The world may seem like it’s on hold, but that doesn’t mean that your career should be. You may find you have more time on your hands with the lockdown in force, so why not take advantage and use it productively?
Upskilling is a great way to advance your career, give you more confidence and boost your sense of purpose and self-esteem, ensuring that you come out of lockdown better than you went in. You might even get some new points for your CV.
1. Listen to podcasts – you can access podcasts right on your phone or computer and have access to the knowledge of industry experts.
Some great podcasts for the tech sector:
- Data Crunch – learn how data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning are being used to change our world for the better.
- DevOps Radio – covers all things related to software delivery.
- The Banana Data Podcast – data science podcast focused on the latest & greatest of the DS ecosystem.
- Information Security Podcast – information security including data security laws, cyber threat detection, driving information technology to leverage your business and much more.
- IT Career Energizer – Nearly 250 episodes covering how to start, develop & grow your tech career.
There are so many more, they’re easy to find and access, and best of all, they’re free!
2. Attend webinars, virtual events or conferences – Webinars are a great way of upskilling. They allow for a one-to-one style lesson from the comfort of home. Webinars are usually hosted by opinion leaders or industry experts and can offer a unique chance to gain invaluable knowledge from the best. What’s more, these webinars often have a Q&A section at the end so you can interact with them.
3. Take an online course – there are numerous services offering online courses in just about anything you can think of. Udemy, is one such place, they offer thousands of courses in anything you would need. You could learn a new programming language, risk management and cyber security, help desk or even IT career acceleration. Most courses are affordable and many offer industry recognised qualifications. LinkedIn Learning is a similar option.
4. Try learning apps – like websites offering online courses, there are apps offering a similar experience. Some are simply video courses, Udemy have their own app with all of their content, but other apps are designed to offer an awesome mobile learning experience with interactive elements to keep you engaged. Mimo, for example, offers a fun way to get started with coding.
5. Learn how to work from home productively – learning how to be productive at home is a skill in itself. Some things about working from home will inherently help with productivity. For example, you won’t have anyone dropping by your desk. However, opportunities for procrastination will present themselves more often at home. Skype requests, family demands, your favourite show on TV, there are endless distractions.
Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to make the most of working from home. Structure you day as if you were in the office, set up a dedicated workspace, and stay connected to your team.
Read more: How to Stay Productive While Working from Home
6. Get into an upskilling routine – include upskilling in your daily routine to ensure that you stay on track. Put aside 30 minutes each day to make some progress towards learning your new skill. You’re much more likely to stick to it long term and continue after lockdown.
7. Personal development plan – create a plan beginning with deciding what you want to accomplish, then set goals and decide how you’re going to achieve them. Think about the long-term benefits of learning the new skill will bring to stay motivated.
While we tend to focus on the negatives of being on lockdown, it’s important to make the most of the situation. You can come out better than you went in, and in a better position to advance your career when the world gets back to normal.
If you want any tips on how on surviving working from home and what you can do to get ahead in your career, get in touch.
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