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Three Steps to Stay Current with Technology

The nature of work is changing fast. Nearly half of workers’ core skills will be disrupted by 2027, according to the World Economic Forum (2023). Behind that statistic are professionals like you and me asking themselves, “Will what I know today still matter in five years?”

Thankfully, the answer is yes. Because when work changes, you can, too.

Here are three practical and forward-looking steps that you can take.

Step 1: Learn Skills That Matter Now

Every industry is evolving, and the skills that once set professionals apart are quickly becoming baseline requirements. That’s why it helps to focus on areas where demand is growing like data and AI.

Every organization is swimming in data, but few know how to translate numbers into actionable insights. Everyone talks about making “data-driven decisions,” but the workplace reality looks quite different. While 90% of business leaders say data literacy is critical, only 25% of employees feel confident in their skills (Harvard Business Review, 2021).

Where do you fall? DCE’s Data Science and Data Analytics for Business certificates build more than technical ability in Python and SQL. They help you uncover the story behind the numbers and teach you how to explain it to colleagues without your technical knowledge.

Similarly, by 2030, McKinsey & Company (2023) predicts that up to 30% of work hours could be automated. While some might see this as a threat, you could view it as an invitation to focus on your uniquely human skills and aptitudes like creativity, empathy, and ethical judgment.

So, learn to use AI without losing your humanity. If you haven’t already, now is the time to start experimenting in ways AI can help you. Ask it to summarize meeting notes, draft an email, or analyze your personal spending habits. The skill isn’t in just using AI but also knowing when not to. Our Machine and Deep Learning Specialized Studies program helps learners build models responsibly while sharpening the human judgment needed to use AI wisely and carefully.

Step 2: Learn Without Putting Life on Hold

It’s one thing to know what you want to learn. It’s quite another to know how to make time for it. Traditional education assumes you can pause your life, but there are alternatives. Case in point, DCE designs programs around life’s realities because we know you’re balancing work, family responsibilities, and hopefully, setting aside time to have fun, too. Learning must fit into that.

Here are some ways that DCE learners have navigated this obstacle:

  • Negotiate time to learn with your employer and frame it as professional development that helps your whole team. Then make sure it does just that by trying to apply your new skills and knowledge to current projects.
  • Use the 80/20 rule and focus on learning the skills that will solve 80% of your problems now. That might mean learning how to use pivot tables before diving into Python. It’s not as glamorous, but it’ll make a noticeable difference.
  • Teach family and friends what you’re learning. This solidifies your own understanding, so you’re helping someone else while also helping yourself.

Step 3: Match What You Want to Learn to Your Career Goals

That sounds simple, but it’s a step that is easily overlooked. Think strategically about how each technical skill you want to learn connects to your broader career goals. Here are hints for how to do that.

  • Watch for early signals. Pay attention to the technologies people are just starting to talk about, especially early adopters, or the pain points they’re frustrated by. Often, opportunities hide in plain sight.
  • Map your learning to demand. Browse job postings for the roles you want in two to three years. Want to be a full-stack developer? Look at those job postings and identify which skills are consistently listed. Which ones are “nice to have” now but may become essential?
  • Build bridges, not islands. Some of the most valuable professionals pair technical knowledge with domain expertise. That could look like a data scientist who understands healthcare regulation, a cybersecurity expert who speaks finance, or a developer who understands psychology. These combinations create value that is harder to replicate and replace.

The Bottom Line

Technology will always evolve. Will you? By learning strategically, practicing consistently, and linking the technical skills you want to learn to your broader career goals, you’ll be ready for whatever comes next.

Work is changing. You can, too. Discover Your Potential.