Tips to Maximize Learning Opportunities

I recently had a conversation with a mentee who’s exploring how to move into a new department—and it sparked one of my favorite career development topics: advocating for yourself where you are to get where you want to go. We talked about how you don’t always have to wait for a new title to gain new experiences. Sometimes the best way to grow is to stretch within your current role. Here are a few strategies I shared that can make a real difference: ⭐️ Ask for exposure: Let your manager know the types of work or skills you’re hoping to develop. You might be surprised what’s available if they know you’re interested. ⭐️ Volunteer strategically: Whether it’s a cross-functional project, mentoring a new hire, or supporting a team pilot, these are opportunities to grow your skills and your visibility. Keep raising your hand. ⭐️ Document everything: Track what you’ve worked on outside your core duties—it builds your internal brand and helps connect the dots on your resume when you’re ready to make a move. ⭐️ See a need, fill a need: one of my favorite past managers, Jorge Tapia encouraged me to look and act on areas of opportunity within our function that would make things better. Sometimes this means coming up with a plan and getting buy in while other times it could be just fixing things you find along the way. If you’re feeling stuck, don’t underestimate the power of having a conversation with your manager. Advocating for yourself isn’t about asking for special treatment—it’s about being clear on where you want to grow and how you can add value along the way. What are some other ways you've been able to gain experiences while in your current role to pave the way for your next move?

What’s on your 2025 learning list? Most HR pros want to grow. But they don’t always plan how to make it happen. If you want 2025 to be your year, here’s how you can make that growth intentional: ✅ 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 Soft skills, technical skills, or something else entirely. Don’t try to learn everything—choose one or two priorities. For example, mastering AI tools or diving into advanced Excel could save you hours a week. ✅ 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 Be specific. “Improve Excel skills” is vague. “Learn pivot tables and build an HR dashboard by Q2” is clear. Break your goal into steps, so you’re not overwhelmed. ✅ ��𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 Find resources that fit your style. Online courses, books, or even LinkedIn groups can help. Not sure where to start? Ask your network for recommendations. ✅ 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 It won’t happen by accident. Schedule 30 minutes a week to apply what you’re learning. Small, consistent steps lead to big changes. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 Learning isn’t linear. What works for someone else might not work for you. Check your progress every month and tweak your plan if needed. As HR professionals, we owe it to ourselves to keep growing. The more we learn, the more valuable we are—to our teams and our careers. What’s your top learning goal for 2025? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear what’s on your list. ♻️ I appreciate 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 repost. 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗥 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀?  Visit my profile and join my newsletter for weekly tips to elevate your career!  Stephanie Adams, SPHR #Adamshr  #Hrprofessionals  #humanresources  #HR 

As a recent graduate and someone early in my career, I’m learning that education doesn’t stop after school—or even at work. Simply completing the tasks assigned to me isn’t enough to grow or stay competitive in my field. The industry evolves fast, and to stay relevant, continuous learning and upskilling are non-negotiable. That’s why I’ve developed a few strategies to keep learning every day, and in this video, I’m sharing them with you: 1️⃣ Follow Industry-Specific Pages and Thought Leaders: Staying connected with trends and innovations inspires new ideas and helps me see the bigger picture. 2️⃣ Learn on the Go: Whether it’s reading an article during gym breaks or listening to a podcast while driving or cooking, finding small windows for learning can make a big difference. 3️⃣ Dive into Online Courses: Platforms like Coursera and Udacity offer targeted courses in many topics. These have been game changers for expanding my technical skills. 4️⃣ Make Learning a Habit: Consistency is key. Even dedicating 15-30 minutes a day to learning keeps you growing and adapting. These habits are helping me stay ahead, and I hope they inspire you to create your own learning routine! Watch the video for more tips, and don’t forget to share your own learning strategies in the comments below.👇🏾

Following up on our discussion about building skills as a student, let's talk about the #MidCareerProfessional stage – specifically for those with 3-10 years (there's no set timeframe for this) of experience. This is a crucial time, because the learning absolutely should not stop. One of my favorite Leadership Principles at #Amazon was "Learn and Be Curious." It's something I genuinely believe in, and it's been essential for my growth. While you're in your current role, there are intentional ways to keep expanding your skillset: 1) Seek Out Leaders You Admire: Identify leaders whose styles you like. Observe what skills they lean into – whether it's driving influence, mastering strategy, or stakeholder management. Don't be afraid to schedule 1:1 meetings with them and ask directly: "What are the core skills you believe are essential to grow in this role, or in your career path?" Their insights are invaluable. 2) Align Skills to Projects: Once you've identified the skills you need, proactively ask your manager if you can take on projects that will help you build those specific skills. For example, I developed an interest in product management. I completed an eight-week class at BrainStation, then went to my manager. I explained my interest and how some projects would allow me stronger engagement with Engineering, Product, and UX teams. It has been super helpful in developing a more holistic understanding and tangible skills. 3) Formal Learning & Application: Online courses, workshops, or even industry conferences can provide structured learning. Search your topics on YouTube LinkedIn Coursera Udemy This is about maximizing your current role to continuously evolve your capabilities. What's one skill you're actively working on building right now in your mid-career? #CareerGrowth #SkillDevelopment #LearnAndBeCurious #ProfessionalDevelopment #MidCareer