Expand Your Engineering Skill Set Without Quitting Your Job

Technology is changing with each passing day, and the field of engineering technology is unpredictable. Enterprises constantly update their products to meet various challenges and actively recruit outstanding talents. Do you want to participate in a new project in the company? Are you considering changing jobs or changing careers? Do your skills match the job description? Even if it doesn't exactly match, if you're eager to explore new possibilities, keep reading.

Summary of key points

• Engineers can expand their skills without leaving the job, including leveraging company-funded programs such as tuition subsidies, internal training and external training in partnership with educational institutions.
• Independent learning is also effective. For example, use free learning resources, obtain technical and language certification, participate in open source projects, and participate in technology bootcamps.
• Participating in the online developer community, professional networks and participating in developer blogs is also an effective way to learn new skills during your time.
• Obtaining professional certification, participating in open source projects and publishing professional articles can enhance engineers’ confidence in new skills and demonstrate their commitment to professional development to potential recruiters and employers.

The benefits of improving engineering skills

To keep up with the rapid technological changes, you must constantly update your skills. Mastering new skills will allow you to achieve greater success in finding new careers or being recruited to other programs, which are often accompanied by higher salaries.

With more skills, you are more likely to be noticed and recruited by the company to more projects. If you are certified in a specific field, you are more likely to be trusted and hired to bring your expertise into play.

Company funded projects

Tuit Fee Subsidy

Many companies use tuition reimbursement as part of employee benefits. According to a Glassdoor 2020 report, some companies offer some or all tuition subsidies, with employees or employers choosing an educational institution. Amounts range from $500 to $10,000 per year and may cover full-time and part-time employees. For example, T-Mobile provides full tuition for full-time employees at designated online universities and provides partial tuition subsidies for full-time and part-time employees at other institutions.

Negotiation and Commitment

Since different employers have different requirements for financial assistance, please discuss your career goals with your boss and get licensed and sponsored to obtain the next set of skills. As continuing education may affect your work schedule, if possible, please suggest taking these classes in the evening or on weekends.

Prepare a compelling list of arguments about why your employer should invest in your education and how you will benefit your employer in the long run. Be grateful and promise to stay with your employer company after completing the course. Some companies may require you to sign a contract to strengthen your commitment.

Job certification and legal provisions

Some jobs may require you to be certified to perform your tasks. In this case, you can earn money while learning, because as a non-exempt employee, you should be paid for learning and preparing for certification time.

Check out some legal requirements to ensure that your training is necessary, that your study and training are conducted during working hours and that you are doing productive work.

Internal training

The range of skills you wish to acquire can be obtained internally or externally. For example, Amazon provides cloud computing training and certification programs for internal employees, as well as customers and partners. Tech giants like Google are known for supporting peer-to-peer employee learning programs or guidance to develop teamwork and promote employee development. AT&T has its in-house AT&T university, encouraging employees to learn on-the-job to improve their skills.

External training

Companies like AT&T offer advanced degree and certification programs with the latest technology by investing in employee retraining programs with partners such as Udacity, Coursera, University of Notre Dame and Georgia Tech.

By participating in a company-sponsored employee learning program, you can align your skills with the company’s goals and plans. Your organization may be working with other companies to sponsor or host conferences related to your industry. Be aware of these avenues as they will help you connect with others and learn more skills.

Online Developer Community

As a software engineer, part of your role is to design solutions before research. When you research and plan, you will encounter new ideas and learn new knowledge. Although informal, it is an acceptable way to learn new skills during your employment. You may encounter obstacles when working on your project. You may be able to find the answer in your team.

Otherwise, you can always explore the Q&A library on Stack Overflow. You will most likely gain some valuable knowledge from the experience of others. You study and get paid while you work.

Independent Learning Project

Free learning resources

If you are a freelancer and are not eligible for the benefits of your current employer, you can still expand your engineering skills. You can learn from free developer teaching websites such as w3schools and freeCodeCamp. These resources will allow you to gain additional knowledge in your own time.

In addition to free courses, freeCodeCamp provides free certifications for full-stack web development using JavaScript, including responsive design, front-end libraries, data structures and algorithms, data visualization, APIs and microservices, and quality assurance, as well as science Python authentication for computing, data analysis, information security and machine learning.

