The best thing you can do for your career and professional development is to keep growing and learning. And sometimes, this may involve picking up new skills that will help you stand out from the crowd of people looking for a similar job.
The great news is that you don’t have to go back to school or even find a mentor to learn new skills. In today’s day and age, it’s easy to find online classes and teachers ready to help you increase your knowledge and improve your skill set.
This means you can take your time and learn at your own rhythm. So, if you only have time in the evening, after work, or on the weekend, you can still make progress and grow.
In fact, here are four skills you can easily pick up with constant practice during the weekend:
1. Basic Coding
Computers and mobile devices are here to stay (and probably evolve), so people with coding skills are quite valuable for various companies. And even if you don’t plan on becoming a programmer, basic coding skills can still help you gain a better understanding of how different systems and software tools work.
Plus, once you understand how computers think and how the software works in the background, you may want to take it one step further and become a developer. It seems difficult at first, but once you get over the initial challenges, it’s a lot easier.
2. Learn a Foreign Language
Due to the fast development of the internet and communication, we are now an international society (regardless of what neigh-sayers want you to believe). But data shows we tend to become a global society in the near future.
Therefore, it doesn’t hurt to learn a second language or add another language to your repertoire. We suggest learning German because many German companies have subsidiaries and do business in the US (and vice-versa).
You can find German teachers for all levels online, and it’s easy to establish a rhythm that works for you. Also, once you gain some confidence, you can practice your skills with other students and work on your conversation.
3. Data Analysis and Statistics
Regardless of your field of work, the decision-makers need to use data (preferably real-time) to understand their customers, assess the state of the market, and make decisions about growth.
However, raw, unfiltered data is impossible to understand without having someone process it and arrange it in models that make sense. For this, you’ll need people with data analysis and statistics skills.
So, if you want job security and freedom to choose the companies and projects you like, it pays to learn how to deal with data.
4. Project Management
If you like communicating with people and your teammates see you as a good organizer and leader, you may have what it takes to make the step up to project management. However, it’s important to know that a good project manager makes use of a wide range of skills that need to be constantly sharpened and honed.
Still, if you feel you can be a reliable project manager, you don’t have to worry about job security anymore. The skills you learn for and on the job are transferable in almost any industry, so you can easily change employers and fields.
5. Get Educated
It’s important to invest in your own education and Wilkes University is the perfect place to do so. Whether you choose to pursue a degree, take individual classes or engage in continuing education, Wilkes can give you the opportunity to develop new skills, expand on existing ones and make yourself more marketable within your field. With Wilkes’ flexible schedule options that include online courses, evening classes and weekend sessions as well as convenient location near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania it is easier than ever for adults balancing work, family and other obligations to take control of their future.
Wrap Up
The more skills you pick up, the better chances you get at becoming a more valuable employee. However, make sure you focus on skills that truly add to your future, and try not to take on too many at a time. Learning is fun, but you also need time to unwind and relax to live a healthy and well-balanced life.