Posts published on February 10, 2017

Why Lifelong Learning Is More Important Than Ever

BY SYLVIA KOHL

 

It’s no secret that the models of work and education have changed. Your parents probably spent their youth learning and then perfected their craft at the same job for the rest of their working life. That linear progression simply doesn’t exist now. The world changes faster and your ability to adapt is a valuable asset.

Here are some of the reasons you should never stop learning.

Industries Change Fast

Companies are now more focused on disruption than preservation. Every firm in every industry faces the risk of being disrupted out of existence by technology or political uncertainty. Professionals have been feeling less confident about their job security since the global financial meltdown.

The only way to be secure in your career is by developing human capital.By expanding your skillset you can create your own opportunities even as the economy shifts.

Work Is Competitive

Getting employment and staying employed is more competitive than ever before. Corporate recruiters received 250 applications on average for every job opening. There’s a lot of people competing for a piece of the limited pie. This makes it important that you stand out from the crowd by offering unique and value skills.

You Need To Stay Updated

Rules and regulations tend to change faster than industry circumstances. Every year there are new laws passed for specific industries and new codes of practice for qualified professionals. Finance, legal, and marketing professionals need to stay ahead of the curve and be updated with the latest trends. A quick professional workshop or management courses could offer you a way to learn about the latest developments and master useful techniques to advance your career.

It Helps Keep Your Mind Sharp

Finally, the best reason for you to be a lifelong learner is that it keeps your mind sharp. Much of what you learn in college and university isn’t practiced regularly enough. After years of working in an industry, you get used to doing things a certain way and struggle to look at challenges with a fresh perspective. Besides, research indicates that trying to learn something new is the best way to retain mental abilities and fight cognitive decline as you get older.

Perceptual learning will help you break free from bad habits and bureaucracy. By taking the time to learn something new you can look at the same issues from a unique angle.

An investment in yourself is probably the best invest you could make. Find time to learn something new or find a course that helps you advance your career and ambitions. By constantly reinventing yourself you can keep creating value for your clients or employers. In a fast-paced world with an unpredictable economy, the only way to survive is to adapt. Regardless of your industry, it’s important for you to be a lifelong learner.

Sylvia Kohl is an IT teacher with more than 8 years of professional experience. Her main spheres of interest are e-education and she convinced that learning process doesn’t stop after years in school and university.