Thriving in your job takes one part passion, two parts endurance, two parts adaptability, and four parts continuous learning. You can provide them all, but typically, the company offers many learning opportunities. At least, that’s the case when it comes to learning how to do specific things for that company.
Unfortunately, not receiving proper training at work is a thing. I’m assuming it’s a thing you’re experiencing because you’re here, likely searching for what to do.
So what happens when this essential foundation is missing? Imagine being thrust into the deep end of a pool without a single swimming lesson; scary, isn’t it?
The quest to thrive at your job without receiving proper training might seem like an impossible challenge. Lucky for you, it’s not. This post will help you navigate your employer not providing what they should.
While they should provide it to you, that’s not always the case. If you love everything else about your job, you may want to pursue training options yourself. To progress in your career, you’ll realize there’s more you don’t know than you do.
Some workplaces lack good training. Sometimes it’s up to you.
From seizing learning opportunities beyond the confines of your office walls to harnessing the power of self-directed education, there are many strategies to take things into your own hands.
Even in the absence of workplace-provided professional development, there are many options. Some of these suggestions are mindset shifts, which will help you see new learning opportunities, and others are places you can look for free learning opportunities.
So, enjoy taking your professional development into your own hands if your workplace isn’t willing to help you.
Embracing a Continuous Learning Mindset
Sometimes all it takes is a mindset shift to thrive in your job and learn for your career. Embracing a continuous learning mindset helps put you in the learning state of mind. That means you’re looking for ways to learn every day and are always open to new experiences and ways of doing things.
Take the initiative to seek opportunities for growth and knowledge acquisition outside your daily tasks. It could be as simple as volunteering for a task at work that’s outside your normal comfort zone. Many learning opportunities are simply putting yourself outside your comfort zone, which leads to learning.
Mindset is everything when it comes to learning workplace skills.
For nearly every industry in the world, there are associations, groups, or some meetups around that industry. For instructional designers, that would be ATD, where there are chapters around the globe. For web designers, you could venture into design associations or even WordPress meetups.
There are many free opportunities to learn from others in your industry; you just have to look for them. A continuous learning mindset will help you find and be open to those opportunities.
If there’s nothing in-person local to you, then there are sure to be online communities related to your industry. There are likely dozens of Facebook Groups related to your industry. Join those and have conversations with others who do what you do.
The opportunities to continuously learn are endless; just look around.
Make A Plan For Growth
Workplace learning might have formalized pathways for learning to grow in your position. That’s similar to college, where there’s a pretty clear path you must take. That doesn’t exist for you, so it’s entirely up to you.
You have to take ownership of your learning journey. That means you also have to identify areas where you need improvement. You won’t have a clear path, but you can create your own and map out your next year, five years, ten years, etc.
By identifying areas where you need improvement, you’ll be able to seek out resources that can help you acquire new skills or deepen existing ones. Create a personalized learning plan. Start by setting clear goals for what you want to achieve regarding knowledge and skills development.
Planning your professional growth helps you use time more strategically.
Start at a high level and then break goals into smaller milestones achievable within specific timeframes. This will help you stay focused and motivated throughout your learning journey.
Directing your learning requires regular weekly time to engage in self-directed learning activities. Because your workplace doesn’t provide training, I’m sure they’re also not providing the time for you either. That means you’ll likely come home from work and do professional development on your own time.
Build a Support Network for Knowledge Exchange and Mentorship
Nobody can or should go it alone. Everyone relies on everyone else to some degree. That means you also need a support network from which to learn. While not training, it’s a great way to learn and grow.
Building a support network becomes crucial for knowledge exchange and mentorship. Seek out like-minded individuals who share your passion for professional growth and connect with them through networking events or online platforms.
LinkedIn and Facebook Groups are some of my favorite places to network with other professionals in my industry. I always have conversations, find new resources to learn from, and grow quite a bit into new ways of thinking.
