For me, it’s a balance between interest and its relevance to a skill needed for a job. If I have no interest, I likely won’t want the job. If it’s something I’m interested it, I’d likely be looking for that kind of work.
Really, though, it seems like I spend half my time learning new stuff, acquainting myself with revised stuff or reacquainting myself with stuff I haven’t needed in months (or years). The ability to constantly pick up on new and different skills, software languages, website frameworks, software applications and various content management systems seems like a skill in and of itself. Seems we’re all expected to know everything.
Wow B. Both of your answers surprised me. I imagined you would think that learning after hired would be too late, and that learning for interest would be too idealistic.
There has to be a balance. A person needs expertise in what the job entails or that person won’t get hired. And one needs to be practical and choose a career with a future. I like to ride mountain bikes, but there’s no way I would have ever made money at it. Luckily, I always liked designing things too, so I put in the time, got the education and probably made the right choice in not pinning my future on a pro biking career.
But I see no point in studying up on things one doesn’t like in order to get a job that isn’t enjoyable and fulfilling. I could have gone to medical or law school and be making five times what I’m making now, but I would have hated every minute of the past 30 years.
As for learning after being hired, isn’t that sort of a requirement — this field doesn’t stand still. Maintaining a fascinating with what’s just around the bend isn’t just idealistic; it’s a practical personality trait that helps prevent obsolescence.
Even though design involves a whole lot more than art, I’d be willing to bet that most of us went into this field because we’re an idealistic, artsy and creative bunch. I really don’t see any way to succeed in this business without being idealistic and having an innate compulsion to improve things. A non-idealist designer seems to be a non-starter to me. That kind of person would be better suiting for a career in plumbing, auto mechanics or managing a hedge fund.
Never stop learning. When you have a free half an hour, hone your skills. When you have a free afternoon, find something you’re not good at and learn how to do it better.
When you have enough time, learn a new skill - not new to you, like woodcarving or knitting, a new technique you just read about or heard about. Futureproof your employability. When I started in this business, there were no personal computers. I kept learning new skills and I’ve never been out of work.