Always be Learning

In a world where the way people do their jobs is constantly changing faster than ever, you always need to find ways to hone your skills and 2020 is a recent example. The world had to adapt to working from home, sometimes in roles that had never been asked?before the pandemic. Some people reacted quickly and could be effective working from home immediately. But some lagged behind and needed to gain the skills and, in some cases, the setup and setting at home to work from home effectively.

Now, your ability to work from home is a valued skill, and if it is a requirement for a role you can bet that interviewers will ask you about how you work from home. They will ask what your setup is like, how you keep on task, or how you stay connected with your team in a remote environment. This is just one example of an area that we must work on, upskill in, and do our own research to become more effective?in today's world.

It is ironic how critical upskilling in our specific careers is as the skilled workforce continues to grow in today's world, while at the same time, many are questioning the value of obtaining a traditional college education. CNBC reported last week that college enrollment across the country has continued to decline yearly and is still well below pre-pandemic levels. However, short-term degrees and credentialing programs are gaining steam and rapidly increasing enrollment.

One of the concerns students have coming out of high school is the rising costs of inflation and wanting more of a direct link into the workforce. Also, the hefty student loan balances they will have to accumulate by going to college rather than heading straight into the workforce. The cost of student loans, on top of the rising cost of living has students questioning the value of a college degree. Considering these factors, more than 75% of high schoolers now say a two-year degree or technical certification is enough. Only 41% believe they must get a 4-year college degree in order to land a good job.

While I still believe in the value of a college education, I can admit that it is not for everyone. Also, more than just a college education is needed for people who have been out of college for 10+ years. How relevant is that information you learned ten years ago if you have yet to learn new skills? That is why short-term certification programs that allow workers to gain proficiency and sometimes expertise in specific niches of their industries will continue to grow in the coming years.

All of this said, for most of the people that read this newsletter you have likely already decided whether you see a 4-year college degree as worthwhile. So, my message to you today is that you can always continue learning. To stay ahead of the competition, you must constantly hone your skill and keep up with the industry trends relative to your work. Short-term certifications are a great way to stay on top of technological advances.

With the exponential growth of AI through the release and adoption of ChatGPT, it is more apparent now than ever that how we all do our jobs will be changing even more rapidly. Over the next few years, we will all be forced to learn how to integrate AI into our jobs, and some jobs will be eliminated or entirely changed by the introduction of this tool. I am still leery of the technology, but I am trying to pay close enough attention to avoid being left behind.

So, how can you upskill this week and learn something new in your role? I would love for you to share any ideas that you have with me, as well as any feedback.

Thank you, as always, for reading, subscribing, and sharing this newsletter. It is greatly appreciated!

-Nick