Career Development

The Power of Continuous Learning

Anyone with a job today must keep up with the changing environment or lose out. It was not always this way. There was a time when change was slow. A person could learn how to perform a task, and then they would perform their work over and over without ever having to learn new ideas or concepts.

Those days are long gone. Continuous learning is part and parcel of the current and future job market. There is no turning back. In fact, the pace of learning will only accelerate.

This post will examine the principles of continuous learning, its effect on jobs, how to stay ahead of that ever-changing curve, and how the pace of change permeates every aspect of the workplace.

WHAT IS CONTINUOUS LEARNING?

It is a process of continually updating your specific knowledge related to your employment. It never ends. Unlike a semester in high school or college, there is no end point. You do not get a grade and then relax for the next round of classes.

What was current yesterday may not be valid today or tomorrow. An employee can never rest on their laurels. Sometimes the employer provides the information in the form of a text, email, or brochure. Other times there are mandatory videos to watch.

Then there is just the process of learning from doing. The actual process of working constantly provides new ideas. Each day an employee should learn new information from many sources, and then he or she applies it to the task at hand.

HOW DOES THIS LEARNING AFFECT THE JOB MARKET?

There are two parts to this question. One is the hiring aspect of the market, and the other is the retention and promotion of the job once hired.

Any person applying for a job is going to be asked about their experience in the type of employment they are seeking. That is where continuous learning comes into play. A prospective employee should have the latest available information about the job.

This data can come from the employer’s website, reputable online sources, and any other reliable point of information. You can impress that hiring person at the interview with your up-to-date knowledge of the industry and the specific business.

The second part relates to keeping and improving your job status. Without continuous learning, an employee is in danger of being left behind. Other employees will get promotions and bonuses. Eventually, failure to learn will result in the loss of a job.

Keep up with continuous learning. Do not let your co-workers pass you by.


WILL THIS LEARNING RESULT IN A BETTER JOB?

The answer should be obvious by now. Continuous learning is all about getting and retaining that good job. The better jobs go to the employees who know how their company operates.

They also are seeking to take any job training seriously. If a firm wants workers to watch videos, and pay them to do so, then it must be important. Figure out where that information can be used to get ahead in today’s job market.

KEEPING YOUR CURRENT JOB BY STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE

The curve will continually change. An employee must stay even with the curve if they are going to remain relevant. But what does stand ahead of the curve means?

It simply relates to always being one or more steps ahead of the latest moves of the curve. That requires continual thought and planning. You cannot sit and back and let things happen. Every day is something new. Modern work is an ever-ending challenge.

How do you do this? If it was simple, everyone would do it without much thought or work. It requires a never-ending thought process. You can never assume anything. Try to envision that learning curve. Stay ahead of it. Be inventive and resourceful.

While all of this is helpful, the ultimate advice must come from the individual. Do not rely on anyone else. That does not mean rejected advice. It means making all your own decisions.

In the end you may end up changing jobs or careers. That is part and parcel of a changing world. Businesses that flourished in the recent past may go out of business. Other new entries burst onto the scene. It is all about an ever-changing workplace.

IS RELEVANT A SUBJECTIVE TERM?

Relevant is best described as being closely related to what is happening. In this case it is the workplace. In other words, it is not only truthful, but meaningful.

So, when the title speaks to staying relevant, it means keeping up with the changes in the workplace. Those changes are happening faster than ever. There is no reason to believe they will slow down in the near or distant future.

In fact, staying relevant is becoming harder than ever. It is not subjective. It is clear. It is a necessity for anyone wanting to become a force in the workplace. There is no other way to describe it.

HOW FAST IS THE WORLD REALLY CHANGING?

The world is changing faster than anyone can imagine. The only way to comprehend the pace of change is to step back from a job, if even for a moment or two. Then consider what working was like just 10 years ago.

Then think about those changes doubling or more over the next 10 years. It seems beyond comprehension. The only way to keep up is continuous learning. Never stop or you will be left behind.

The purpose of this post is to emphasize the fact that continuous learning is a necessity in a world that seems to be spiraling out of control. What was taken for granted in the business world can no longer be counted upon.

The lesson should be clear. Learn all you can for as long as you can. Your job, your career, and your livelihood will depend upon it. There will always be a place for the person who stays ahead of the game.

