Continuing Education.
As a web designer, there is not career requirement for continuing education, but in the fast-paced world of technology, it is necessary remain up-to-date on the latest and greatest of tech trends in the industry. Much like your beloved tablet or smartphone, a lack of updates quickly renders you obsolete in the industry. Yet I run across many people in the industry in the public sector who become complacent in their knowledge, relying wholeheartedly on their tenure in the structured format of public work to secure their income while providing dated skills.
The most shocking aspect of this lack of interest in further developing one’s skills is the self-assured way many approach projects. Outdated processes being treated as best practices simply do not make sense by reason of “this is how we have always done it.” Especially in terms of fast-paced topics such as technology, communication, and education.
When I mention continuing education, I struggle to believe that is a huge ask given the day and age we live in. You cannot throw a rock without finding a series, webinar, video, or podcast or any given topic. Literally, simply google “UX” or “SEO” or “web design best practices” and you are instantly overwhelmed with the results. The hardest part about continuing education is simply muddling through the good versus bad advice – which is still made easy given that almost any training worth investing time in will have reviews easily available for insight on the curriculum.
Essentially what I am saying is, you cannot tell me that you do not have time to find a training or podcast to listen to on a separate monitor while you work, eat, shower, or play the latest web app craze (I would say Wordle or Words with Friends or Candy Crush, but I think even those trends are dated at this point).
Now you might be asking, or saying, I do not have time to read reviews, or research who to listen to. I hear you, so let me give you a real simple way to figure out how to learn the latest with the least effort – go to the website of the software you use the most (Adobe Photoshop, WordPress, GitHub, etc.) and go to their “Help” section. Inevitably you will find the forums, training videos, and other tools and resources they provide new users, and although you are not new, it behooves them to update their trainings frequently with the latest versions, tools, and updates, so you know you will find not only a refresher course on your software, but the newest information available from the people that make it!
How do I know this? Because these software companies are in the business of selling their products and investing in trainings means interesting current and future clients into buying their software. No, I am not paid by any of the above mentioned – or anyone outside of my current employer, I just simply want to help you. Which, if we ever cross paths in the wild for work related reason, in turn helps me!
Even if it is a little learning at a time, it is truly an investment in your own future. When I recently dragged some colleagues into a new version of some web content, I reminded them that the web is public and serves as a great resume builder reflecting what their program does, and what they can do to represent it publicly. Showing they are current in trends and care about user experience, knowledgable and professional.
Remember kids, as I told my boss, it could be a website about bowel movements, I will always try to make it cute and make it current!
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