When you work in the technology industry, keeping pace is a constant challenge. Never mind figuring out how the latest updates to your existing software affect your day-to-day, but where will you find the time to learn how to learn an entirely new software? Depending on how much spare time you have, there are a plethora of avenues you can take to stay ahead of the technology learning curve. Let’s take a look at some of these options:
INDUSTRY EVENTS
Conferences pack a lot of punch, from keynote speeches that focus on broad industry trends to breakout sessions that focus on a specific software or skill. A conference (or two or three) or event takes place in nearly every technology category imaginable (IoT, cybersecurity, consumer technology, IT, etc.). You just need to figure out whether or not you can work around the conference schedule, location and cost.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Most professional organizations, such as Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and Society for Technical Communication (STC), offer members access to training courses or discounts for enrolling into partners’ training programs. If your employer doesn’t offer reimbursement for membership fees, you can often write off the fees in your taxes (see https://www.irs.gov/ for specific guidelines).
MULTI-SUBJECT TRAINING CENTERS
Multi-subject training centers like Fast Lane, Lynda.com, Keystone and Skillsoft are one-stop-shops for software training and certifications. For those people who need in-person instruction, some give you the option of attending a course in a nearby classroom, or you can sign up for online training, allowing you to learn at your leisure. Courses range from entry-level to advanced, and, if the course is broken into modules, you can hone in on the exact information you need without going through the entire course.
SOFTWARE-SPECIFIC TRAINING
Most mature software providers, like Microsoft, Cisco, Cherwell and CA providers offer their own universities, accessible right on their websites or they will come directly to your organization.
Learning doesn’t have to end when you walk out of a school with a diploma in hand and into a career. In fact, building on your skillsets while you’re working not only makes you a more valuable employee, it helps build your resume if you want to move into a different field or position. Do you have a favorite place you go to learn new skills? Share them with us on Facebook or Twitter.
