The world keeps changing - new job roles evolve, and existing job roles diversify. You need to keep changing direction, adding to your skills, building your awareness, networking, gaining new knowledge, work experience, and so on. In the previous chapter, the importance of developing your people skills and your complementary skills was highlighted, but this does not stop when you get a job. Life should always be an ongoing process of change and development, and this translates into your work life. 

The things that affect availability and nature of work will always change influenced by technological changes, economics, politics and even wars or pandemics. Every change brings new opportunities at the same time as extinguishing old opportunities.

To stay viable as a business owner, or employee YOU NEED TO KEEP DEVELOPING YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.

How do you continue to improve your skills and knowledge? There are many options.

Education 
There are many different ways you can educate yourself. Often people think that attaining a particular qualification will guarantee them a successful career. This is not necessarily the case. You may need to spend time working under the tutelage of an expert, you may need to undergo specialist training, or you may need to spend time volunteering to gain further experience. Whichever way, gaining a qualification is a great first step, but you may need to think creatively to snare the job of your dreams. 

Learning can come from completing formal courses or attending informal in-house training within your job. Other options can include training with an external agency or taking a course outside of work.  Some jobs require people to continually update their training and knowledge. For example, some jobs require employees to add to their Continuing Professional Development points in order to keep their position.  For some people, this may involve short training courses, whilst for others it may involve embarking on courses that take several years to complete.  

Networking
This means building up the contacts you have in industry. You are encouraged to get involved. Success often comes from who you know, just as much as (if not more than) what you know.

Join organisations, volunteer, get experience, attend seminars, meetings, shows/exhibitions, connect with other people in the industry, immerse yourself in relevant social media groups. Do all these things - but in balance. Too much of one thing and neglect of others, does not work. Be aware of how you are spending your time, and what activities are productive (hint: spending hours looking at other people’s pictures on social media and thinking that what they are doing is better than what you are doing is NOT productive!)

Development
Development is also important. Development is not quite the same as training, but does involve you improving on your existing skills and knowledge.  For example, Jay is a manager of a day service for adults with learning disabilities, Jean is her assistant manager. Jay wishes to be promoted and for Jean to take her place as manager but recognises that there are some areas of management that Jean is not skilled at.  Jay devises a development plan to ensure that Jean nurtures the skills and knowledge she needs to succeed. For example, this may involve skills such as chairing a meeting, taking notes, preparing a report, taking a staff development review, etc. All of these skills can be developed under Jay’s guidance and ensure that Jean develops the skills that she is currently lacking or needs to improve upon.

Keep Yourself Informed
Reading journals, textbooks, websites and newsletters to keep up to date with your knowledge can also be important. Many professions will have different journals specific for their industry, but it can also be useful to read around your own profession to keep up to date and knowledgeable.   People who read local publications can also gain more useful knowledge.  For example, a person working in marketing may read in the news about some changes in holiday trends and use that to develop a marketing campaign targeting the people interested in the new trend.   

Join an Organisation
Does your industry have an association or institute you can join? Associations are a great way to give you professional credibility, make connections, and gain insurance. Belonging to an association can also help you stay informed about any industry changes that might affect you, and keep you notified about professional development courses in your area.

Other Work Experience
Gaining other work experience can also be beneficial to your career. Different careers and work positions have different requirements and encourage employees to do different things. Often skills you learn in one job can be transferred to other jobs. For example working as a waitress may allow you to develop skills relating to interacting with a wide range of people, which can then be used in a role as a nurse. Many job advertisements will look for skills in customer service, even if the job is not a “typical” customer service type position. So gaining work experience in other areas can help improve our job prospects AND our skills and knowledge. 

Having experience on your resume, even if it isn’t strictly related to your chosen career shows potential employers that you are capable, reliable and responsible.

Develop Your Communication Skills
It is true in most industries, and certainly true in industries where you work with people, that communication skills are vital. Being able to communicate well means being able to deliver messages successfully as well as being able to understand messages that are being received. A simple tip towards establishing good communication skills is to seek and give clarification when dealing with others. This helps to make sure the message has been understood in the same way from both the deliverer and the receiver. 

Developing good communication skills is related to developing good interpersonal skills. Sometimes you will achieve more success in your career because people like you, rather than because you are excellent at your job.

Voluntary Work
Voluntary work is another way in which we can gain other work experience.  Many people will not have the time to do voluntary work in addition to their current role, but it can be helpful if they do. Also, if you do not have a job, then voluntary work can be a good way to get new skills and knowledge. Connecting with an organisation in a voluntary capacity also means that if they like you, when a paid position comes up they will think of you first.  

For example, Sam has just completed a degree in forensics, but is unable to find suitable work, so he looks for voluntary work in the area, whilst working four days a week in a shop. Through his voluntary work, he is able to gain useful work experience, keep his skills updated and have something good to put on his resume/curriculum vitae.  Through the voluntary work, he is also considered for paid employment opportunities and eventually finds paid employment.

Comment from ACS principal John Mason

...  based on 6 decades in the workforce:

"Never stop learning. Try to study a new course every year, and stay in touch with the world by watching the news every day. Many of the courses on this web site provide a great opportunity to learn something new, so take a few minutes to scan what's on offer"