Are you bored and ready to move on? Do you feel stuck in a low-paying job? Are you ready to move into a higher position? Or do you have limited options because of your current skills and experience?
I realized the other day, that many people are stuck in jobs that they’re unsatisfied with, but are unsure of how to change their situation. As a result, plenty of people feel like they have no options. But I want to challenge that notion today.
In the past, it seemed like the best way to get ahead or have a different life required a college degree. Today, that’s no longer true. Now I’m not knocking a college degree, I have one myself and I’m proud of it. But that’s not for everyone, and it can be costly and take a long time. You see where I’m going with this?
To add to it, the job market isn’t always friendly to those of us who want to get out of a rut and make a change. I’ll admit, I’m still on my own journey in my new career field. But I am making progress and taking steps, so that when the opportunity comes – I’m ready.
However, this post isn’t about me – it’s about you. The truth is, the world has changed and now there are more options than ever to learn new skills for advancing or changing careers. Online certifications and courses abound. And, of course, there are still in-person courses too. Apprenticeships are great because you can get hands-on experience. College and continuing education courses might still be right for some – depending on the field you choose. And don’t forget about bootcamps – which can be intense, but usually provide more hands-on training in a short period of time.
Let’s not ignore the fact that affordability plays a role too. But there are plenty of truly affordable ways to get educated or certified these days. Many programs and online learning courses offer month-to-month payment options if you don’t want to pay for a whole year in advance.
What will help you get that next job? Think about what it will take to advance your career. You might find that you benefit from simply taking an online course or learning a commonly used company software. That might qualify you to help on the next project or make you stand out from the crowd.
BTW, I’m not just talking about office jobs. Expanding your skill set can benefit anyone seeking something better. What job do you think you could do if you only had some additional training? What’s the logical next step? What if you don’t know what you should do? Then it’s time to do some research. 😉 Make time for it. The next time you’re endlessly scrolling social media or the internet, think about how you could be advancing your career. You might even be surprised at how quickly you can add some new skills to your resume.
So, let’s take a moment to address the elephant in the room – this might not be the thing you are passionate about – you know, the thing you dreamed of doing your whole life. We’re talking about a possible better life here, where you move the needle forward. Sometimes that comes in smaller steps – be prepared to be okay with that.
But what if you fail? What if you can’t complete the course or can’t afford the education you want? That’s a real possibility. You have to search your heart and pray for answers on this one. Because at times, that’s a sign that you need to go a different direction. At other times, you might need to push through till you succeed (with help if needed). 😊
Most likely, this won’t be easy. Often, it’s not and things don’t always go as planned. I’m sure you won’t regret the decision to grow in this way. I believe that learning something new can help you build the confidence to walk towards a brighter future.
I encourage you to keep learning, keep growing. Eventually, a door will open. I believe that God sees and rewards our honest efforts. So be realistic, but be hopeful too.
I didn’t want to end this post without listing some of my favorite websites for online learning. Udemy (wait for a sale!) and Coursera are primary sources for me. I also want to mention DataCamp for learning technology and Maven Analytics for data analysts. I also do a lot of learning online from YouTube videos and I’m subscribed to some favorites there too. Comment below if you would like me to list them!
Till next time – happy learning! 🎓📖🍎