| There's a gap between your experience and what | | | | 1. Go to your network. |
| the hiring company wants, and you know it. | | | | Does someone you know already have the skills you |
| You'll almost never find a perfect fit between who | | | | need? Ask that person how to get up to speed fast. |
| you are and the wish list any company puts out | | | | 2. Google it. |
| there. So how do you close the gap? | | | | Whatever the skill is, type it in a search along with |
| Education is one powerful way, and no, I'm not | | | | words like "tips," "articles," "tutorials," "guide," or |
| talking about going out and getting a full-on college | | | | "class." Throwing a "free" in the search terms is okay, |
| degree. Even if you're between positions and keeping | | | | but could rule out some low-cost options in your |
| your spending to a minimum, there's bound to be | | | | results. |
| some cost-effective options available to you. | | | | 3. Check with your local technical, vocational, or |
| First off, you have to be very clear on the type of | | | | community college. |
| career opportunity you're after. Then start looking | | | | These often offer very affordable classes. Just be |
| for common skills in the job descriptions for that field | | | | sure to check their accreditation, so you know |
| - ones you may not have in your toolkit. Yet. | | | | they're not a fly-by-night operation. |
| Now, jump right in, start working on the new skill you | | | | 4. Your local library. |
| need, and make sure you put it on your resume! | | | | The fine folks there can point you to other adult |
| Don't worry that you haven't mastered it by the | | | | education resources in your area. |
| time you head into an interview. When it comes up, | | | | And finally, don't look at the cost of education, in |
| turn it into a positive by saying something like: | | | | money or time. Look at it this way: If a $100 class |
| "I know this skill is important to the position, and so | | | | could help you land a job paying just $5,000 more |
| I've started doing X, Y, and Z to master it." | | | | than your last position, that'd be worth the |
| Doing this shows you're a self-starter, you invest in | | | | investment, right? You bet. |
| your career path, and you've been paying attention | | | | And that's a conservative number. What if taking a |
| to the company's needs. And that makes you stand | | | | class could help land you $25,000 or more a year? |
| out from the crowd. | | | | Right. You're a fast learner. ;) Now go hit the books! |
| But how to get started? A few ideas for you: | | | | |