Learning is part of everyday life, how much you learn depends on two things. These things are free time you have, and willingness to learn. Both these things go hand in hand and so to successfully learn new skills you need to embrace as much as you can. The more you can learn the more chances you have of achieving what you want in life, whether that be a promotion, a new job, or a change in career. Although learning new skills may not always be that straightforward as you get older, due to increased commitments, including work and childcare, it is still possible to learn whatever you wish, you may just have to make a few more sacrifices along the way.
How do you Learn?
This may sound like a trick question, but it is not. Everyone learns in a different way, some people retain information via listening, and others through practice, so, what is your style of learning? Once you have established how you learn and retain new information you can then decide which avenues and opportunities to follow to start learning.
1. Voluntary Experience
Through volunteering with a local non for profit organization you can exchange your time for valuable skills and possibly even qualifications. If you are looking to increase your hands-on skills, or, you are perhaps looking at learning even more computer skills, then this type of experience could be right for you.
2. Work Experience
This is like a voluntary experience, but, this time you have the potential to get paid for your time and effort. There are lots of industries you could gain valuable work experience in, from the hospitality and catering industry to the automotive industry. The good thing about work experience is that it proves invaluable on your resume, especially if you are going for a job that is similar to what you have learned and experienced through your work experience placement.
3. Courses
If you prefer to just learn about a subject, perhaps on your own and in your own time, as opposed to learning on the job then a course may possibly be the way for you to go. With HVAC technician online training courses you can learn around existing commitments, and from the comfort of your own home. You can still carry on earning and working so it is definitely a win-win situation. Quite often you can go at your own pace, so you can go as quickly or as slowly as you desire.
4. Shadowing
You can gain experience and skills by shadowing people within your workplace. Watching what they do on a daily basis will allow you to enhance your on-the-job learning and skills. Shadowing is great as you get real experience from a mentor who you can always approach for guidance or assistance. Shadowing a colleague or someone in a senior position can last anywhere from 1 week to a year.
5. Apprenticeship
You are never too old to become an apprentice and learn new skills. Apprenticeships are common as they allow you to learn and earn at the same time at your place of work. Apprenticeships are ideal if you currently enjoy working where you are and can see yourself staying for at least the next few years,
6. Feedback, time, and progress
When learning anything whether from a textbook or on the job you need to be patient. New skills don’t often come overnight, but, with time and patience, you can learn anything you set your mind to. It is important to remain focused when learning new skills, and also to set realistic goals and targets to ensure that you can complete any learning or work within a set timeframe.
While learning feedback is important and essential so take any input or criticism on board and use it to help you move forwards. Dedication is required to ensure you see your learning through, from start to completion. Something that is overlooked but just as important is time off, practice can and does make perfect, but, you also need to make time to unwind and relax. Working yourself into the ground is not effective or productive so don’t try and do it.
You may find that you learn better when you do short and sweet spells with regular breaks in between. However, as you learn new skills it is important to enjoy the process as much as possible, as it is easy to digest and remember information if you are enjoying the topic or subject you are learning about.
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