You’re looking to advance your career. How can you make sure you’re learning the right skills?

I recommend by investigating job criteria and industry trends to ensure you're learning the skills necessary to grow your career. Determine which talents are relevant to your preferred job path and which are in great demand. Seek advice from mentors or experts in the industry to acquire knowledge about useful abilities and educational materials. Prioritise abilities that will help you achieve your job goals and set specific targets. To keep up to date and competitive in your field, use credible online seminars, certificates, and courses to learn new skills. Then, periodically evaluate your progress and make any adjustments to your learning strategy.

Self development is an ongoing process. However, it can best be applied if structured in a way to bridge learning and experience gaps. It is necessary to identify the gaps along with proper solutions. It is also important to conduct needs assessments in light of new technology and knowledge advancements in order to remain updated on job requirements for best performance.

Understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and career aspirations is essential for effective skill development. Seek mentorship from experts in your field to gain insights, guidance, and support tailored to your career goals. For example, joining professional networks like LinkedIn and attending industry events can help you connect with experienced professionals who can provide valuable mentorship.

List all the technical tools, software, and methodologies you're proficient in (e.g., Articulate Storyline, ADDIE Model, Agile Development, etc.). Be specific about your experience level. Brainstorm your strengths in areas like communication, collaboration, problem-solving, adaptability, and time management. These are harder to quantify but equally important. Don't just list jobs. Think about projects, volunteer roles, or even personal experiences that demonstrate specific skills.

I recommend taking the following steps: 1. Ask the following question, "Where do I envision myself in the next 5 years?" 2. Based on the answer from above, perform a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) Analysis. Yes, the same SWOT Analysis performed by businesses. It's an easy to use tool. 3. "Success leaves clues!", Seek a mentor and increase your professional network utilizing LinkedIn and other resources. In closing, by asking the first question you create focus, and intent. Through the SWOT analysis, you gain strategy and a plan. Lastly, building your network is essential to your success. As the saying goes, "it's not what you know, but who you know."

Utilize the GROW framework (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) to structure your skill development journey holistically. Set clear goals aligned with your career objectives, assess your current reality and skill gaps, explore various learning options, and commit to taking action to achieve your goals. Regularly review your progress and adjust your approach as needed. This framework ensures a systematic and focused approach to skill development.

Current job postings are your friend and greatest allies when you want to see where you stand with your current skills and what skills you must consider developing to stay in the game. Recently, I had to decide what Master's program I should go for or whether it was even worth completing my program. It was difficult for me to decide, so I turned to job descriptions for positions I would consider if I was looking. Out of the 50 job descriptions I looked at, only one of them required a Master's degree, and one wanted a Doctoral degree. This shows employers are more interested in your skill set than a degree. This helped me make the decision to forego additional education. Job postings are great for decision-making.

Examine the latest job postings to see if there are any specific skills that most employers are demanding. In addition, follow industry leaders to see what they're posting about. Finally, reach out to your potential hiring companies to see if there are any skillsets or tools, which they demand in their candidates. Use this info to design a learning path for yourself.

Además de identificar desde los job' posting, qué habilidades requiere un puesto, conviene conocer con más profundidad las tendencias de gestión en el mundo laboral. Coincido en explorar y explotar las plataformas online como Linkedin pero también consultar artículos de revistas como Forbes; las cuáles nos brindan la visión a futuro para encontrarnos actualizados siempre y así desarrollar nuestro diferenciador.

Aside from looking through current job postings, look up people who are already doing the job you want and take note of their skills and experience. What skills and experience do they have in common? Which of those do you lack? This can help narrow your focus when you go to upskill. Checking out recent trends in the industry is also good, but be careful not to get caught up in shiny new buzzwords. Research job postings and see if companies are actually seeking the skill or tool out in new hires. If not, focus on more in-demand skills now and come back to the trendy new topics later.

More often than not, a single online course does not provide you with what you are looking for: 1. The course will only allow you to go up to certain level of knowledge and skill on a given topic 2. Associated skills and subjects are often not connected. Here are some tips: 1. Find out about all the associated subjects, topics, skills, and disciplines that are associated to your desired job role and/or career path. 2. Prioritise course or learning programs over short courses on specialised and specific topics. 3. Target a set of online courses and understand the interconnected across the topics, subjects and/or skills. 4. Ensure that you are aware of the pre-requisites of anything that you sign up for.

When evaluating learning options, consider factors such as time availability, financial resources, and other constraints. For example, if you have limited time due to work or family commitments, prioritize flexible online courses or microlearning modules that fit your schedule. Additionally, explore free or low-cost learning resources, such as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and community workshops, to maximize your learning opportunities within your budget.

Choosing a course to learn from is not easy. - You should conduct thorough research. - Look at feedback from others. - Read the curriculum carefully. - Ensure that the course will help you advance your skills to the level. - Consider your learning style—visual or auditory. - Determine if you need a certificate. - Watch a sample video. - Ensure your learning path is easy to navigate.

