You Don't Need To Feel Left-Behind
How to stay abreast with the fast-paced overwhelming nature of today's technology.
Tech space can feel really fast-paced. In recent years the amount of innovations we've seen so far feel so unprecedented. Especially as the new AI revolution kicked in full string, it gets a little harder to stay up-to-date with what's new.
We all heard these quotes recently:
"AI will take our jobs"
"The tech job market is now harder than usual"
"Your basic knowledge is not enough"
“There are no jobs for junior tech professionals anymore"
“Company A just laid off over 1,000 employees"
Yeah I get it, it looks like you're COOKED! But are you? Really?
First of all, Let's get the facts
Fact #1: What you know is not enough
The first fact is "what you know is not enough". Yes, that's the hard truth. This means we need to always keep constantly learning. But no matter how much you learn, new things we always come out.
Does this mean you should give up entirely? No!
Even though what you learnt may become obsolete in 5 years, one thing remains constant fundamentals. Fundamentals are the building blocks of every field of technology.
Fundamentals don't mean basics alone, it means the principles, laws and binding that make up the framework of a field. For example, in software engineering, one key fundamental concept to know is Algorithms & Data Structures; for UI/UX, you need to know Design Principles (Spacing, Alignment, Hierarchy, etc.).
When you understand the fundamentals, you can dive into deeper concepts. One essential thing to know is how to build and create.
Nothing keeps you more abreast in technology than consistent practice with real-world systems. When you build as you learn, you form neural pathways in your brain that solidify your learning experience.
Fact #2: AI is getting better at doing our jobs
I'm sure you might be tired of seeing this again and again but you admit is true. And sometimes, it could make us afraid if we are being honest. AI is growing at an unprecedented rate, even mind-boggling at times.
But should we worried about A.I. taking our jobs as tech professionals? Not really!
Here's the thing, you can actually use A.I. to your advantage
What you do need to do is learn to use it.
Make AI your daily sidekick. Treat tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, or whichever assistant you prefer, as extensions of your brain. Use them to scaffold your work:
Draft boilerplate code (then optimise it).
Generate design mockups (then tweak to fit your brand).
Brainstorm edge cases for your feature (then test them).
Build “AI fluency.” Just like you learned to Google errors five years ago, now you learn to prompt-engineer. Knowing how to ask the right question can save you hours.
Stay hands-on. Don’t let AI do 100% of your work. Use it to speed up the boring/repetitive bits, then take over for the creative and critical thinking.
Get deeper in your understanding. Just like I mentioned in Fact #1, you will need to grow your depth of knowledge your field even beyond the scope of your work.
If you don’t pick up these tools, you run the risk of being outpaced by someone who does and it’s not because they’re “smarter,” it’s because they embraced the more efficient way of getting work done.
Fact #3: You're going to feel like an imposter
You have probably heard people talk about imposter syndrome as though it is a disease you need to cure. The truth is imposter syndrome is more like a signal that you are venturing into new territory.
When you feel that voice in your head whisper “Who am I to do this” or “Someone else could do it better” you need to push your boundaries and challenge yourself to learn.
Here is how to turn that uneasy feeling into motivation.
First, Acknowledge it. The next time you hear that doubt voice simply name it. Say to yourself “That is just my imposter talking.” Once you have put a name to it you rob it of some of its power.
Second, Record your wins. Every bug fix, every feature you ship, every positive comment from a user/supervisor is evidence that you belong here. Keep a simple list on your phone or in a notebook and review it when doubt creeps back in.
Third, Share your thoughts with someone you trust. When you realise your peers and mentors have felt the same way you will see that imposter syndrome is nothing to be ashamed of.
Finally, Build your competence with projects. There nothing that makes you more confident of your skills than up–skilling yourself.
Imposter syndrome is an invitation to grow, not a verdict on your worth.
Fact #4: Plateaus are real
Growth sometimes feels like climbing a mountain. You sprint uphill, you breathe hard, you feel the excitement of progress. Then suddenly you hit a flat spot.
May at this point, you may feel like you've peaked.
You spend hours reading docs or replaying tutorials and you wonder if you are making any progress at all. Or maybe you discover your stuck in a role for up to 3+ years without any promotion or significant advancement.
Is this a peak? Not really but it is a plateau.
That flat spot is called a plateau and and it's the point where
Plateaus aren’t failures; they’re part of the journey. But if you don’t know how to climb off them, you can get stuck.
You need to need to do the following:
Shake things up. Learn advanced interaction design and motion principles, try writing technical specs, exploring a new framework/tool, or contributing to open source. Novelty reignites learning.
Set micro-goals. Instead of “get better at React” or “Master design system," aim for “build a custom hook by the end of the week” or “Create a complete colour scheme that match website's brand,” Small wins add up.
Seek feedback. Code reviews, design critiques, or even teaching someone else can reveal blind spots you didn’t know you had.
Be weary of the dangers of getting too comfortable in a plateau. It could lead you to tolerate mediocrity and become more resistant to change instead of growing and improving. A lot of professionals have failed to grow because they got comfortable in their plateaus.
Finally
Believe in yourself and be willing to bet on your future.
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. - Eleanor Roosevelt
You can't always change or influence what happens in the world tomorrow but one thing you can do is develop yourself to be FUTURE-PROOF.
You can kick things off by deepening your AI know-how. Join Dome Academy’s BUILD WITH AI workshop to master prompt-writing, create and use AI agents, and fine-tune models for your own needs → Register here
Register now to save your spot!
Tech may be overwhelming but it is also a playground of endless possibilities. By leaning into fundamentals, embracing AI, owning your imposter moments, and attacking plateaus you will stay ahead of the curve. You have everything you need to thrive. It is time to put these steps into action and keep building the future you want to see.
Cheers!
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