TIP OF THE WEEK

Tips to boost your career

The rapid pace of change in jobs means the era of one-and-done learning is over. It no longer matters what you learned in the past — to stay relevant you need to upskill. So if you want to improve your marketability and get ahead in your career, it’s time to think about the valuable skills that could open the door to new opportunities.

Here are three tips for kick-starting your learning efforts.

1 Find the time. The no. 1 career goal for professionals in 2018 is to learn a new skill - but not everyone knows where to fit learning into their daily lives. Here’s a tip: In today’s ever-connected digital world, we’re living in the era of bite-sized learning, where new skills can be honed in minutes on the subway, or while you’re eating breakfast. Start by picking 5- to 10-minute windows in your daily routine - you don’t need to find hours, minutes are fine. For example, try skimming through courses on a Sunday night, and make a wish list of courses to view throughout the week, whenever it’s convenient for your busy life.

2 Make it a habit. They say a habit is formed in 21 days. Whenever you slot learning into your daily schedule, try to pick a time when you can make it routine — whether it’s on the bus during your morning commute, or in the 10 minutes after you brush your teeth at night. You’ll be growing in your skills before you know it.

3 Pick your skills. Today’s skills landscape is changing faster than ever — with new technologies and digital techniques emerging at every turn. Whether you want to advance your existing career or begin a new one, start by identifying a few key skills you’d like to hone. For example, people in every job can benefit from learning soft skills that teach you how to get things done or achieve your goals. Soft skills, such as communication and critical thinking, will give you a competitive advantage in the workplace, and you never know when you’ll uncover a new passion or side project along the way.

— Brandpoint

THE LIST

According to Businessinsider.com, the highest paying (median annual salary) jobs in the U.S. for 2018 are:

1. Anesthesiologist ($269,600)

2. Surgeon ($252,910)

3. Obstetrician and gynecologist ($234,310)

4. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon ($232,870)

5. Orthodontist ($228,780)

6. Physician ($201,840)

7. Psychiatrist ($194,740)

8. Pediatrician ($168,990)

9. Dentist ($159,770)

10. Prosthodontist ($126,050)

TECH TALK

Google Home now features Spanish

Although a Spanish feature has been available for Google Assistant, the company recently announced that its Google Home, Home Mini and Home Max smart speakers will also now feature Spanish. Currently there are three localized versions available for users — one for Spain, Mexico and the U.S. To change the language setting, a user can go into the Google Assistant settings, select the smart speaker in the devices menu and then tap Assistant language. Google has said it plans on adding 22 new languages to its Assistant by the end of 2018.

— More Content Now

Video game developer bringing back Intellivision game console

Veteran video game developer Tommy Tallarico recently announced his company Intellivision Entertainment will debut a reboot of the Mattel Intellivision video game console. The Intellivision console was released in 1979 and competed with the Atari 2600 in the early 1980s. Although details of the new console won’t be released until October, Tallarico said his team is developing a new controller. The original system featured sports, action, space action, strategy, gaming, children’s learning and arcade games.

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NUMBER TO KNOW

31 percent: The European Union recently announced it will raise U.S. motorcycle tariffs from 6 percent to 31 percent after President Donald Trump had earlier imposed tariffs on European steel and aluminum.

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