Staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends is a necessity in my profession. Being aware of the most recent innovations strengthens our capabilities as tech professionals. It not only helps us leverage new technologies but also provides a competitive edge when making strategic decisions.

I like to stay ahead with this rapidly evolving field and there are some things I personally do.

1. Adapting

Adapting to evolving tech trends is essential for staying relevant. Even if you’re not a software engineer, some level of adaptation is crucial. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic made remote work the norm for many companies. As a result, no matter the sector, we all had to rely on technologies like Zoom, Google Meet, and Slack for effective collaboration, allowing us to keep moving forward despite the challenges of the pandemic.

For me, keeping up with evolving technology feels relatively easy, largely because of my work. There’s always a new JavaScript framework or library we need to transition to, as each one offers features that give us a competitive edge over previous versions. Similarly, there’s always a new and improved machine learning model to explore. In our work, evaluating all possible solutions and choosing the best one is crucial, allowing us to naturally adapt and implement the latest technologies.

In addition, using LinkedIn and Stack Overflow has been incredibly helpful. There’s always someone discussing the latest trends on LinkedIn, and you inevitably come across valuable insights. For instance, when ChatGPT was first introduced, I wasn’t particularly interested. For about three months, I kept seeing it pop up as the new trending topic. Eventually, I decided to explore it—better late than never. Now, I regularly use ChatGPT or Gemini (by Google) to assist with a variety of everyday tasks, such as quick information retrieval, proofreading, and more.

There is so much more I can speak about adapting. But yes, adapting is really crucial.

2. Hands-on Practice

Practice is essential, especially as a software engineer. While it can sometimes feel exhausting, I make it a point to regularly check out new technologies and write small, executable code in languages I’m comfortable with. I may not have large projects on GitHub, but I do create small scripts from time to time to get tasks done—like merging and converting a list of files into a single PDF. Sure, there are tools for these tasks, but I prefer writing my own scripts. This allows me to personalise the process and often avoid costs associated with third-party tools.

3. Communicating and networking

Communication and networking are important, but I won’t pretend to be an expert in this area. Nonetheless, effective communication offers valuable insights into other people’s thoughts. Sometimes, they might mention something you weren’t aware of, or share great ideas you hadn’t considered before.

Keeping up with technology can be daunting. Not gonna lie, it is for me too! But profession demands it :confused