Always Keep Learning

For some of us, there’s probably no greater joy than knowing we’ve crossed the educational finish line when we walk across that stage, shake some college dean’s hand, and throw our cap in the air. It is indeed a moment to celebrate. However, for those that see graduation as the end of a learning journey, just know that this can be a serious roadblock to your future opportunities. This mindset also has big potential to limit your growth in the early years of your career. The good news is there will be plenty of learning opportunities, you just have to be able to identify them and be willing to put in the effort to learn.

Quick disclaimer: this writing will not go into formal education opportunities like graduate school, coding bootcamps, or certificate programs. While they’re certainly a form of learning, I’ve personally not been involved with either and intend to only write based on my own experiences. You will soon see however that there are plenty of learning opportunities outside of this category.

So if it’s not formal education, what are the other types of sources that we can learn from? Before continuing, I challenge you to take 60 seconds and see how many you can come up with. Go!

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How’d you do?

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If you got a handful or more, that’s great. If you struggled, that’s ok too. There’s not really a right or wrong answer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you came up with things on your list that aren’t mentioned below (if this is the case, feel free to share by leaving a comment).

Below is the list that I came up with which is based on the software/tech industry that I work in:

• Books

• Blogs

• YouTube (online projects)

• Udemy (online courses)

• Open source contributions

• Conferences

• The people around you

• Community events (eventbrite)

• Teaching/presenting to others

• Manuals/Product documentation

  
  

Notice any patterns or are there any surprises here?

One thing you may notice is just how many different ways there are to learn. Sources can lean towards a particular learning style (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic - i.e. learn by seeing, learn by hearing, learn by doing), and the reality is that we all have our favorite sources for learning. What one person may find as a great option for learning may not necessarily be the same as what others find works best for them.

Another observation is that learning sources can depend on the industry you’re in or be industry-agnostic. For example, if you don’t work in software, open source contributions likely wasn’t on your list, just like reading healthcare research papers wasn’t on mine (fwiw - I haven’t personally contributed to OSS but have read many times that it’s a great way for new users of the community to get involved).

You may hear terms like hard skills, technical skills, or vertical skills be used to describe those that are industry-specific. Alternatively, you may hear non-industry-specific skills referred to as soft skills, transferable skills, or horizontal skills. The latter can be things like critical thinking, presentation, and people/relationship management skills. You’ll need both, and it’s important to recognize the relationship between skill sets and the opportunities they provide.

A quick example on the importance of career learning

Michael and Jessica are two recent graduates who land similar sales roles at the same insurance software company.

Michael, known for his good looks and above-average schmoozing abilities, has never struggled to find opportunities to be the center of attention. He typically spends his free time looking at Instagram or talking about his new Tesla, and after six months of being in the role, he hasn’t really spent much time learning anything beyond the basics. He knows just enough about the company’s product to have introductory conversations with customers, but has never taken the time to learn the industry that he serves or the types of challenges his customers truly care about. He’s never done a demo because it’s “not his job,” and his overconfidence leaves him oblivious to the fact that he’s not the world-class presenter he thinks he is.

On the other hand, Jessica finds that when she has free time, she can sneak in that “What’s new in 7.2” video that teaches her about the new features available in the latest software release. It’s not technically her job, but she takes the opportunity to learn how to do a harbor tour demo (also called a 101 demo, one that provides a basic introduction to the software) so that she doesn’t have to rely on a Sales Engineer at the beginning of every sales opportunity. When a Sales Engineer is required for a more advanced demo, she pays attention and asks follow-up questions afterwards for things she doesn’t quite understand. She also attends the industry’s top annual conference to stay informed of the most recent trends and learn about new vendors in the space.

If you think I was a little harsh on Michael, you’re probably right (Michaels do exist). However, I encourage you to briefly think about the two situations and what impact the role of education could have on their futures. Below are some possibilities:

• Higher commission based on better performance, customer experience

• Promotion into a management role

• Promotion into a role that didn’t previously exist (a true sign of confidence in you from leadership)

• Ability to move laterally at the same company

• A new opportunity at a different organization

  
  

Summary

Continual education opens doors of all shapes and sizes, and in many cases, you won’t know when that door will become available. Make continual learning a focal point of your career, and you’ll put yourself in a position to tackle bigger challenges, take on more diverse roles, and ultimately take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves. You'll also likely find yourself in positions to make more money and have more choices.

Next Steps

Want to learn something but don’t know how/where to get started?

When I started my career, my manager encouraged me to pick one skill per year to focus on. I’ve picked topics ranging from technical writing and presentation skills, to simply just being a more technically-competent human being.

Try asking ChatGPT or your favorite LLM for ideas. You can use the prompt below to get started, but I encourage you to also ask follow-up questions to dig deeper into the topic/s that interest you the most for best results. You can always ask a manager/peer if you’re still stuck on what topics may be most relevant to your situation (soft skills are always a good start!).

ChatGPT Prompt: I'm a recent graduate in the «Insert Industry Here» . Provide a list of 5 hard and 5 soft skills that I should focus on in the first 12 months of my career. Also, provide sources for where I could start learning about these topics.

Lastly, a couple expert tips.

• Books - You can get used books on eBay for very low prices. Shops like second.sale also usually include free shipping and buy-three-get-one deals.

• Udemy - Almost all Udemy courses go on sale and are 60-90% off every couple of weeks. If it’s full price, wait a week and check again.

• If you want to know what skills are relevant in your market, find companies you wish to work for and check out their job postings. Job applications will list the soft and technical skills that you can use as a roadmap for learning.