“The more you learn, the more you grow.” This adage couldn’t be more accurate, especially nowadays when IT professionals face disruptions around every corner. From rapidly shifting corporate demands to emerging technologies, companies are undergoing remarkable digital transformations. As a result, companies are demanding relevancy from their IT teams regarding how they respond to these disruptions.
IT professionals must learn how to adapt to a dynamic environment where corporate learning and innovation go hand in hand. Further, to address the pressing technical skills gap in the market, many decision-makers are recognizing the value of IT certification programs to foster growth not just at the individual level but on a corporate-wide scale as well.
The challenges and opportunities brought on by an evolving remote landscape have driven IT professionals to seek certification and development programs to advance their skills and capabilities. And in today’s remote world, IT professionals are seeking an immersive learning process that they can partake in from wherever they are. Digital learning and education address these needs by providing the same level of interaction from an in-person environment, with a higher degree of flexibility catering to the remote learner experience.
It’s time to drive organizational success through robust and comprehensive learning and certification programs built for a digital future. Keep in mind the following three trends when deciding the best learning path that’s most effective for you and your team.
Reskilling and Upskilling Programs
One of the reasons the IT skills gap is so persistent in today’s economy is the lack of suitable workplace learning opportunities available to professionals. The widening skills gap is costing organizations billions of dollars in added expenses, not to mention it has resulted in considerable opportunity losses for both organizations and IT professionals. According to Cushing Anderson, Program Vice President responsible for IDC’s IT Education and Skills for Digital Transformation research program, the IT skills gap cost companies worldwide more than $300 billion as a result of delayed product releases, missed revenue, or increased expenses. This number is only expected to grow to more than $775 billion by 2022. Hence the rapid adoption of corporate training programs for reskilling the IT workforce.
Workplace learning programs aimed at upskilling and reskilling the existing IT workforce are more cost and time-efficient. Employee training from square one can result in added expenses due to the amount of time needed for instruction. It takes less time and effort for teams to retrain existing employees with online personalized learning programs targeted towards advanced skills development. Overall, a reskilled workforce means continued career advancement and better adaptability for new roles in addition to fewer displacements.
Learning Subscriptions
Subscriptions provide some of the most adaptive learning opportunities in the industry as an alternative to traditional, in-classroom environments. Subscriptions have become a significant driver for facilitating a continuous learning process to help employees keep their skills up to date with advancing technology. And thanks to their flexibility on top of their cost-effective payment models, this makes them an ideal choice for IT professionals looking to take control of their education journey.
One of the many benefits of online learning programs such as subscriptions is that individuals can take advantage of an extensive catalog of resources. Additionally, many teams are taking advantage of their IT vendors’ subscription learning programs for a more relevant educational experience. For example, VMware Customer Connect Learners can leverage online training content such as courses, webinars, and labs to build a working knowledge of a wide range of VMware products.
Assessments
Knowledge Skills Assessments
Pre-course assessments often referred to as knowledge skills assessments, have found a permanent place in IT education as a formal training tool for enhanced learning programs. A contributing factor to increased knowledge skills assessment usage in professional development is their value in planning and tracking development programs. As a precursor to an in-course learning program, IT professionals can get a thorough evaluation of their technical skills and the level of future training they must undergo. They can then follow a customized action plan for a more in-depth and targeted learning experience. By forming a better understanding of their capabilities, this insight provides the individual with an optimized training strategy for achieving their business objectives.
In-course Assessments
Another type of assessment training typical in IT professional development programs nowadays is practical, in-course assessments. These exams are synonymous with learning how to drive a car – you can learn all about driving from a book, but you won’t know how to drive until you get in a physical vehicle. Project-based exams are similar in the sense that they offer a realistic environment where professionals put their skills to the test, which a typical textbook exam cannot do. The great thing about these assessments is that they are easily configurable in a virtual training environment. In turn, this presents a more relevant and hands-on experience for enhanced learner engagement.
Get Started with a Specialized Learning and Certification Program
Today’s IT workforce cannot afford to ignore the ever-present skills gap. IT professionals with skills and experience pertinent to their responsibilities are a must, yet it can be difficult for them to keep up with a continually evolving digital landscape. In fact, this gap has been monetized by IDC. Companies worldwide are expected to lose more than $755 million by 2022 due to the IT skills gap. Faced with accelerated digital transformation and shifting IT demands, addressing this gap is paramount to prevent costly setbacks and promote a sustainable business. Today’s industries require practical skills that can no longer be taught in a conventional classroom. Thus, there is no better way to learn how to best implement and leverage IT technology than through the experts.
Expert licensing and training certification programs can help fill in the skills gap and help IT teams adapt to the evolution of an organization’s demands, further enhancing training effectiveness. Managers can then assign courses and curriculum while taking a more hands-off approach to let individuals control their learning pace. In doing so, this paves the way for IT professionals to pursue career advancement opportunities that they are passionate about and benefit their organization.
In fact, findings from IDC’s Cloud-Based Enterprise Application Performance Survey report that IT professionals with at least one relevant certification had over twice as much professional influence as those without a relevant certification.
Accelerate your success, and that of your organization’s through VMware Customer Connect Learning and find the learning path that’s right for you.
