How to Improve Your Career: A Digital Focus
This article was written by one of our amazing contributors! Content may include promotional links.
There are workshops on how to improve your career in many different ways. Learn how to create the perfect resume, learn how to improve your interviewing skills, and then they get more detailed, right up to university level courses that allow you to learn and acquire the formal qualifications you need to progress.
What people fail to remember is that all of these can be done online. You can use digital resources to learn on your own, can even use social media to keep up to date with the news in a format that you are familiar with, and of course, you can now take entire degrees online and at your own pace.
To use this knowledge to advance your career, however, you will want to reinforce what you have learned by building up a community of your own. Through the power of social media, you can become a thought leader in your industry, all while reaffirming what you have learned.
To help you get started on using digital tools and then building up a great online presence that will help solidify your knowledge and put you as one of the best in your field, follow this guide:
Digital Tools to Improve Your Career
There are plenty of digital tools to help you improve your career. From online degrees to social media, here is how you can use the power of the tech you already own to further your dreams:
Further Your Qualifications with an Online Degree
The most significant change to formal education is the adoption of online learning. This means that those in high profile careers like engineering don’t have to take time off work to gain further qualifications. You can work and study all at the same time by merely relying on digital tools that you can access directly from your phone if needs be.
When choosing an online degree, remember to opt for something practical-based, like this online Masters in Engineering Management which can be completed in as little as a year. If your career is demanding, no worries, take your time, and take longer to achieve your degree. There is no rush when it comes to juggling so much on your plate.
Another thing to look for with online degrees is if you can take advantage of the course structure. For example, by taking four extra courses of your MA in Engineering Management, you can also walk away with an MBA. This, in turn, will make you qualified for high-level managerial positions that earn $130,000 per year or more.
Subscribe to Industry-Relevant News
Industry-relevant news can be found in regular newspapers, but if you want in-depth insight, it’s time to invest in subscriptions to the best magazines and newspapers in your industry. This is how you stay up to date with all the changes, trends, and innovations in your career.
Invest in Academic Journals
One other benefit of subscribing to industry-relevant news is that you can also keep track of studies. By investigating further into new research, you can expand your knowledge and give your career an edge.
You can subscribe directly to these academic journals, or, if the cost is too high right now, you can try to contact one of the author’s directly for a copy or use browser extensions to find free copies online.
Watch Lectures and Talks
The higher up the career chain you go, the more leadership and managerial skills are required. You can brush up on these skills and try out new tactics by watching lectures or talks, as this topic is explained in-depth online and often for free.
Building Up a Digital Platform
While you commit to this life of learning, it’s time to consider how you can solidify what you have learned all the while situating yourself as a leader in your industry. One of the best and easiest ways to do that is by building up a digital platform of your own.
Start Your Own Website
It all starts with a website. This is where you will create high-quality, niche articles, and other content for people in your industry. Don’t worry about what you write not being ideal for the everyday reader. You don’t need the everyday reader. Niche websites consistently perform better than a generic site trying to appeal to everyone. You have less competition as a niche website and can actually build up a list of great contacts in your industry.
Start Social Media Profiles
Social media and STEM-based careers like engineering don’t always go hand-in-hand, but you need to remember that a lot of people nowadays use social media to get news. By creating a series of great graphics, pull-quotes, and even using high-quality images, you can build up a following. Just remember to keep it educational and put in more information in the caption.
Combine this approach with traditional social media marketing tactics, and eventually, you will be able to build up a thriving community that will expand your reach and brings in plenty of organic traffic.
How to User Your Digital Presence to Further Your Career
Other great tips to help you further your career by making use of your digital platform include:
Take Your Expertise to the Real World
You can create some great relationships online through social media, so put that trait to good use for your career. For example, if someone you follow organizes events in your industry, start building up a rapport with them. If you are lucky, they will invite you to speak on their own, if not don’t be afraid to ask for a position.
Tip: If you want to organize your own talks, consider starting a podcast first. This will give you practice and let you build up a unique approach before taking it to a real-world setting.
Use Your Following to Obtain Better Positions
The point of building up a following of people in your industry is that it will put your name out there. You will then have a reputation of authority and expertise, which you can use to acquire new positions, secure promotions, and jetpack your career forward. Improving your career is a never-ending process because the act of improving yourself is a lifelong commitment. By putting what you know to great use, and building up a digital platform, you can prove you have the knowledge and skills, all the while putting your name out there and building up a reputation within your industry that will help you apply for better jobs and promotions.