We’re officially more than halfway through the year (literally how?), and that means one of two things: 1) It’s been approximately four months since I ditched my New Year’s resolution to be a fit girlie and 2) I’m losing some steam on my career goals. Not that things are bad, per se, but after a few months of trucking along toward those lofty goals I set at the beginning of the year, I’m feeling my usual, mid-year need to rebrand, set new work goals, and reassess who I want to be to finish out this next half of the year.
My biggest grief with goal setting when it comes to my career is that I want to do it all. But with the constraint of time, money, and my attention span that is short-lived at even the smallest mention of The Vampire Diaries or people-watching on the Chicago Lakefront, I’m trying to get the biggest bang for my time and financial buck as possible. Enter Skillshare, my best-kept hack for making moves toward a career in the most streamlined way possible.
Skillshare is an affordable, online learning community where members come together to take the next step in their creative journey. It helps learners experience real improvement with hands-on projects and classes designed for real life, from building a UX portfolio to starting a side hustle to resume-building and beyond, no matter where your starting point is. Plus, if you join today, you can get one month free. If you’re looking for an attainable way to make moves in your career by next week, look no further: There’s a Skillshare class with your name on it.
1. Become an expert in the technology your company uses
I don’t care what anyone says; there’s no question in life quite as daunting as the ever-loaded Are you proficient in Excel? bit. Sure, I can add the sum of items in a column and pull an occasional average, but if I answer yes to that question, I’m straight up lying to you. Whether you want to brush up on knowledge you already have or start from scratch, Skillshare has tons of courses on technology your company likely uses so you can become a master and take your application knowledge to the next level. Whether you want to finally get a grip on Excel, master Microsoft Teams, get your life together on Asana, or wow your coworkers with Zoom hacks, Skillshare has a class that has your back.
2. Brush up on data analytics to drive new ideas and processes
If there’s one game-changing piece of advice I could give to anyone after a dabbling in three careers as an adult, it’s that data is king. Pulling data, sorting data, analyzing it, and using that information to drive best practices and new ideas moving forward is a skill that’s unmatched in the workplace and will serve you no matter what field you’re in. If you’re not a numbers person (I am with you on this one), don’t fret. Skillshare has plenty of classes from intro to expert that can help you make sense of the numbers once and for all. From Marketing Analytics Fundamentals to social media analytics like Pinterest and Instagram to Google Analytics and beyond, Skillshare has a bunch of resources that can make the all-intimidating data analysis a whole lot more accessible.
Source: Windows | Unsplash
3. Channel your inner-graphic designer
Whether you’re already a wiz in Photoshop or you are still editing your pictures in the Instagram app (no shame in that game), there is such an opportunity for workplace growth in graphic design. Graphic design can help your company or business gain visibility externally, help communicate ideas internally, and can take your projects to the next level. And if you’re looking to level up your graphic design game with Skillshare, they have plenty of courses surrounding a plethora of design tools like Canva, Photoshop, Illustrator, and UX design—take your pick and watch the magic happen.
4. Refine your problem-solving skills
If there’s one constant amongst fields of study, it’s that problems will always arise, no matter how streamlined your processes are. From disagreements among coworkers to finding a better way to communicate a product to your customer, problem solving is one of the most valuable skills you can equip yourself with. And even if you feel like your way of solving issues works, why not take things up a notch and help yourself tackle your work with a new perspective? Skillshare offers courses that can help you think critically, approach issues in a different way, become a better listener, and use creativity to adapt in your workplace. If there’s ever been a tool for the ever-evolving workplace, Skillshare is it.
Source: ColorJoy Stock
5. Become a master networker
Making, maintaining, and using connections in the workforce are invaluable skills that will lead your interactions in the workforce and beyond. Instead of just winging your next networking opportunity, opt for a strategy-based approach that actually works. On Skillshare, there are a plethora of courses on best practices for connecting with others while staying true to yourself—from using LinkedIn to find, develop, and nurture relationships to tackling networking as an introvert and beyond, building your networking skills can help you find mentors, make mutual business connections, and be top of mind for future opportunities.
6. Make moves toward launching a side hustle
Turning a hobby into a side hustle can be one of the most daunting tasks of all time, and if you’re looking for a place to start, look no further than Skillshare. Here, you can build out your own, personalized curriculum of courses that can help you fill in the gaps as you move your next big idea from your brain to reality. On Skillshare, you can find courses for launching a successful side hustle, building a side-hustle toolkit, pricing work as a freelancer, nailing your personal branding, and more.
Source: Ron Lach | Pexels
7. Work on your ability to give and receive feedback
Giving and receiving feedback is one of the most underrated ways to improve performance and become a leader within your field. If you’re one of those people who feels a rise in anxiety when a negative, performance-related comment comes your way (guilty as charged) or if you struggle to provide feedback to those you work with, it might be time to give some attention to how you view, receive, and provide commentary in your field. If you’re ready to build this skillset, check out Modern Leadership: Give & Get Honest Feedback at Work on Skillshare.
8. Improve your negotiation skills
Love it or hate it, negotiation is a crucial aspect of your work, whether it be closing on a sales deal or advocating for a higher salary in your role. As with most workplace skills, negotiation is an art that can improve and become more powerful with attention and practice. With Skillshare, you can find courses like Salary Negotiation Masterclass: Get the Offer You Deserve to help you advocate for yourself and outline a conversation with your boss and the Sales Skills And Negotiation Skills Masterclass to help you master sales skills, strategies, and techniques.
Source: ColorJoy Stock
9. Update your resume to be prepared for new opportunities
Even if you’re not looking for a new job, you should be updating your resume at least twice a year. And while it can be easy to put off, keeping your resume up-to-date with pivotal projects, promotions, and accomplishments will be a “thank yourself later” moment if a new opportunity arises out of the woodwork. When a recruiter calls with your dream opportunity or that company you’ve been eyeing for years finally has an opening, the last thing you want to be doing is scrambling to update a resume that hasn’t been updated in three years. If it’s been a minute since you’ve updated your resume, be sure to check out How to Write a Winning Resume and Land Your Dream Job and Recruiter Reveals CV (Resume) Writing Formula on SkillShare.
10. Become proficient in public speaking
If there’s one award I’m most favored to win in life, it’s “Most Likely to Freeze Up and Have an Existential Crisis while Public Speaking.” It’s a skill that’s been on my radar to improve on for far too long, and if there’s one class I’m running—not walking—to on Skillshare, it’s Intro to Public Speaking – Give a 5-Minute Talk Without Dying. If you’re looking to improve the way that you communicate to your team, to large groups, or even on one-on-ones to your boss, Skillshare has plenty of resources to help you eloquently and confidently present in work and in life.
