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Career / The Ultimate Career Guide

How to Start Learning at Work and Manage All Other Tasks (Career Resource No. 10)

February 14, 2022
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Let’s face it: it has never been easier to learn something new! With all the online access to thousands of courses, you can upgrade your skills in almost any domain. Moreover, you can acquire certifications and improve your career. But despite the well-known advantages of learning, many employees are reluctant to start learning something new. Be it because it takes time from their actual job or because they feel overwhelmed. Others acknowledge the impact of learning at work but have no idea where to start. No matter to where you stand, to develop your career, you have to take advantage of learning opportunities. This article will give you the best evidence-based tools to start learning more and manage all work tasks. 

Why learning at work is a MUST for your career success 

How many of us had to learn a ton of new things in the past two years? Learn to work from home, learn how to use new programs to enable remote team collaboration, the list goes on. We had to learn because we had to adapt. Thus, because of the need to adapt to an ever-changing environment, learning MUST be part of your daily work-life. Moreover, given the continuous technological disruptions, learning becomes the asset that will help you navigate and secure your career success. 

In fact, studies found that learning is an essential for career adaptability – a set of skills that makes you ready for the future job market. People who focus on constantly improving their skills by learning are more likely to get higher pay. Moreover, when you are in constant development you more satisfied with your career.

Additionally, getting certified in a new area is a top-class career move. The more you know, the better you CV and the higher your employability. With more skills you have, you have the freedom to tailor your career the way you want! Plus you become less replaceable as a job candidate.

For example, if your current job does not align with your career goals, learning a new skill or getting certified for new expertise can allow you to quit your current role for something that aligns with your career goals and help your professional dreams come true.  

Am I investing enough time in learning? 

If you already started investing time in learning, you are one step ahead the majority! However, if you are unsure about your progress, reflecting on the following points can help you understand where you stand:  

  • You use every opportunity to get more professional knowledge. 
  • You are developing your work-related skills on a regular basis. 
  • You make sure your abilities and knowledge are up to date with your goals and/or job requirements. 

If you are a student, these questions can help you understand which steps you need to take in order to develop in the career direction you want! 

How to start learning more (and manage all other work-related tasks) 

Starting is probably the hardest thing to do when it comes to long-term goals. However, consistency is key. If you are unsure about where to start, here are 3 tips:  

1. Do your research  

Having a large choice of courses and trainings can sometimes feel as overwhelming as not knowing where to start. First you need to know what specific skill you would like to develop. Make a list of things you want to learn and start googling. There are thousands of (free) courses out there for all tastes. Even though learning new hobbies is always nice, try to also focus on learning skills that are useful for your career.

If you are a student, check the career services of your university! They may offer free courses on a variety of topics – presentation skills, negotiation skills, interview tips – you name it! 

2. Devise a plan and stay consistent 

Say you have set your goal to improve a specific skill. Now you need to dedicate enough time for learning by blocking time in your calendar for this specific activity. Consider it an investment in your future. This will help you keep consistent and with your eyes on the prize.  

3. Get the support you need 

Your manager or HR specialist can help you choose (and even pay for!!) a relevant course for your career. Head to our article on career support to find the exact steps on how to get the support for your learning and career development.

Get the support you always wanted

We know that sometimes, small actions of reflection like the ones we suggest in this article, quickly slip our mind and before we know it, we forget about them altogether. If you need an occasional reminder, follow us on our Instagram and Facebook page – we use it as an interactive way to help each other implement the advice we suggest in our blog posts. And we love to hear about your experiences and thoughts!

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This post is based on the following sources and academic articles

Hirschi, A. (2012). The career resources model: an integrative framework for career counsellors. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 40(4), 369–383.

Hirschi, A., Nagy, N., Baumeler, F., Johnston, C. S., & Spurk, D. (2018). Assessing key predictors of career success: Development and validation of the career resources questionnaire. Journal of Career Assessment, 26(2), 338–358. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072717695584