Anyone with a job today must keep up with the changing environment or lose out. It was not always this way. There was a time when change was slow. A person could learn how to perform a task, and then they would perform their work over and over without ever having to learn new ideas or concepts.

Those days are long gone. Continuous learning is part and parcel of the current and future job market. There is no turning back. In fact, the pace of learning will only accelerate.

This post will examine the principles of continuous learning, its effect on jobs, how to stay ahead of that ever-changing curve, and how the pace of change permeates every aspect of the workplace.

WHAT IS CONTINUOUS LEARNING?

It is a process of continually updating your specific knowledge related to your employment. It never ends. Unlike a semester in high school or college, there is no end point. You do not get a grade and then relax for the next round of classes.

What was current yesterday may not be valid today or tomorrow. An employee can never rest on their laurels. Sometimes the employer provides the information in the form of a text, email, or brochure. Other times there are mandatory videos to watch.

Then there is just the process of learning from doing. The actual process of working constantly provides new ideas. Each day an employee should learn new information from many sources, and then he or she applies it to the task at hand.

HOW DOES THIS LEARNING AFFECT THE JOB MARKET?

There are two parts to this question. One is the hiring aspect of the market, and the other is the retention and promotion of the job once hired.

Any person applying for a job is going to be asked about their experience in the type of employment they are seeking. That is where continuous learning comes into play. A prospective employee should have the latest available information about the job.

This data can come from the employer’s website, reputable online sources, and any other reliable point of information. You can impress that hiring person at the interview with your up-to-date knowledge of the industry and the specific business.

The second part relates to keeping and improving your job status. Without continuous learning, an employee is in danger of being left behind. Other employees will get promotions and bonuses. Eventually, failure to learn will result in the loss of a job.

Keep up with continuous learning. Do not let your co-workers pass you by.


WILL THIS LEARNING RESULT IN A BETTER JOB?

The answer should be obvious by now. Continuous learning is all about getting and retaining that good job. The better jobs go to the employees who know how their company operates.

They also are seeking to take any job training seriously. If a firm wants workers to watch videos, and pay them to do so, then it must be important. Figure out where that information can be used to get ahead in today’s job market.

KEEPING YOUR CURRENT JOB BY STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE

The curve will continually change. An employee must stay even with the curve if they are going to remain relevant. But what does stand ahead of the curve means?

It simply relates to always being one or more steps ahead of the latest moves of the curve. That requires continual thought and planning. You cannot sit and back and let things happen. Every day is something new. Modern work is an ever-ending challenge.

How do you do this? If it was simple, everyone would do it without much thought or work. It requires a never-ending thought process. You can never assume anything. Try to envision that learning curve. Stay ahead of it. Be inventive and resourceful.

While all of this is helpful, the ultimate advice must come from the individual. Do not rely on anyone else. That does not mean rejected advice. It means making all your own decisions.

In the end you may end up changing jobs or careers. That is part and parcel of a changing world. Businesses that flourished in the recent past may go out of business. Other new entries burst onto the scene. It is all about an ever-changing workplace.

IS RELEVANT A SUBJECTIVE TERM?

Relevant is best described as being closely related to what is happening. In this case it is the workplace. In other words, it is not only truthful, but meaningful.

So, when the title speaks to staying relevant, it means keeping up with the changes in the workplace. Those changes are happening faster than ever. There is no reason to believe they will slow down in the near or distant future.

In fact, staying relevant is becoming harder than ever. It is not subjective. It is clear. It is a necessity for anyone wanting to become a force in the workplace. There is no other way to describe it.

HOW FAST IS THE WORLD REALLY CHANGING?

The world is changing faster than anyone can imagine. The only way to comprehend the pace of change is to step back from a job, if even for a moment or two. Then consider what working was like just 10 years ago.

Then think about those changes doubling or more over the next 10 years. It seems beyond comprehension. The only way to keep up is continuous learning. Never stop or you will be left behind.

The purpose of this post is to emphasize the fact that continuous learning is a necessity in a world that seems to be spiraling out of control. What was taken for granted in the business world can no longer be counted upon.

The lesson should be clear. Learn all you can for as long as you can. Your job, your career, and your livelihood will depend upon it. There will always be a place for the person who stays ahead of the game.