9 Ways to Keep Learning and Advance Your Career
Updated: May 27, 2020
Author: Sarah Landrum Source: Punched Clocks
Whether you’ve been out of school for a few months or many years, it’s normal to miss learning new things. While you’re probably introduced to a few new skills, strategies or processes on the job, it’s not quite the same as immersing yourself in a new topic.
When you don’t have the time or budget to head back to school, you may feel like you’re out of options. Luckily, there are a number of ways you can keep learning while at work.
Which is good, because continuing your education is important for advancing your career.
When you’re learning new things, you stay relevant in a fiercely competitive job market. You can strengthen your resume, giving yourself an edge to get a promotion or just learn a skill you’ve always wanted to have.
So, how can you continue to learn while working full-time? Here are a few ways to get started:
1. Find a Mentor
If you have a traditional job, you probably spend most of your waking hours in an office with other people. Whether you were assigned a mentor when you took the job or not, finding a senior-level employee to connect with can give you great insights, information and guidance.
A mentor is someone who has been in your shoes and experienced what you’re going through. Because they’ve developed past the stage you’re currently at, they can give you great advice on how to move forward. While this isn’t a traditional education and may not be something you can put on a resume, real-life advice can truly help advance your career.
Find someone within your office that you respect or you think can provide you with some helpful advice. Ask if they’d like to have lunch or even a cup of coffee, or simply ask them for guidance on a specific question. As you develop your relationship, you’ll get more and more tips.
2. Take an Online Certification
There are hundreds of online courses and certifications available online. No matter what you’re interested in, what skill you’d like to learn or what topic you’d like to master, you can find an online course to help you achieve that goal.
There are even certifications that help you advance your soft skills or management skills, if that is something you hope to improve. For example, the ISO 9001 certification is designed to help leaders improve their processes, engagement of their workforce, and decision-making.
Some certifications allow you to receive a small “designation” you can put on your LinkedIn page, website or even your resume. Just check the certification page to ensure you’re able to promote the designation before using any images you didn’t create. These certifications can help you get noticed by new hiring managers or put you closer to getting a promotion over your coworkers.
However, even online courses that don’t offer a clear certification can also be beneficial.
Check out websites like Skillshare, Udemy or Coursera to get started. With courses in everything from entrepreneurship to happiness, there’s something there for you.
3. Attend a Local Event or Workshop
Depending on the city in which you live, there are probably dozens of local events or workshops available to you. Whether it’s a networking event where you can meet new people or potential mentors, or a workshop that promises to teach you a new skill, getting involved in your community is a great way to get involved.
Sometimes companies within your city will sponsor events or workshops to help spread the word about their brand. Other times, these meetups are held by professional organizations or even public libraries. Frequently checking the events calendars of organizations in your area can allow you to plan which events you’d like to attend.
Don’t be afraid to try something new. If a workshop sparks your interest, go — even if it doesn’t directly apply to your career.
4. Read a Book
In college, you were probably assigned pages and pages of required reading. Whether or not you actually read them, it just wasn’t the same as getting to choose the books you were interested in. With so many entrepreneurs, business owners and career professionals creating best-sellers, reading can be a great way to learn something new.
If you’re already a reader, consider swapping your traditional novel for a book written by a professional you respect or admire. If you’re not sure where to start, ask friends, family members or coworkers if they have recommendations — or if they have a book you can borrow.
Reading doesn’t need to be expensive. With a traditional library card, you can borrow books and e-books for free.
5. Ask About Tuition Reimbursement
Not every company will offer to pay you back for college courses related to your career path, but some might. If you’re looking to take a class, get a certification or even get a degree that will help advance your career, your employer may be willing to help you with the cost.
Keep in mind that tuition reimbursement programs typically have requirements as to when you can leave the company or how well you need to perform within the classes. Even if maintaining a high GPA or staying with the company a few years after you graduate isn’t a big issue, you want to know about these requirements upfront.
If the cost of additional education is holding you back from returning to school, definitely talk with your employer about ways they may be willing to help.