Some of the most growth in my career has come from connecting with others and learning from them. You might even make a valuable connection with someone who wants someone as driven as you, and they might offer proper training, too.
Win-win!
It’s also true that engaging in meaningful conversations with professionals from diverse backgrounds can provide valuable insights and perspectives. Don’t be afraid to contact industry experts or senior professionals who inspire you. Many are willing to share their knowledge and experiences if approached with genuine curiosity and respect.
In addition to seeking mentors, consider becoming a mentor yourself. Sharing your knowledge and experiences helps others and reinforces your understanding of the subject matter. By actively participating in knowledge exchange within your professional community, you contribute to the growth of others while enhancing your professional development.
Develop Skills Through Hands-On Experience and Trial-and-Error
If proper training is lacking at work, one way to develop skills is through hands-on experience and trial and error. Take on challenging projects or volunteer for tasks that push you outside your comfort zone. Embrace these opportunities as chances to learn by doing.
While it may be intimidating initially, remember that mistakes are an inevitable part of the learning process. Instead of fearing failure, view it as an opportunity for growth and improvement. Reflect on what went wrong, identify areas for improvement, and apply these lessons moving forward.
Additionally, seek feedback from colleagues or supervisors whenever possible. Constructive criticism can provide valuable insights into areas where you can further develop your skills. By actively seeking out hands-on experiences and embracing the learning opportunities they present, you can enhance your professional growth even without training opportunities from your work.
Use Free Online Resources and Tools to Bridge the Training Gap
There are more free resources online than at any other time in history. While the free stuff online isn’t curated and nicely presented, it’s free!
I’m not one to turn down free training. You can pursue new skills on websites like YouTube, Udemy, and perhaps even TikTok. Udemy is an excellent resource for quality courses put together by professionals, and many are free. Podcasts are another great option. Many professionals host a podcast and share their knowledge for free.
You can also pursue other websites with free resources. Almost every company that has a commercial product in your industry also has free tutorials and even courses. Take graphic design as an example. Canva offers many tutorials and help for learning graphic design in general, not just Canva’s own tool.
Want to learn something in the creative space? One that I’ve often used is Tuts+, which has tons of free resources. You could develop your entire career with free resources.
Take advantage of these resources to enhance your knowledge and skills. Heck, you can even get certifications online for absolutely no cost and show it off on your LinkedIn profile.
Nurturing a Growth Mindset to Overcome Challenges and Setbacks
When faced with not receiving proper training at work, nurturing a growth mindset becomes essential. Embrace the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work.
Nobody is static, and your personality isn’t permanent. You can change as long as you want to change. Your career can accelerate if you want to learn and grow.
View challenges and setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth rather than insurmountable obstacles. Cultivate resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, knowing that each hurdle you overcome brings you one step closer to achieving your goals.
Seek inspiration from individuals who have overcome similar challenges or succeeded despite limited resources. Their stories can remind you that with determination and a growth mindset, you can still thrive even without proper training. It’s just somewhat more challenging.
Wrap Up
Not receiving proper training at work may initially seem like a setback, but it doesn’t have to hinder your professional development. These things will help you grow professionally even without the help from your workplace:
- Embrace continuous learning
- Plan your growth path
- Build a support network for knowledge exchange and mentorship
- Develop skills through hands-on experience
- Use free online resources and tools
- Nurturing a growth mindset
You can grow professionally with or without your workplace. While having a supportive workplace makes things easier, it doesn’t have to hold you back.
If you’re a workplace that doesn’t provide proper training, it’s time to change that. Supporting employees is one of the most important factors to succeeding in today’s markets. Training employees on company technology is the minimum effort companies should put into developing employees.
If you want to add exceptional corporate IT training for your employees to thrive, get in touch, and we’d be happy to help you improve your company training.
Remember that your potential is not limited by external circumstances but by your determination to succeed. Take control of your professional growth journey and seize every opportunity to learn, grow, and excel. With these strategies, you can navigate career development yourself without your company providing proper training at work.