Jumpstart Your Journey
How to leverage back-to-school season as a working professional.
August, for many, is a month synonymous with the annual “Back-to-School” season. However, even for those not returning to the classroom, the end of summer can serve as a “mental reset”— a reminder to get back to business on your learning and growth. Without a plan in place, valuable opportunities to increase your professional resiliency may pass you by. Whether you're a working professional, a parent of a school-aged child, or a student, leveraging this transition period can set you up for success.
Decide Where to Focus
With an abundance of potential learning opportunities out there, it is important to take some time to define your personal learning goals. Is there a particular skill or credential that would help you grow your career? The first step toward deciding where to put your attention and energy is to establish what you want to achieve.
Your goals don't have to be lofty, but they should be specific, measurable, and attainable. Examples might include becoming more fluent in programming languages for cybersecurity or completing an industry-specific certification.
Set Yourself Up for Success
Effective planning, time management, and risk mitigation are critical skills to have in the workplace environment but translate easily to your learning and development.
While the need for trained project managers is growing faster than the national average, the skills they wield are important for almost everyone. Holding yourself accountable and staying on top of timelines can be made easier by using project management techniques like the Agile methodology which breaks down a project into a series of short cyclical phases, iterating and incorporating lessons learned along the way.
It's important to be flexible and regularly assess your progress. Even if you have setbacks, you should not let them discourage you from continuing to reach your goals.
Consider All Your Options
Don’t be afraid to look for free resources to aid you in your journey. Resources like LinkedIn Learning, YouTube, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are often offered at no or minimal cost and are helpful for both working professionals and students alike.
Georgia Tech Professional Education offers many MOOCs for free in subjects such as computer science, engineering, and business through the edX platform. Also offered is a MicroMasters, which is comprised of three foundational courses from Georgia Tech's interdisciplinary Online Master of Science in Analytics degree and allows students to gain a certificate that demonstrates their deep understanding of in-demand analytics skills. Both options allow you to explore new areas or jumpstart your journey to a degree or other credential.
If you are interested in developing a new skill, a course may be a good option while a certificate program allows you to build deep expertise in a specialized area. It's a longer-term investment, but obtaining an advanced degree still provides a significant return through its ability to advance your career.
Lead by Example
While setting a good example may seem like advice only applicable to those raising school-aged children, it actually applies to everyone with responsibilities and leadership roles.
Strong leaders push themselves and others to be lifetime learners, continually seeking opportunities to grow and develop, eagerly embracing new skills and knowledge. By modeling a curious mindset, leaders can foster a culture of resilience that embraces change and sparks innovation. Empowering the growth in others builds connections and promotes retention, with 70% of employees reporting that learning increases their affinity with the organization.
Create a Network
Building a community of individuals who understand your work and can offer diverse perspectives is advantageous when you want to grow your career or seek assistance with a problem. But what if you work or learn remotely? Creating connections doesn't have to be limited to your current field, learning program, or even geographic location. There are many opportunities to create a valuable network that crosses boundaries.
Many companies have mentorship programs made to foster professional development and career growth. Resources like LinkedIn can allow you to find professionals to connect with or access established communities like Women Who Code. In-person and online/hybrid learning programs often come with built-in communities as well.
For example, Georgia Tech's online and hybrid master's programs have online opportunities where students can network and connect. These communities not only support students during their studies but often evolve into real-world friendships and lifelong networks they can lean on.
Your network may also evolve into mentors, career advisors, or even serve as your own Personal Board of Directors, guiding you on your professional journey.
Don't let the opportunity to reflect on your learning and growth pass you by just because you aren’t in a classroom this year. The strategies often recommended for students are equally valuable for working professionals. By taking advantage of this period to refocus and plan, you can position yourself for long-term success and career resilience.
Scott Cardinal - Digging Data Analytics