Technical Certification

If you are interested in cloud computing, check out the many products offered by Amazon, Google and Microsoft. Amazon provides professional certifications for AWS, including cloud practitioners, solution architects, developers, SysOps administrators, DevOps engineers and other professional fields. Artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science dominate many technical fields.

You can get certification in these popular areas in Google, Microsoft, Udacity and DataCamp. If you are an experienced relational database designer looking to explore NoSQL alternatives, investigate the various products and certifications offered by MongoDB University.

Language Authentication

Sometimes you want to learn a foreign language, but without professional development experience in this foreign language, you may be at a disadvantage.

After learning a new language, consider getting certified. The Python Association, in partnership with Cisco Networking Academy and Pearson VUE, offers free courses in the Python programming language that can be professionally certified in the language. The C Association offers a similar program for certification of the C programming language. Oracle University offers free learning programs for Java programming languages ​​that can be certified professionally. The Ruby Association provides professional certification in the Ruby language. The OpenJS Foundation provides certification to demonstrate capabilities in building RESTFul Node.js servers, services, and applications.

In addition to strengthening your confidence in your new skills, getting professional certification can also show potential recruiters and employers your diligence and seriousness in professional development, which is an asset for you. If you don’t have the time or energy to pursue a rigorous learning and certification process, you may consider attending professional webinars that provide relevant topics in your field of work.

Skill Assessment

If you are active on LinkedIn, you can participate in LinkedIn's study program. When you add skills to your LinkedIn profile, you may be prompted to perform an assessment accordingly. It’s better to challenge yourself to take one of these tests to measure your level. These tests are short and timed and can be re-run to improve scores.

If you score more than a certain percentage point, you will get a badge displayed in your profile. While these assessments are not as comprehensive as professional certifications, they can improve your chances of being noticed by top recruiters.

Special Interest Network

Sometimes the technology you are using is relatively new and there is no formal support infrastructure. You can try to attend or take the lead in organizing local gatherings as special interest groups to discuss the latest developments in this particular technology and to connect with other like-minded technicians.

You can organize groups on social media such as Slack, Discord, and LinkedIn, or create your own web forums and mailing lists. When the popularity of technology catches up, you may be considered one of the founders or veterans and start coaching newbies. Listing this achievement on your resume can increase your leadership skills.

Developer Blog

Many software developers and engineers are educators at heart, hoping to help others through writing. Learn these professional blogger articles for new insights. Often, these tech writers do not write for profit, and they usually want to document a solution to an uncommon problem or provide a simpler solution than existing ones.

Note those writers whose tutorials are informative, clear and easy to understand, and are supplemented with reliable working code examples. You can usually find these writers on Medium, a professional platform that supports quality contributions from communities dedicated to development.

Train Camp

If you are a hands-on engineer who prefers practical learning over textbook learning and exams, you can consider attending a tech bootcamp. These short courses are usually very rigorous and require time investing.

The number of coding bootcamps has increased dramatically over the years and you have to look around for courses that meet your needs and budget. Some bootcamps offer installment plans and deferred payment plans that will charge a portion of your income when you find a job in the field.

Thinkful offers a tuition refund guarantee if a graduate does not find a qualified position within 180 days after graduation. Thinkful also provides monthly financial subsidies to qualified applicants who sign their ISA contracts.

A typical boot camp offers live or recorded courses, some short-term coding assignments and a final project. Some courses also provide one-on-one support from tutors, an online forum to connect with classmates, and career services such as resume review and interview preparation.

Udacity is a comprehensive learning platform that works with AT&T, Google, Microsoft and Amazon to sponsor competency-based scholarships. Udacity specializes in nanodegree courses in the fields of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, data science, cloud computing, network security, full-stack development, etc.

For more affordable alternatives, you can explore Udemy, which offers an extensive catalog of software development courses.

Open source project

Once you have learned new skills and are ready to gain some development experience while waiting for the next job opportunity, consider contributing to your chosen open source project hosted on GitHub. If you are new to GitHub, learn the tutorials on how to clone a repository, manage branches of your local code base, initiate pull requests, and merge changes you approved to the main version of the repository.

You will learn a lot by working with other developers who may be more experienced than you. Having an active GitHub profile allows hiring managers and technical interviewers to study your coding habits, evaluate the quality of your work, and evaluate your communication skills with other collaborators and repository owners.

