So how do you identify your learning needs? Whether you want to shift careers, work towards a promotion or be more effective in your existing role, it all starts with an honest self assessment of where you are and where you want to go. Set some clear goals, look at your existing technical and soft skills and evaluate your personal priorities, the culture of your workplace and how much time you are able to devote to learning. Irrespective of the sector, being as specific as possible about how you can apply your learning to your professional growth helps you see a concrete impact.

Personal conversations offer valuable insights: Informational interviews ― purposeful conversations with someone working in a field you would like to learn more about ― are widely recommended to understand the skills you need to progress or even to make a career shift.

Professional development books can broaden your perspective, letting you reflect on the values that drive you and what you really want to achieve. Here are 15 of the best.

And career counseling can help you focus: Wuzzuf offers advice, CV reviews and interview preparation. Career Counseling Egypt provides coaching support in making a career shift, training and applying new skills within your workplace. For AUC alumni, the university’s Career Center provides individual assessments, online resources and career development workshops.