6 ideas to increase skill set

Anyone who has school-age children has settled into this year's routine of classes and homework. The adults in their lives have settled back into their routine of work, supervising homework and getting all the rest of the household management done. Perhaps it is time to consider the question, "Should I go back to school?"

The answer to that is: It depends. Pick up any magazine or newspaper or tune in to your favorite news station and you will see how we are fast becoming a global economy. Are you prepared? How will it affect your skill set?

Computers have changed everything in the way we work, no matter what our jobs, in just a few short decades. The World Wide Web combined with cloud computing is going to change the way we handle, store and retrieve information even more in the years to come. Employers are demanding complex thinkers, fresh ideas and a variety of skill sets from employees that will help navigate this global economy.

So what should you do? Ask yourself: What do you see yourself doing in your work life if there were no perceived obstacles in your way? Give yourself the freedom to brainstorm without editing your thoughts. Do not allow yourself to play the "yes, but" game, giving the reasons you cannot do something before you even try it.

To prime the pump, here are six ideas:

1) Learn a new language.

Because English is so widely spoken, it often has been referred to as the lingua franca of the modern era. Worldwide, about 375 million people speak English as their first language and 96 percent of Americans speak English. Linguistics professor David Crystal of Bangor University in Wales calculated in 2005 that non-native speakers outnumbered native speakers by a ratio of 3 to 1. However, with more than 1.2 billion speakers, Mandarin Chinese is actually the most widely spoken language in the world, then English. Spanish, with 329 million speakers worldwide, ranks third in the number of speakers, followed by Arabic and Hindi. So learn one of those languages if you already speak English.

2) Keep up your computer skills.

Even if it's just learning to operate a new program that you haven't used before, from PowerPoint to Quickbooks, give it a shot. Learn what it takes to keep a website updated. Figure out how to blog and use your social networks. Most hiring employers will look at a LinkedIn profile before they decide whether or not to set up an interview.

3) Read the latest books and trade magazines.

Check out The New York Times Book Review for hot nonfiction sellers. Be aware of trendsetting ideas to see the big picture, and figure out your place in it. Read some biographies of people you admire, whether it's a historical person such as Abigail Adams or a current mogul such as Warren Buffett. Check out websites that relate to your area of expertise, and have fun looking at sites such as Big Think (http://bigthink.com) or TED (http://www.ted.com). You are bound to get some insights you can incorporate into your learning.

4) Keep your resume updated, even if you are not looking for a job.

You never know when someone is going to come along who finds you interesting and capable. Be ready to show exactly what you have done, and how you have kept your skills updated. Look at the jobs being advertised in your field. How are they changing from the time you were offered the job you now have? Could you still get that job if you interviewed today?

5) Go back to school.

Whether you decide to pursue an actual degree or to just take a course with a topic that interests you, challenge your brain to expand. Common wisdom once opined our brains were fully formed by about age 20 and would not change. Through MRI scanning, we now know that the brain is capable of creating new pathways, firing new neuron connections and making unexpected connections well beyond that age. The neuroplasticity of your brain can keep you on a path of lifelong learning.

6) Work with a career coach.

If you're feeling like you need a change, or if a change happens to you (for instance, a good friend of mine unexpectedly found his entire IT department outsourced to India), start working with a career coach to plan your future. A good coach will help you: a) describe what you want; b) explore your options; c) create and implement your action plan and d) celebrate with you when you get exactly what you want for an exciting and fulfilling career.

Are you ready to "Be All You Can Be," as the Army slogan from 1980 to 2001 declared? Take some action today that feels risky by learning something new, whether you go back to school to learn it or not.

Hillary Hutchinson, M.A., M.Ed., is a certified career coach specialized in helping faculty, administrators and graduate students. Contact her via her website, www.TransitioningYourLife.com.

The Job Coaches are experienced volunteers from the Center for Women's Job Counseling Program. Call 763-7333 or e-mail info@c4women.org. A donation of $35 is requested for individual counseling appointments.