Choosing the right e-learning course can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Look beyond course descriptions: Read reviews and ratings from previous learners. Trustworthy platforms will have a transparent review system. Check the instructor's credentials: Do they have expertise in the subject matter? Relevant industry experience is a plus. Course format matters: Do you prefer video lectures, interactive exercises, or a blended approach? Consider your learning style. Industry Recognition: For certain skills, consider courses with industry-recognized certifications. They can hold more weight with potential employers.

Los cursos e-learning se posicionaron como la herramienta perfecta para la autoformación y el autoaprendizaje y a pesar de que hoy en día existe muchísima oferta aún tenemos una brecha de uso importante. Sin embargo, además que ya podemos acceder a una amplia oferta de cursos gratuitos, con certificado, es muy importante reconocer que solo te brindarán el conocimiento teórico, es decir el saber, lo que te brindará cada vez más herramientas para incorporar a tu práctica. Desde esa visión de construcción elige sabiamente qué contenidos incorporarás a tu amplia lista de saberes.

Adopt a growth mindset, believing that your abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work, to drive your skill advancement efforts. Embrace challenges, learn from failures, and persist in the face of setbacks. For instance, approach skill development as a journey of continuous improvement rather than a destination, focusing on the process of learning and growth rather than immediate results.

La redacción de objetivos es un reto en cualquier nivel de aprendizaje. Sin embargo, un reto que merece la pena superar ya que el éxito de cualquier plan o ruta de formación siempre es tener total claridad de lo que se quiere lograr. La redacción de los objetivos fijan la meta hacia donde todo un plan de aprendizaje debe encaminarse. Para ello, coincido en recomendar la técnica SMART, ampliamente conocida en el mundo por su simpleza y agilidad, te brinda el marco para construir metas retadoras pero posibles.

Complement theoretical learning with practical experience through internships, capstone projects, or freelancing opportunities. For instance, internships with industry-leading companies provide valuable hands-on experience and exposure to real-world challenges. Similarly, freelancing projects allow you to apply newly acquired skills in a professional setting while building your portfolio and network.

Find a problem you are interested in, and try to build a solution using your new skills. When you hit a snag, consider it a learning opportunity. Seek out the skills and tools you need to keep moving forward until you've achieved your goal. A couple of ideas: 1) Is there a learning gap or opportunity at your current job that you'd love to solve, or a larger problem in your industry? 2) Is there a subject you're passionate about other than eLearning? Build a project to educate others on your area of interest. Once you have a project to share, seek feedback from your prospective learners. Apply that feedback and iterate on your design to gain even more practice.

One effective method for reinforcing what you have learned, particularly in the instructional design domain, is to assemble a portfolio with samples of eLearning content that highlight your newly acquired skills. When creating these samples, I suggest opting for "universal topics" to ensure that plenty of companies connect with your learning materials. Consider topics such as sales, marketing, customer service, and soft skill development. Upon completion of your portfolio, seek feedback from peers to refine your work. Subsequently, add a link to it in both the "Header" and "Featured" sections of your LinkedIn profile to make it stand out and increase your chances of getting job interviews.

Find a mentor, who does what it is you want to do, and ask him/her for guidance and feedback. Feedback is a critical component of the learning process. A good mentor can provide support and help you save time by avoiding common pitfalls, which can slow down your momentum.

Regularly seek feedback from mentors, peers, and industry professionals on your skill development journey. Embrace constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity for growth and improvement. Reflect on both successes and failures to identify areas for enhancement and refine your approach to learning. Utilize feedback mechanisms such as peer reviews, performance evaluations, and self-assessments to gain comprehensive insights into your progress and development areas.

A great way to get support and feedback on your learning journey is to seek out and prioritize learning opportunities that include a community or social learning aspect. This can be something as simple as a forum where you can ask questions, problem-solve or even share projects for feedback. Some courses offer weekly meet-ups via video conferencing or "office hours" with instructors so you can seek help in real-time. Others have private groups on social media platforms that include multiple learning cohorts, so you can seek support and feedback from learners who came before you, and provide ongoing support to your peers as well as new learners.

Be flexible. The job market and roles move quickly. The job you could be doing in five years time, probably doesn't exist yet. You might even more to another sector. Skills that are transferrable across sectors are excellent - think languages, people management, project management, finance. Do you have basic finance skills - can you read a balance sheet and profit/loss? Can you speak another language? If you working in the creative sector, what does the sector look for that makes candidates stand out? Read some job profiles? Pick out the key skills - not the common requirements, but the skills that make a difference. Importantly - develop the skills that matter to you!

Talk to experts. Connect with professionals in the industry or desired field. Inquire about which skills are critical for success and seek out advice on how you might be able to build them.

Where Do You Want to Be? Are you aiming for a senior ID role at your company? Do you want to transition to educational product management? Perhaps you dream of leading your own consulting firm? Your goals shape the skills you prioritize. Important Note: Learning is not a one-and-done process. Regular reassessment and adjusting your skill development plan is essential in a dynamic field like ours. One of our senior designers was eyeing a shift towards product management. We collaboratively developed a plan: she'd shadow one of our product managers, take some online courses in user research methods, and lead the 'client needs analysis' portion of the next big product development project.