It’s Not Always How Much You Know, but How Quickly You Can Learn

We all have to start somewhere. For me, it began with a “Programmer Trainee” position at a media corporation headquartered in Richmond, VA. It was as entry-level as entry-level gets, requiring no IT experience – or even knowledge – whatsoever. I figured even I could meet those criteria. (I was a recent college grad with a Biology major and hadn’t taken a single computer course in my life.)

Turns out I was, in fact, able to convince the then Director of IT to take a chance on me and that I would learn whatever he needed me to. From day one, I jumped in and shadowed (annoyed?) professionals from almost every department within IT, volunteering to help with and own anything they’d let me. I quickly established myself as an employee eager to learn and apply that knowledge as best I could. Within three months, I was asked to get trained on PeopleSoft applications and become a technical analyst. And so began a long and continuing series of taking on roles for which I had no initial training or knowledge.

This approach has served me well in the two decades since landing that first trainee position, preparing me for what has become a rapidly changing world (the IT industry in particular). Today, it’s imperative professionals plan to be in a perpetual state of learning, and even totally reinvent themselves from time to time. While the idea of constantly learning new technologies and business methods can be daunting, it should also be exiting, as it offers unprecedented opportunities for growth and to set you apart as a strong performer.

This kind of self-motivation to grow and serve is one of the first attributes I look for in my own team members. I love it when one volunteers to tackle a role or task he or she has never attempted before, is prepared to learn whatever is necessary to be successful, and do it quickly. If you can demonstrate to leadership that you are this type of person, you will increase your odds of being entrusted with the more critical aspects of a project and ultimately receive greater recognition for your efforts.

Another quick anecdote will illustrate just how powerful this approach can be for your career growth. I once interviewed for a role that would have been a significant step up, requiring me to learn many new skills out of the gate. I was actually quite intimidated. But when the Director asked me to describe myself, I told the same story I began this article with about jumping in into my new job, adapting and learning the necessary skills quickly. I further explained that most of my recent projects featured some aspect I had never seen before, yet I did whatever it took to learn and be successful. I was also up front about my lack of knowledge and experience in certain areas required for the role, but the central message I stressed was, If I’ve learned anything in my career, it’s that I can learn anything.

In the end, I was indeed offered the position, despite my lack of related experience. The Director even told me I had said exactly what he wanted to hear about taking charge and being able to figure things out on my own.

If you are likewise driven toward professional growth, don’t let lack of knowledge be a barrier. With the ever-exploding wealth of information and resources available online, you can train yourself in basically any area—and far more quickly than ever. Identify roles that will demand you learn and expand your skill set, and then convince whomever you need to—the hiring manager, your current company’s leadership, etc.—that you are up to the task and will do whatever it takes to be successful.

Now, let me pause and state the obvious: if you do step out and make this claim, you had better be prepared to back it up. Taking on a role that is initially above your head is risky, challenging, and can be quite stressful at times. You’ll likely have to clock longer hours—at least at first—in order to catch up to where you need to be. If you’re not willing to assume the risk and extra work that comes with stepping up, then don’t do it, or you’ll lose the confidence of your leadership, inflicting career damage that may be difficult to recover from.

If, however, you are up to the task and you do fulfill your promise to learn quickly, establishing yourself as eager to tackle new challenges and better serve your company, you will ultimately become a much stronger—and likely more personally satisfied—employee, poised to thrive at your job and enjoy accelerated career growth.

It’s up to you.