You’re an IT consultant. How do you keep up with the latest technology?

I regularly read industry-specific publications, technology blogs, and online forums to stay informed about new products, software releases, security updates, and best practices.

There was a time when you could keep up with all the goings on in the tech world by keeping your ear to the ground and an open mind about the latest shiny object (good contracts helped as well). The combination of existing, but constantly changing, tech products along with the major impact that generative AI has had makes for a field where change is happening dozens of times a day. Blogs and newsletters are a tiny sliver of what consultants need to keep up. Consulting work that allows them to get hands-on experience in new tech is the best way. It forces you to find out what standard/best practices are in the field. It also forces you to discover answers on your own that perhaps you can blog about to help others and raise your visibility.

Listening to podcasts and watching videos focused on technology trends and innovations has been invaluable in my experience. These mediums offer insights into the latest developments in a format that's easy to consume, even on the go. One thing I've found helpful is to subscribe to channels and podcasts that cover a broad range of IT topics, as well as those specific to my area of expertise. This ensures a well-rounded understanding of both general tech trends and niche advancements. A mistake to avoid is relying solely on outdated or singular sources for information. The tech field evolves rapidly, and diversifying your learning resources ensures you stay ahead of the curve and can offer current, relevant advice to your clients.

I follow reports, analyses, and predictions from reputable industry analysts and research firms to gain insights into technology trends, market dynamics, and future developments. I also official resources and communication channels from major technology vendors, such as release notes, product roadmaps, and developer documentation, to stay up-to-date with their latest offerings and updates.

I was not a fan of certifications until a few years ago when I studied (and passed) the Google Cloud Platform Professional Cloud Architect Certification Exam. The goal should never be to pass the cert; the goal should always be to find where the gaps are in your knowledge, shore them up, and use them as needed. A certification forces you into the proper frame of mind to accomplish that.

Online communities are great, but if you don't have the time to contribute or to even keep with them they are just another source of guilt. Choose your communities wisely and accept that the fire-hose of information is not slowing down anytime soon...or ever.

The bottom line: - AI really is going to make a difference in the quality of work in the next 1-2 years. A massive difference. Think about your current skill set and how you would apply it to an army of non-stop workers who will work tirelessly to accomplish your goals. - Being a consultant means that you know how to pivot as circumstances change. The rate of change really is accelerating. Get really good at pivoting. - Avoid getting overwhelmed. Pick one thing to go deep on, but don't spend months on it. Today's problems will be solved in the next few months through the use of AI tools. - Work on learning how to leverage LLMs to solve problems. You might not build any solutions, but your understanding of the domain space will go up.

Keeping up with the latest technologies is essential for an IT consultant in order to provide up-to-date and valuable advice to clients. To do this I do continuous training, from any available source and absorb knowledge like a sponge. But above all it is important to keep an open and adaptable mind and this is what I try to do. The field of IT is constantly evolving, so it is important to keep an open and adaptable mindset towards change and be ready to continuously learn and adapt to new technologies and new challenges that emerge in the industry. By engaging in continuous learning I hope to be able to keep up with the latest technologies and maintain a competitive edge in the IT field as a consultant.

From experience listening to the challenges and feedback from your customers is very useful. Often, the problems the customer faces can lead you to explore new technologies or solutions you might not have considered otherwise.