How to Stay Relevant in the Technology Field

With technology in a constant state of flux, it’s part of your job as an IT professional to build on your existing skills. This constant, rigorous study will enable you to remain relevant as the sector continues to evolve.

Here are a few ways to stay updated in your field:

1. Join an online class. Classes enable you to learn at your own pace.
2. Network with IT professionals — there are many niche groups that you can join to discuss your specific areas of expertise.
3. Develop relationships with key influencers in your field.
4. Attend workshops and seminars to hone your knowledge.
5. Research reports that are available on vendors’ websites: White papers, ebooks, etc. These are invaluable resources.
6. Monitor IT news.
7. Engage in discussions with subject-matter experts on Experts Exchange. These experts can help you find solutions to your IT problems. Experts Exchange has a library of resources to help you stay on top of technologies.

No matter which option you choose, you must learn to embrace these new technologies rather than be daunted by changes. You can become a recognized leader, increase efficiency, and shift your work culture by discovering and applying new technology to benefit you and your team. Consider how new developments can make work more efficient, organized, and productive. Once you understand the full benefits, new technology becomes a bonus rather than another hurdle to jump.

And while new skills are in demand from employers, remember that tried and tested skills are, too. By keeping skills like JavaScript and Python sharp, you can show the value you offer to an employer. These older, in-demand skills will make you stand out above junior applicants, who might not have your valuable experience.

If you lack confidence in certain subject areas, you can take courses in your free time or find an online resource of certified experts. There, you can learn from their real-life expertise and find new solutions to the IT problems you struggle with most.

Few industries are changing as fast as the tech sector. With each new development, tech is becoming more refined, sophisticated, and sometimes more complex. However, there are many things you can do to keep yourself relevant in the technology field, and it’s easier than you may think. Here are some tips that you can implement.

Stay ahead with new trends

Without keeping up with trends, you can’t keep up with your colleagues or competitors. When you’re up to date, you can see new developments in the technology industry before they take over and quickly identify the new skills you’ll need in the future. 

There are several ways you can stay up to date on trends:

Begin by signing up for newsletters or newsgroups. Alternatively, you could join local networking groups. Sign up to social media feeds and influencer blogs, too. Another way is to look at Google Trends to see what’s gaining traction. Also, sign up for Google notifications to get the latest news straight to your inbox.

Read press releases and newsletters. Press releases about new developments are a great way to find out about what’s new. You’ll find that newsletters often focus on new products, and this makes them a valuable resource for identifying new trends. If you want to learn more about these developments, press officers and Public Relations departments are usually keen to share further information.

Look for industry white papers. These educational, informational documents are a useful resource for finding out about new products and services. White papers also illustrate the potential that new technology developments have to disrupt or transform the industry.

These are just some ways of keeping up with what’s new. When you find an area that interests you, dig deeper and find out more.

Keep your skills up to date

There is always something new to learn. This doesn’t necessarily mean gaining new qualifications. There are plenty of other ways to keep your skills up to date.

One way is to find online resources and discussion groups made up of your peers. These IT experts will have advanced skills that you can benefit from, and they can help you identify which skills you’re most likely to need as technology continues to evolve. These experts can also act as mentors and guides as you work to grasp these new trends and integrate them into your skill set. The more you familiarize yourself with new technologies and learn from the experts, the more opportunity you’ll have to further develop your career.

Besides rigorous study and collaboration, be sure to update your perspective as well. Don’t be afraid to try something new, and encourage yourself to be open to challenges. If you see an opportunity to update your skills, then make the most of it. 

Get some new qualifications

You’re likely to have a degree and relevant qualifications for your job, but you needn’t stop there. Ask yourself what you can do to keep the qualifications you’ve already earned up to date and relevant for today’s IT marketplace.

Although qualifications aren’t everything, they can help you stand out. Continuing your education boosts your resume and shows potential employers that you’re someone who actively pursues learning new things. While qualifications can sometimes mean a significant financial and time investment, this doesn’t always have to be the case. If you have limited time and finances, you can find a resource online, such as an online class, that you can complete in your own time. You’ll find many online resources that offer efficient, affordable ways of increasing your knowledge base.

When you continue to learn and gain qualifications, you not only add value to your career and boost your resume, but you also show that you aren’t afraid to embrace change.

Learn to embrace change

Regardless of the sector you’re in, it’s not unusual to feel daunted by change. However, when you learn to embrace this change, it will go a long way in keeping your skills relevant and making you stand out to your employer — your willingness to adapt is bound to be viewed positively.

Don’t think of technology as something to fear. AI, machine learning, and cloud computing all have enormous potential for your sector and for the way you currently work. Think about how you can harness it to help make you better at your job. How can you use it to become more efficient? More organized and streamlined? By embracing the positives and working with new technology rather than resisting it, your day-to-day work can become easier.

Embracing the latest technology also gives you an added flexibility that your peers may lack, and as an added bonus your leadership may work to chip away negativity or resistance in your work culture.

Demonstrate your expertise

When looking for new challenges, continue to hone the skills you already have. Although upskilling is important, it’s not all about learning something new. Yes, firms are looking for workers who understand AI and deep learning. However, even with major advances in technology, some skills like Java are still highly valued in the workplace and aren’t likely to go out of fashion anytime soon.

According to an article published by CNBC, Python, React, and Angular are among the top 10 most desirable skills for 2020. Jobs that require Python and JavaScript remain hard to fill. If you already have these skills, you can show an employer that your skill set is more relevant than a newcomer to the industry who doesn’t have your experience.

Join an online user community

User communities are a mainstay on the Internet, and they’ve come a long way since their early days. As you may know, when these communities were first launched, they used to focus on website development. But times have changed. Now, you can turn to these groups for support on a wide variety of technology-related issues. 

Not only are these sites useful for finding relevant answers from your IT peers, but they can also help you keep up with trends and techniques.