#021  How Can Your Professional Network Keep You Updated On Industry Trends?

If you want to thrive in your career, you have to do more than just a regular job. Today, in this article, I'll be discussing three practical ways to stay ahead in your industry.

 If you’d love to get my previous lessons on Job searching, interviewing, or recruiting strategies, you can find all of that here at therecruitmentinsights.com. While there, you can also download a free actionable checklist for hiring quality talents and get a free ready-to-use resume template to level up your career.

 Alright, now back to this article’s topic.

 I'd like to highlight that the examples I’ll use in this article will be from the tech industry as that's where my entire experience lies. But it doesn't mean these real strategies don't hold in other sectors. No matter which field you come from, these are ready-to-go strategies for you to stay updated in your space.

 With that being said, let’s get started.

 So, the first way how your professional network can keep you updated on industry trends is 

1.   Connect and engage with experts in your field. 

You should identify and connect with people who are experts in roles like your own within your industry. You can use generic platforms such as Slack, Meetup groups, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook to find and follow them. You may also attend events, webinars, or workshops where they speak or participate about common challenges and trends in your space.

 In addition, you may participate in your industry-specific technical communities, for instance, if you are a software engineer, join online tech communities like Stack Overflow, and GitHub to interact with other fellow members. 

These are platforms where you can collaborate to discuss emerging frameworks, tools, best practices, real-life use cases and so much more. I would encourage you to have a two-way conversation; first appreciate their work, and then exchange knowledge or ask for any information to stay up to date.

Another way to stay in tune with your industry is through engaging in mentorship relationships.

2.    Engage in Mentorship Relationships:

 I would say establishing a mentor-mentee relationship within your professional network can provide you valuable guidance. A mentor could be your boss, peer or anyone experienced you connect with on a professional platform in your space. They might share insights about the latest trends based on their experience. For instance, a mentor could advise you on the importance of incorporating DevOps best practices and could offer resources and personalized recommendations.

 The last but not least way to learn about the latest industry trends is. 

3.     Gain firsthand information from genuine sources. For example, if you are a .NET developer, visit the Microsoft website for firsthand information on the latest trends and updates.

As .NET is a Microsoft product, you won't find better information anywhere else than on their platform itself. Additionally, you can learn a lot about resolving your current challenges.

I hope this helps!