Winning The Tech Trend Race: Keeping Your Skills Current–Hey Tech Lady

Do a daily check-in with your favorite tech news sources. I have a few that I frequent but honestly, there are so many out there, do your own research and find what’s appealing to you. A simple article with a recommended list of sources is all you need to get you started, such as 15 Expert-Recommended Resources For Keeping Up With The Latest Tech News by the Forbes Technology Council, but do a new search everyone once in a while...Tech news sources are similar to tech skills: they have to stay frosty or they’ll find themselves on the way out.

Reading up on tech news is dual purpose: it keeps you up-to-date in your current role and helps you monitor up-and-coming trends. Articles also dive deep enough to give you enough information to know if you’re truly interested in learning the topic at hand.

MONITOR OPEN ROLES

You may have raised an eyebrow if you aren’t looking for work, but hear me out. I’m not looking either and am truly content where I am (shout-out to Forbes), but I routinely browse through open roles...LinkedIn Jobs is my fave. Even if you aren’t looking, it helps you keep a pulse on what’s out there. Your industry awareness will stay at its peak and give you the best insight into the topics you should focus on for the other steps I recommend.

VIRTUAL LEARNING

Now that you’ve educated yourself on the trends, it’s time to delve into acquiring the skill you’re interested in. If you’re currently employed, check with your company to see if they have a subscription you can take advantage of, such as LinkedIn Learning or PluralSight. If you don’t have a paid learning platform available to you, you can still find free content on sites such Codeacademy or Coursera. Finding time for continual learning can be a challenge, but if you reserve a small chunk of your day, you’ll find yourself making good progress with what seems like little time commitment.

CONFERENCES

Keep your eyes peeled for conferences with specialized content on the skills you’re interested in. It’s not just a learning opportunity, it’s also a fantastic forum for meeting new contacts from different walks of life. Attending virtually is most times an option, but if you can swing attending in-person, you increase your chances of raking in new professional connections.

NETWORKING

Speaking of new relationships, networking is hugely beneficial for your career in a multitude of ways. New connections can open the doorway for skill set acquisition, new jobs, volunteer opportunities, and more.

Your focus for networking shouldn’t be exclusive to making new contacts. Chances are, you have existing connections that could be a whole lot stronger than they already are, so reserve some of your focus for fostering those bonds. If the connection is within your place of employment, setup recurring check-ins or ask if you can shadow them and pitch in. If it’s an external contact, post the occasional comment or send a quick DM to keep you top-of-mind. You’ll find that the more connections you nurture, the more the opportunities find their way to you, and those opportunities may just revolve around an area of interest in which you lack experience. Building solid relationships is a key component to a successful career.

VOLUNTEER, VOLUNTEER, VOLUNTEER

I harp on this point frequently, I know, but that’s because it’s essential. Never do just enough to accomplish what’s already expected of you. That’s a perfect way to get stuck in a rut. When looking to expand your skill set, stay aware of what your connections are up to.

In your current organization, keep an eye on upcoming projects. If an effort falls into the category of what you’d like to learn, raise your hand and offer your services. If nothing relevant exists, pitch a project idea that’s built using the desired skill. Not only will you open up a new learning opportunity, but you’ll stand out to your peers and leaders as innovative and ambitious.

When it comes time for a new role or even a promotion, your name will be top of mind. When applying for a new position, you’ll have new ammo to add to your resume.

You may be exhausted just looking at all of these steps, but I promise, it’s not as time-consuming as it seems and you may just enjoy doing it. Well, some of it, anyway…but it’s worth the payoff.

1. https://middlesexcountynj.powerappsportals.us/forums/general-discussion/d6ac9b4b-2101-ef11-a73d-001dd80b215a