Increasing your knowledge and understanding of your industry can help you develop a more widely recognized reputation as an expert in your field. It can also improve your potential for advancing in your career. Fortunately, there are several different ways you can increase your knowledge and become better informed about topics related to your field of work.

Grow Your Network

You should be consistently looking for ways to grow your professional network. In addition to networking with professionals who follow a similar career path to your own, try to connect with people in related career fields. For example, if you're a real estate agent, it may be helpful to network with attorneys, lenders, and general contractors. Expanding your network will help you stay informed about conferences and other events that can help you learn more about changes in your industry.

Go Back to School

If you have been in your career for a few years or more, there have likely been changes in your industry that you might not know about. Returning to college to take a refresher course or to pursue a related degree can help you learn more about changes in technology, processes, or practices in your career field. You'll also meet students who will be entering your industry in the coming years, making this an ideal opportunity to expand your network that much further.

Stay Informed Online

There are plenty of online resources that can help you learn more about your industry, while keeping you updated on new innovations related to your career field. You can follow blogs and listen to podcasts as a way of being both entertained and educated. There are blogs and podcasts on almost every possible topic, so you shouldn't have a hard time finding content related to your industry. For more formal learning, try signing up for webinars. Many webinars are completely free, but some do charge a modest fee. When signing up for free webinars, be sure to claim your virtual seat quickly since these online events tend to fill up quickly.

You can also talk to your manager or supervisor about increasing your knowledge. They may have more ideas for expanding your knowledge in relation to your industry or career path. They may offer you additional training that will help you advance your skills and understanding of your industry.