Are you just out of college and looking for ways to advance your career? Maybe you’ve hit a plateau at your workplace and considering types of professional development for hopeful advancement? Here are three ideas to try right now…
Sustaining Your Professional Development Over Time
Why is professional development important? Simple: It can begin as soon as it is necessary, then pause and resume when and where appropriate. What matters, though, is the achievement of incremental progress. Continued nurturing of your:
- Network
- Niche credentials
- Professional development skills
Can result in new, and even unexpected, opportunities.
For so many participation in fraternities and sororities as part of undergraduate university life is appealing. Firms like Billhighway fund such organizations and the lifelong benefits they can provide vast benefits to their members.
No matter your motivation, understanding how your personal development relates to your career, and continuing it into the future, is key. Even after achieving an executive position or successful entrepreneurial venture.
In this article, we’ll discuss a few principles necessary for charting your path forward, how to avoid resting on your laurels, and three professional development ideas to supercharge your career.
Your Online Profile And Connections
Absolutely use the power of online networking to grow your connections and establish yourself as a resource in your industry. Many industry professionals suggest that LinkedIn is the most productive platform. Also key:
- Contributing to discussion forums
- Running your own website and blog dedicated to your industry’s best insights
- Connecting with colleagues through your own Facebook group
For most professional fields individuals usually find paths to acquiring jobs, cementing relationships, and becoming a well-regarded influencer.
Volunteer
Be proactive and to put yourself in situations that test your professional development in a range of ways. Volunteering for placements or opportunities can be a great place to start.
Even if a potential opportunity isn’t an exact match for your intended specialty (say you’re studying for film school and you have the chance to be an extra on a movie set as opposed to a camera assistant), then you’ll eventually find that experience, even tangentially, useful toward your goals.
Don’t forget that such opportunities can add networking potential, and the chance to evolve as a rounded professional.
Leveraging Free Professional Development Courses And Training
You may be surprised at the extent of free courses, training seminars and online education curriculums you can access as an employee, as a graduate, or as someone liaising with a brand. This might be:
- Public speaking seminars at your place of employment
- Initiatives that provide you the chance to try different roles (sometimes giving you a few days from your usual responsibilities)
- Educational incentive programs that offer you credit hours towards a final certification
It’s always a good idea to see what additional training may be available, either for low cost, preferential access, or the chance to network in coveted circles.
Regardless, your main objective should be the positive evolution of your professional development over time.
