6 Ways Continuous Learning is Essential for Career Growth

Personal BrandContinuous Learning
Written By Nicole Flowers Consulting
Two women at a white table with paint splotches looking at a tablet and writing notes

This is not a story (solely) about boredom...

Sounds riveting, right?! Stay with me here…

A few years back, I was beyond bored in my role. I worked for a communication design firm on high-profile, global, C-level keynotes, and my work was largely dependent on the season and how many accounts had international meetings at a given time.

I talked to my boss about it, saying I’d love to step in and help on some good, meaty projects within the agency if there were any. Her answer?

“Sometimes you’ll just be bored.”

This is not what I wanted to hear, but while I had the downtime at work, I decided to pursue certifications I thought would move me forward.

I quickly saw that I had learned everything I needed to know about this industry in the two years I’d been in my role, and I wanted to be prepared for what was next.

I was getting paid, so I had the extra money to support the investment. Sadly, the company had no learning stipend, and even though some of the courses had an impact on my current position, they balked at paying even a portion of the cost.

And, I footed the bill.

This isn’t the case for everyone; sometimes, we need to bite the bullet and invest a little bit in ourselves to advance our learning.

Why? Because in today’s market, we always need to be learning to keep ahead of the curve. This is true especially when we’ve been laid off or are transitioning into a new industry or career.

Here are 6 ways continuing education is essential for sustainable career development.

Ensuring adaptability in a rapidly changing landscape

As industries evolve in general and with the growth of AI, role requirements will adapt. No, this doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be out of a job! It does mean you need to be ready at the cusp of the “new order” to jump in and bring forward-thinking knowledge to the table.

Finding ways to stay current and ahead of industry trends through learning, even when it’s tough to figure out new ways of working, makes you more versatile and valuable to your current and potential employers.

Don’t know where to start and need some guidance? Check out the programs and platforms linked below to help navigate the wide world of opportunities!

Enhancing skill sets and expertise

What I loved about my certification coursework was how I got to deepen my existing knowledge (I had already gained a boatload of hands-on experience in digital marketing due to my entrepreneurship work) and acquire new skills. I learned quickly data analytics was not for me, added that to my arsenal of self-awareness, and pivoted accordingly… quickly! 😆

Whether through online workshops, full certifications, or advanced degrees, ongoing learning hones expertise and opens doors to new opportunities.

Boosting confidence and professional credibility

Do you feel you’re missing the confidence piece when applying for roles? Investing in a course or certification program will broaden your knowledge and boost your self-dependence, influencing how you present yourself in interviews and tackle challenges in the workplace.

Want to be an expert? Continuous learning allows you to be the go-to subject matter expert (SME) in the room and boosts your professional cred.

Networking and relationship-building

We’ve talked a couple of times about networking here. And participating in continuous learning opportunities is another venue to meet and connect with new people!

When I joined my Co-Active coaching cohort in 2022, I met many like-minded people and lifelong friends. I learn from them and glean some best practices from their work.

We support and champion each other and exchange ideas in our individual areas of expertise. These connections are invaluable to me, and have even provided valuable referrals to my amazing clients!

Staying competitive in the job market

If layoffs over the past few years have been any indication of our current landscape for the foreseeable future, the job market will become increasingly more competitive.

Employers don’t just want the bare minimum when it comes to qualifications! They want you to bring a combo of experience and up-to-date knowledge that will add value and solve their most painful opportunities from day one.

Seeing you’ve invested time into learning a new skill or nabbing a certification in the field will show employers you’re serious about personal and professional development and set you apart from the pack. Now, this is job hunting strategy.

Fulfilling personal and professional aspirations

And then there’s YOU! You may want to learn something new just because you want to learn something new! Wonderful! Take a ceramics class to decompress. That succulent design course your bestie gifted you? Take some time on a Sunday morning to fiddle around with some plants. You may have a life-long goal to learn a language (me too!) or an instrument. Now is the time to begin.

Pursue a passion. Explore a new way of thinking. And see where it all takes you. Ultimately, it can only add to your career journey by making the ride more fulfilling and worthwhile.

Here’s to a year full of personal and professional learning!

🥂 nicole:)

At-the-ready Learning Platforms & Resources

Online Learning Platforms

  • Coursera: Offers courses, certificates, and degree programs in collaboration with top universities and organizations

  • edX: Similar to Coursera, providing access to courses from universities worldwide

  • Udacity: Specializes in tech-related courses and nanodegree programs

  • LinkedIn Learning: Provides a wide range of courses on professional development, technology, and creative skills

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

Coding and Tech Learning

  • Codecademy: Interactive coding lessons covering various programming languages

  • FreeCodeCamp: A community-driven platform for learning web development and programming

  • GitHub Learning Lab: Interactive courses on GitHub, perfect for developers and those interested in version control

Professional Certifications and Degrees

Language Learning

  • Duolingo: A popular app for learning languages through gamified lessons

  • italki: One-on-one language tutors

Free University Courses

  • Stanford Online: Free courses from Stanford University, covering various disciplines

  • MIT OpenCourseWare: As mentioned earlier, MIT’s initiative for open access to course materials

Specialized and Industry-specific Platforms

  • DataCamp: Focuses on data science and analytics courses

Community and Skill-Sharing Platforms

  • Meetup: Local and virtual meetups for various interests and skills

  • Stack Overflow: A Q&A community for programmers to learn and share knowledge

  • Reddit: Various subreddits dedicated to learning and skill development

Nicole Flowers Consulting
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