What do you do if your electrical engineering skills are becoming outdated?

1 Assess your skills

The first step is to evaluate your current skills and identify your strengths and weaknesses. You can use online self-assessment tools, such as the IEEE Competency Model, to measure your proficiency in various areas of electrical engineering. You can also ask for feedback from your peers, managers, or mentors to get an honest and objective perspective on your performance and potential. By assessing your skills, you can determine where you need to improve and what you need to learn.

2 Plan your learning

The next step is to create a learning plan that suits your goals, interests, and needs. You can choose from a variety of learning options, such as online courses, webinars, podcasts, books, blogs, newsletters, or magazines. You can also join professional associations, such as the IEEE, or attend conferences, workshops, or seminars to network with other electrical engineers and learn from experts. You should set realistic and specific learning objectives, prioritize the most relevant and useful topics, and allocate time and resources for your learning.

3 Practice your skills

The third step is to apply your learning to your work and projects. You can look for opportunities to use new tools, techniques, or concepts in your current or future assignments. You can also volunteer for challenging or innovative tasks that require you to stretch your skills and learn new things. You can also seek feedback from your colleagues, clients, or supervisors to assess your progress and performance. By practicing your skills, you can reinforce your learning and demonstrate your value.

4 Update your resume

The fourth step is to update your resume with your new skills and achievements. You should highlight the relevant and recent courses, certifications, or publications that you have completed or contributed to. You should also emphasize the projects, tasks, or results that showcase your skills and expertise. You should use keywords, phrases, and metrics that match the requirements and expectations of your target employers or clients. By updating your resume, you can increase your visibility and credibility.

5 Explore new opportunities

The final step is to explore new opportunities that can help you grow and advance your career. You can look for internal or external job openings, freelance projects, or consulting gigs that match your skills and interests. You can also reach out to your network, such as former colleagues, classmates, or mentors, to find out about potential leads or referrals. You can also create or update your online profile, such as LinkedIn, to showcase your portfolio and attract attention. By exploring new opportunities, you can expand your horizons and leverage your skills.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?