling is likely as old as industry itself.
Be that as it may, motivated professionals then and now know that keeping up with the times isn’t a luxury--it’s an absolute necessity if you want to excel in your chosen field.
Whether you have been in your industry for a decade or are just starting out, maintaining your competitive edge at work, on a resume, or at a job interview requires one key component: relevancy.
When it comes to your job, relevancy means more than knowing the basics. Instead, relevancy demands that you revisit the basics, and take the initiative to grow further. Yes, the world does move at a crazy pace, and it can feel difficult to slow down long enough to drink a cup of coffee, much less work on developing your skillset. But you are going to need that cup of coffee if you are going to make it through the rest of the day—just like you need to take the time to maintain or refresh the skills and knowledge you need to stay competitive.
There is, however, good news. Continuous learning does not require taking out a loan or getting accepted into a lengthy degree program. In the world of Web 2.0 (or is it 3.0 now?), the opportunity to learn is almost always just a few clicks away. You may have five minutes, or you may have an hour. The important thing is that you make time to keep the skills you have and develop the ones you will need to make you a more competitive candidate. Here are some easy steps to get you learning something new every day:
There is, however, good news. Continuous learning does not require taking out a loan or getting accepted into a lengthy degree program. In the world of Web 2.0 (or is it 3.0 now?), the opportunity to learn is almost always just a few clicks away. You may have five minutes, or you may have an hour. The important thing is that you make time to keep the skills you have and develop the ones you will need to make you a more competitive candidate. Here are some easy steps to get you learning something new every day:
Actively engage in knowledge management and production in your workplace. Do you sit back and wait for someone else to come up with the solution, or are you the go-getter who researches options, reads the systems updates, and knows the impact? Do you attend the Lunch and Learns, or have you proposed creating one?
Take advantage of opportunities your employer offers. Your company may also offer training and leadership opportunities, but most of the time they are not mandatory. up to you to take advantage of the resources your company offers. Have a chance to attend a leadership conference? Is a team offering a webinar to go over updates to your tools? Raise your hand, volunteer to learn something new. In addition to updating or gaining a new skill, your participation will not go unnoticed. When you take advantage of these opportunities, you show your investment in the organization and its success (as well as your own).
Listen to industry related podcasts and apply your new-found knowledge. Do you have a commute? A necessary chore that could be done with headphones? There are podcasts for every subject under the sun, and chances are, there is at least one that overlaps with your industry or a skillset that would help advance your chances. Press play and take advantage of your virtual classroom.
Learn new skills through free online tutorials. If you feel like you only ever have five minutes, you can still acquire new knowledge every day. Consider what tools you use and what topics matter in your field. Identify online resources—YouTube, blogs, software forums, etc. Spend some time daily (or weekly) checking out new content. Pick a topic and learn what you can. Work your way through the lessons available on a program you already know or one you need to learn, and then make sure to update your resume and LinkedIn® with that skill.
Stay up-to-date by participating in associations and online groups. Professional associations, career-focused individuals on LinkedIn®, and other social media sites are great resources for maintaining your skills and building your expertise. Professional organizations often have local meet-ups you can attend to network and discuss your field. Don’t want to leave your house? Social media is host to an array of professional-minded forums and groups. Join them and engage. Read the articles others post, and post a few of your own. You can learn a lot from your peers, and you can also establish yourself as an expert by actively participating in your field.
Your career and knowledge are yours to own. Leaders and innovators work to not only maintain their knowledge—they work to grow that knowledge even further. But you don’t have to be an industry influencer or CEO to make continuous learning a part of your professional game plan. There’s room for all of us to grow and excel by simply using the tools at our disposal.
Tomorrow is a great day to learn something new—so why don’t you go ahead and line up that podcast or tutorial video. It will go great with that cup of coffee.
Story by Jamie Boyle
Tomorrow is a great day to learn something new—so why don’t you go ahead and line up that podcast or tutorial video. It will go great with that cup of coffee.
Story by Jamie Boyle
RSS Feed