Learning a new skill

El_Rey

I would like to take advantage of spending more time at home by learning a new skill that could lead to new career opportunities. Is there anyone on here who has started learning a new skill in the hope that it will lead to a new career rather than just doing it to pass time during these strange times?

I have already spent time refreshing/improving my existing basic knowledge of a couple of languages, but would also like to try something new and could do with some inspiration. 

AskAsk

i am always learning new things as i find it helps me from getting bored as i have a problem with getting bored.  however, i only learn new things that may be useful to me or are of interest to me as a hobby.  learning a new skill that would lead to a job would be a big ask.

i would suggest you learn something that you like the sound of and will be good at, so it depends on what you like and what your abilities are.

Sandtree

I'll chip in too seeing as other have said no...

I find it very hard to do off the job learning... I have tried to learn R and Python as I find the idea fairly interesting but I struggle with exercises that are purely theoretical. Give me a real practical reason (ie not "build an address book") and I am all ears (sitting at my newly made desk! - we arent taking Ikea here!) but create a fake reason and I'm thinking there is nothing wrong with any of my address books and R and Python are not about making address books anyway unless you want to psychoanalyse your friends/family.

I keep thinking of doing an accountancy./finance type qualification but those of value require appropriate work experience which  would be a temporary but significant step back to get it.

Brynsam

A knowledge of book-keeping never harmed anyone's career! It gives a grasp of basic accounting concepts on a very practical level.

Sanne

Not for a complete change of career but I’ve been expanding different areas which are useful as I move into more senior roles (I work in a hybrid business / IT role but, for example, learnt basics about marketing, SEO etc.). 

Depending on what job/company you’re currently in maybe have a think about what you’d like to do within the organisation and see what there would be to learn; I’m lucky to work for an employer who’s completely open to people moving roles when they become available (which helps me to fill roles in my team more than anything) so that obviously helps.

I could suggest many things but it obviously depends on your interests - book keeping/accounting as has already been mentioned, marketing related things (there are some good free things around, Google offer free learning and so do some others like HubSpot), digital skills (e.g. UX - some good free courses on FutureLearn)... For IT there are huge amount of resources, AWS offers free learning as does Microsoft. Another language could be helpful, or general management skills. 

It’s endless but maybe if you give an indication of what you might be looking for career-wise we can give you some more specific ideas!