Learnability - a core competency

One of the questions I always ask during interviews is,

"What is something you have learned in the past year outside of your work?"?

This could be anything, whether it’s a new technology, a new field such as economics, law, history, or perhaps learning to play the guitar or a new sport.

I believe the era of conventional education—where someone would receive a few years of formal education and then spend the rest of their life at work relying on that education—is over. In the software industry, this shift occurred quite some time ago.

Why do I say that?

Because our world is evolving at an unprecedented pace. The way we buy groceries, make payments, communicate with loved ones, and interact in the workplace has all transformed.

In the software industry, the technologies used to develop, test, and deploy applications change every 3-4 years.?

Carrot and stick methods are no longer driving performance. The factors that motivate employees have changed, as have the expectations employees have from their bosses and companies.

Reasons for Change

Technology, particularly AI, is driving change in almost all areas of software. Additionally, black swan events such as COVID-19 impose sudden and significant changes upon us. These changes are not merely incremental or superficial; they can be life-altering and career-threatening.

Therefore, it is crucial for us to prepare ourselves for these kinds of changes, which, in my view, will continue to occur at an even faster pace.

How can we prepare ourselves?

• Create a "To-Learn" list and always keep at least one item on it.
• Read books, listen to podcasts, and take short courses in your chosen area.
• Get a mentor who has experience in that field and discuss openly.
• Be humble and tentative. Lack of humility is a barrier to learning.

Continuous learning is no longer optional for working professionals; it is essential to remain relevant in this changing world. If you feel overwhelmed by learning or have many questions about what to learn, how to learn, or how it will benefit your career, reaching out to an experienced colleague, friend, or mentor can be incredibly helpful.

"Don’t be a know-it-all; be a learn-it-all," a quote from Satya Nadella, is very appropriate for these times.

For those seeking professional advice through a one-on-one session, here is the request form:

Mentorship Request Form for Managers (Engineering Managers, Directors): https://lnkd.in/gGa5QttC

Mentorship Request Form for IC Engineers (Developers/QA/Architects):https://lnkd.in/gXadc_6c