When Was the Last Time You Updated Your Skills?

July 6, 2017

I often use the term “dated” to refer to clothes, hairstyles, and furniture.  The same term refers to a person who does not update their skills on a regular basis.  The computer has revolutionized society in a major way, yet there are still many individuals who refuse to get with the program.  I remember my first encounter with email when I worked at PNC Bank in Pittsburgh in the mid-1990s.  Our colleagues in Philadelphia had already been using it as a primary communications tool.  On the other hand, we Pittsburgh employees found it very complicated and were still “hooked on telephones.”  In fact, no one had ever told us that we even had an email address or bothered to train us on the system.  One day I received a phone call from a colleague in Philadelphia telling me she had sent me an email a week ago, and I hadn’t responded.  “That’s because I don’t know how to use the email system,” I replied.  “If you need me in the future, just call me on the telephone,” I snobbishly added.

Fortunately, I had no choice but to get with the program very quickly when I left the bank for my next position at Lincoln Financial Group.  They were light years ahead, and email had been a part of the company’s culture for some time.  I can’t imagine living without email today.

Tony, a graphic designer I used for the majority of my marketing projects in Pittsburgh, is an example of someone who refused to update his skills. At one time, he was one of the best graphic designers around, and we spent thousands of dollars with his firm every year.  Back then, every time you needed to make a copy change to a brochure layout or any text change, the type would have to be revised, reprinted, and pasted up to a new design board.  The design board was then sent over to us by a messenger, which cost additional time and money.  Quite frankly, paste-up design boards were inefficient, cumbersome, and time-consuming.

However, when the industry began moving from manual paste-up boards to digital files, Tony refused to update his shop.  My colleagues and I started using other design firms who upgraded their skills and equipment.  Tony eventually lost the majority of our business and ultimately retired as his company was no longer profitable.  Continuously updating your skills allows you to be competitive in the marketplace.

There are many ways to update your skills. As a communications professional, I’ve personally witnessed rapid changes in the industry–especially as it relates to social media and e-marketing.  Last year, I invested in myself and attended a social media conference.  It allowed me to build expertise in this area and provide a strategic offering to my clients.

Another way to update your skills is to volunteer for new projects.  Companies always have a need for someone to spearhead a new project or to serve as part of a project team.  Take advantage of these career opportunities and reap the learning benefits.  You can also pursue a graduate degree at a local college, or attend a workshop on a particular topic.

Updating your skills not only shows ambition on your part, but also gives you the opportunity to practice some new skills in your work environment.

What have you done lately to update your skills?

Just as established products and brands need updating to stay alive and vibrant, you periodically need to refresh or reinvent yourself. 

Mireille Guiliano