“If you’re not learning, you’re not earning.”
These are the words of Bradley Schurman, author and founder of The Super Age, when asked about practical steps people should take when faced with ageism. Yes, that is the hard reality of today’s workplace, especially for older employees. Staying relevant is all about being a continual learner.
Schurman’s comments came during an event called Age@Work, which addressed the future of work for the 50+ demographic and was hosted by Next for Me and amazing community. (Highlights are here). The importance of upskilling came through as a theme throughout.
The new reality
Gone are the days of a prescribed path forward for the entirety of a career. Given the rate of change in technology and in business practices, moving forward (or even staying still) requires continual adaptation through upskilling. This means the most important thing you can do to age-proof your career is to continually reassess and learn new skills.
Some folks get mad about this. The resentment comes with an “it’s not fair” attitude. Those with this attitude believe they put in the years, for which they should be rewarded. For better or worse, that is simply no longer the case. In other words, as Kerry Hannon, author of In Control at 55+, said at the Age@Work event, “Get over it.” You’re not going to have the same job, and you may not be paid as well for the next one.
Clarify your own relationship with learning
If you find yourself resistant to learning new skills, it can be a useful exercise to examine why. Then reframe upskilling to something that motivates you more. I am a fan of the Gallup Strengths framework and “Learner” happens to be one of my top five strengths. I’m drawn to it. Not everyone is, though. See where learning falls for you. If low, you might think about one of your top strengths that could tie into learning and really maximize that. For example, the Via Character Strengths assessment is a free alternative to Gallup’s, and “Love of Learning” is one of Via’s 29 character strengths. If it’s not a strong suit for you, perhaps Leadership is. Then reframe learning as a way for you to be a strong leader.
Take inventory
The good news is that resources for upskilling or reskilling have never been more available or affordable. But that also means selecting resources can be overwhelming. So first take inventory.
Are you afraid of judgment, especially when learning tech skills? The heavy sigh of a Gen Z teacher as you struggle can be completely demotivating. If that’s intimidating to you, then you may feel more comfortable in a class with or learning from someone your own age. An example of this environment is ReBoot Accel, which offers excellent classes in basic tech and job search skills for women (sorry, guys!), in a supportive environment where no question is a dumb question.
If you have a history of not finishing courses, then consider a cohort-based environment. In these classes, which generally have a specific start and end date with a specific group of students for that duration, you will have lots of interaction with classmates via forums and a sense of accountability. Studies show these have a much higher completion rate than pre-recorded courses. A great example is the altMBA.
Are you an introvert? You may feel more comfortable in a one-on-one situation or with a video class. Video classes abound, and you can find just about anything you’re looking for—from advanced Excel skills, to Tableau data visualization, to social media marketing—in LinkedIn Learning, Teachable, or Gumroad.
Are you itching to get back live and in person? General Assembly now offers in-person classes in more than 15 cities. Its online classes are also highly regarded, including many bootcamps.
Continual learning is the new reality for remaining in the workforce. Embrace that, and you’ll reap the rewards.
Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels