Jun 11 2009
Keeping Your Skills Fresh
For anyone who has held a particular job for many years, it is very important to have a positive attitude and fresh outlook, always keeping in mind the best way to contribute to the success of your company. A routine assessment of your job skills is very important and an occasional tune-up can prove to be the key to success.
If your company is willing to provide on-the-job training for various positions that may become available, show them that you are willing to take on more responsibilities which could prove not only invaluable for your company, but for you as well. The new training can help you gain more knowledge about your company and the best ways to help it stay successful and possibly perform better.
After the initial assessment of your job skills, you may wish to obtain information on how to acquire particular expertise to improve your position, and there are ways to do this without needing to spend a lot of money especially in these economic times. Ask friends and family to help if they have experience in the particular skills that you would like to acquire. Go to your local library and read books or get online and surf the Web for the information that you seek. Take advantage of any training opportunities, such as free online courses and certifications that may be offered.
I have read the weekly newspaper column written by famous grammarian, James Kilpatrick, for many years and it has provided valuable knowledge on the proper use of grammar. Although Mr. Kilpatrick has recently retired, I have saved many of his columns for ready reference. Reading a book on using Excel software, has sharpened my skills in this area and helped me to use the program effectively when my job has required it. A friend loaned me the book on Excel but there are many books like this available online at Amazon.com or in your local library. When working with individuals for which English is a second language, the AltaVista- Babel Fish Translation website has been a very helpful tool.
These are just a few examples of how you can keep a fresh outlook and your job skills updated. Keeping a positive attitude and a willingness to learn is something that is always appreciated by any company and can serve you well throughout your career.
About The Author: cmitchell
Carol Mitchell is editor-in-chief of the American Biographical Institute. With 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, she has worked closely with many individuals from around the world to document distinguished accomplishments in ABI’s biographical reference directories. Carol’s background in editing, production, marketing and customer service, combined with her organizational skills and an eye for detail have served her well throughout her career. You may contact Carol at cmitchell@abiworldwide.com.
One Response to “Keeping Your Skills Fresh”
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Carol, thank you for this very helpful post. I agree that keeping one’s skills fresh not only helps to advance and grow one’s career, but it also makes it a lot more interesting and fun! I think it’s important for everyone to always seek out new things to learn. I am always on the lookout for classes– whether in a local classroom or online– that will both benefit my professional life and I will also enjoy. Another benefit of this is that it is a wonderful way to meet new people, which often results in friendships that extend beyond the professional arena.