Dive Brief:

• The kind of learning that companies want to see candidates engaged in is shifting. Having a degree from a prestigious university is no longer the ticket to success. Employers prefer candidates who embrace lifelong learning.

• Meghan M. Biro, founder of Talent Culture, encourages professionals to explore ways to “jump start” their adventure in higher learning through social media and online learning.

• Biro provides 5 ways to embrace learning as a way to boost one’s own career, whether it’s working for a company or freelancing. Learning and the pursuit of knowledge can be the highest achievement. Biro emphasizes that lifelong learning is vital for a sustainable and fulfilling career, no matter what generation or background one comes from.

Dive Insight:

College degrees from the biggest and best universities do not guarantee success in any given career path. It’s up to individuals to focus on learning as a core value and career goal, but employers can assist by considering what is needed.

Biro shares 5 tips for igniting one’s curiosity as a learner, tapping into all the best technology and social media resources. These tips include: (1) Taking regular inventory of one’s skills (2) Understanding learning options (3) Following passions and interests (4) Looking at work projects through the lenses of learning and (5) Partnering with others and sharing learning. Employers can take advantage of these tips and use them to build powerful and engaging learning programs in their own right.