The coronavirus pandemic has flipped the modern business world on its head, and nowadays companies need to adopt new operational methods in order to stay afloat. There is no denying that these are trying times for brands around the world and that the success of businesses is very much in question. But we mustn’t forget about the individual either, their career and aspirations, and how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted their ascension to entrepreneurial or managerial success.
Without a doubt, the pandemic has brought new obstacles and challenges when it comes to professional growth and learning. However, that doesn’t mean that you cannot advance your career quickly by simply adapting to the new trends. In fact, the following insights might even help you advance faster in your field if you adopt them into your strategy and follow the tips we lay out. Here’s what you should know and do.
The Move Towards Online Learning and Training
Typically, professional development takes on many different forms, including workshops, group and individual classes, practical training, on-site training, and the like. Now, as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, all of these learning modalities have been shifted into the online realm. Whether you’re undergoing a corporate training program or if you are developing your skills in your own free time by attending courses and lectures, you’re most likely forced to consume all learning material in an online classroom.
Believe it or not, though, this is a good thing. Not only are you staying safe by learning online and avoiding physical interaction with other people, but you are also able to learn at your own pace in an environment where you are comfortable. This helps with knowledge retention and allows you to prep for any final exams more quickly. What’s more, there’s the benefit of learning with other professionals as well.
Group and Individual Learning
There are many benefits to learning online for professionals, one of them being the ability to learn in a group as well as individually. The former is an excellent way to foster teamwork and learn team-based skills and processes that you might need to master as an aspiring manager and leader. By solving problems in a team or learning managerial processes with others, you can complement the learning materials and internalize the necessary skills and knowledge more efficiently and effectively.
On the other hand, you can choose to consume parts of the curriculum and training individually, focusing solely on developing certain skills through hard work, and by utilizing some of the leading learning apps out there. Both approaches have their advantages with very few drawbacks, and online learning allows you to take advantage of both.
Obtaining Online Certification and Recertification
One of the key ways the COVID-19 pandemic has changed learning and development for professionals is by allowing you to obtain the necessary certifications to advance in your career via online channels and platforms. In other words, you can still get certified in your line of work and keep developing your skills digitally instead of waiting for offline programs to start back up again.
This is something that aspiring medical professionals are doing right now, for example, by elevating their coronavirus preparedness with online ACLS and PALS training and certification so that they can administer better care to patients and aid in the struggle against the pandemic. The world needs more frontline professionals who possess the necessary skills and certifications, and now you can finally get certified online quickly to join the fight.
Offering Content Diversity for More Efficient Learning
Another very important way you can benefit from online learning and training as a professional is through more specialized and optimized content. Companies and online learning platforms are nowadays increasingly investing in content variety and delivery in order to optimize the learning process for the professional, because after all, the faster you complete the course the quicker will you be able to contribute to a growing business.
This is an opportunity for you to consume learning material and training modalities in a more efficient way through guided tutorials, practical video examples, written materials, bite-size learning materials like infographics, ongoing learning materials like podcasts, and more. What’s more, all of these learning materials are made available to you to revisit at your own pace and leisure, making them perfect for revising your knowledge or using them when you find yourself in a bind at work.
Asynchronous Employee Development Programs
Last but not least, just because we have a pandemic on our hands doesn’t mean that companies are no longer investing in employee development programs. Quite the contrary, experienced business leaders recognize that now is the right time to invest in the professional growth of their employees in order to bring value to the company and ensure success in the new normal.
This is an opportunity for you to climb the hierarchical ladder in your company, but also to do it on your own terms. Now that employee development is done online, you can enjoy the benefits of asynchronous learning and obtain new knowledge and skills at your own pace.
Wrapping up
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many uncertainties to the business world, but there’s nothing you can’t achieve by simply riding the wave of change. Use these tips and insights to adapt to the new career development principles and capitalize on all the benefits that online learning and development brings to the modern professional.
Featured image credit: Unsplash.com
Sophia Smith is beauty and lifestyle blogger, an eco-lifestyle lover, graphic designer and a DIY enthusiast. Design plays a huge role in her personal expression. Sophia loves sharing meaningful content that educates and inspires people. She has contributed to a number of publications including: Women Love Tech, Cause Artist, Carousel and Viva Glam Magazine.
