Did you know that you can better your technological skills without stepping foot in a classroom? The tech industry has an increasing demand for IT professionals who constantly sharpen their skills. If you’re not updating your skills, you’ll likely to fall behind. Here are some ways to sharpen your skills from home.
Understand How Computers Work
The first thing you should do is start with the basics. Make sure that you know how to use a computer before getting into the tech world. Before you learn any new skills, you need a basic understanding of how to use a computer. It’s important to know how to use a Linux, Mac, or Windows operating system.
There are plenty of free resources online that provide educational tutorials. You can even try coding bootcamp at networking events. Your community college, community center, or library may have more information on these free or low-cost computer training events. Online courses are perfect for those wanting to learn in the comfort of their own home. However, if perhaps you find online learning difficult and would prefer to attend microsoft excel training in person, for example, many of these course providers have this in-person option available and can travel to your location.
Read Technical Books
You’re probably well-versed on computers and information technology, but you lack skills in other areas. To become a well-rounded tech professional, you should read up on some of the industry’s best technical books. Take some time each day out of your day to read these books.
There are books that can teach you about any concept or skills. Some books are more specialized than others, which allows you to become an expert in less time. There are even books that can help you with training for AWS certification. Technical books are a great choice because they provide information in an organized manner that ensures the accuracy of learning.
Take Online Courses
Having a full-time job shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your education. You can take online courses to improve your technological skills. Online courses provide flexibility so you can learn on your own time. You’ll get plenty of feedback from your professor and you can still get help if you’re stuck on a difficult concept or project. But keep in mind that you won’t be in a traditional classroom with other IT professionals.
If you want to learn these skills for free, there are plenty of free resources available online. You can search on YouTube to get tips on training for AWS certification. If you’re looking for a traditional learning experience, you can check out free college courses on Coursera, Class-Central, and Edx. There are also free introductory courses on Codeacademy, Free Code Camp, and Khan Academy.
Start Networking in the Tech World
Now it’s time to start mingling in the tech industry. Networking with other IT professionals can give you a wealth of information that you can’t find in a classroom setting. There might be someone at a conference, forum, or industry event who can teach you new skills. There are plenty of computer clubs, professional organizations, and tech associations that you can join online. This can help you refine your information technology skills as you gain hands-on experience.
Tackle Personal Tech Projects
If you feel you’re not making good use of your skills, take on your own personal projects at home. Taking on several tech projects as a side hobby can be useful in refining your skills in a hands-on experience. You can learn several coding languages like CSS, HTML, MySQL, PHP, and RSS as you build your own website.
If you’re interested in hardware, you can learn how to build your own computer from scratch. This project will show you how computers work as you learn how to solve complex problems. Buy the computer components and watch a few tutorials online to get started. If you complete the project, you’ll end up with a few bragging rights.