If you like adventure, you can create your own repository using the app you created yourself. You can invite others to work with you and create a portfolio to showcase your work. You can also use GitHub Pages to create static web pages to record your work.

If you are developing a full stack application, consider deploying it to the cloud, such as Amazon AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Heroku. The skills you gain from this experience are of market value.

Professional Publications

Finally, you can subscribe and learn quality professional publications about the latest technologies. These technical works are written by experienced subject matter experts who will take time to share their talents and experiences with others in the field or newcomers eager to learn. Check out Newline and Testdriven.io for quality digital and print publications covering JavaScript and Python full-stack web development. Check out their customer reviews, download and evaluate sample chapters to measure the quality of their writing and decide for yourself whether they meet your expectations.

Conclusion

With you are still employed, there are many ways and resources you can broaden your horizons.

If you work for a company that values ​​employee development and provides financial assistance, you can apply for available study sponsorship programs.

If you are an independent contractor and are not eligible for the benefits of any of your sponsorship companies, you can still improve your engineering skills while working.

Whether you want to get your next project or position, investing your time and energy in any of the methods outlined above will help you achieve your goals.

FAQs about Extended Engineering Skills (FAQ)

While working full-time, are there practical ways to expand my engineering skills?

No need to quit your daily job, there are several ways to expand your engineering skills. One of the most effective ways is through online courses. Websites such as Coursera, Udemy and Khan Academy offer a wide range of engineering courses that you can learn at your own pace. Another approach is to attend seminars and seminars. These activities provide you with the opportunity to learn new skills and connect with other professionals. Reading industry-related books and articles can also help you understand the latest trends and technologies in the field of engineering.

How to improve my problem-solving ability as an engineer?

Problem solving is a key skill for engineers. You can improve this skill by practicing regularly. First, identify the problem in your current project or work environment and try to come up with a solution. You can also improve your problem-solving skills by learning from others. Participate in group discussions and brainstorming sessions. Reading case studies and real-life problem solving can also be beneficial.

What are some important soft skills for engineers?

While technical skills are crucial to engineers, soft skills are equally important. Some of the important soft skills of an engineer include communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem solving. Communication is important because engineers often need to explain complex concepts to non-engineers. Teamwork is crucial because most engineering projects require collaboration. Leadership can help you manage your projects and teams more effectively. As mentioned earlier, problem solving is a key skill for engineers.

How can we understand the latest trends and technologies in the engineering field?

Understanding the latest trends and technologies in the field of engineering is crucial to career development. You can do this by reading industry-related books, articles, and blogs. Participating in seminars, seminars and conferences can also help you stay up to date. Subscribing to industry-related newsletters and joining professional engineering associations may also be beneficial.

How to improve my project management skills as an engineer?

Project management is a key skill for engineers. You can improve this skill by taking a project management course. These courses can help you understand the basics of project management, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, and risk management. You can also improve your project management skills by taking on more work responsibilities. First manage small projects, then gradually take on larger projects.

How to improve my communication skills as an engineer?

Communication is a key skill for engineers. You can improve this skill by practicing regularly. First, actively participate in meetings and presentations. You can also improve your communication skills by taking a communication course or joining a speech club. Reading books and articles about communication can also be helpful.

How to cultivate my leadership skills as an engineer?

Developing leadership skills can help you manage your projects and teams more effectively. You can develop these skills by taking leadership courses or reading leadership books. You can also develop leadership by taking on more work responsibilities. First lead a small team, and then gradually take on a larger team.

How to improve my technical skills as an engineer?

Improving your technical skills is essential for career development. You can do this by taking online courses or attending seminars and seminars. Regular practice of your skills can also help you improve. You can also improve your technical skills by working on challenging projects.

How to cultivate my growth mindset as an engineer?

Cultivating a growth mindset is crucial for career development. You can develop this mindset by meeting challenges, persevering in the face of setbacks, and understanding that efforts are ways to master skills. You can also develop a growth mindset by seeking criticism and learning from it.

How to balance my work and study as an engineer?

Balanced work and study can be challenging. However, it is crucial for career development. You can balance work and study by setting clear goals and priorities. You can also balance work and study by managing time effectively. Taking online courses can also help you balance your work and study, as you can learn at your own pace.

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