Blog

Life Long Learning Necessary for Your Career

July 5, 2016
E.V. Thompson

Today, both employees and employers must adopt a lifelong commitment to skill development. However, neither can do it alone. To remain attractive to potential talent and to retain good employees, companies should make learning accessible through educational tools and resources..

At the same time, employees need to take charge of their own careers and challenge themselves to continue to grow and master skills that help them become top performers.

Staying Relevant

Career growth and job security depend upon ones ability to stay relevant. Until recently, it was easy to feel optimistic that we’d all be able to hang on with our existing skill sets. 

But now, there’s a growing “ambition gap” between individuals who take proactive steps to keep up with the fast rate of workplace change and those who hope they can make it to retirement with their current skill set.
-- Katie Galarza, Human Resources Manager, Lemberg

But now, there’s a growing “ambition gap” between individuals who take proactive steps to keep up with the fast rate of workplace change and those who hope they can make it to retirement with their current skill set.

Filling the Ambition Gap with Options

So how do we fill the gap? Classes offered at local technical colleges or at the local library are traditional options. Employers may even offer skill-enhancing workshops on-site.

“Learning is still very much a place-based thing,” says Pew researcher John Horrigan. "The internet plays a role, but it's secondary in most respects."

Technology is expanding the options for learning each year, quickly making online learning a channel of choice.  Take a look at the latest statistics from Pew Research Center, March 2016.

  • Distance learning -- 61% of adults have little or no awareness of this concept.
  • The Khan Academy -- provides video lessons for students on key concepts in things such as math, science, the humanities and languages – 79% of adults do not have much awareness of it
  • Massive open online courses(MOOCs), now being offered by universities and companies – 80% of adults do not have much awareness of these.
  • Digital badges that can certify if someone has mastered an idea or a skill – 83% of adults do not have much awareness of these. (Pew Research Center March 2016)

Dissolving Barriers

With technology at our fingertips, the education is more accessible, more cost effective and more convenient than ever before. For both employers and employees, barriers are being dissolved, but it takes effort on both parts.  Here is a list of top-rated free on-line resources.

Challenge!

No matter what channel is used to engage, employers and employees alike must rise to the challenge of relevance. How will YOU challenge yourself this month?

Let us know in the comment box below!

Katie Galarza is the Human Resources Manager at Lemberg. Ms. Galarza has a rich background in business, especially international business and recruitment.