What is professional development?

I get asked all the time by job seekers, “How can I better prepare myself for the work place?” or “What kind of training should I complete?”.

No matter how many times I’m asked this, it always makes me step back and think a bit. My typical response includes suggestions of certifications, trainings, meetup events, or conferences that I’ve heard of or attended. I provide a variety of options because professional development is very personal to each individual based on learning styles and career.

The next thing I hear is usually how expensive professional development is, and this may be true. And sometimes, depending on your professional goals, the expense is necessary and worth every dollar. Please note, this post is not to deny the importance of certification courses, conferences, or other paid trainings available. I find them absolutely necessary in certain situations and partake in them as well.

However, there are plenty of free resources available for those who can’t afford it. Or there are those like me who may be looking to development professionally in an area that it may not make sense to pursue paid trainings.

Let’s walk through the professional development guide I created for myself. I work in IT recruitment and before joining the IT community I didn’t know much about technology. Sure, I could change out my own hard drive or fix the screen on my laptop (with video assistance). But I couldn’t tell you what a router does or what it means to use React in web development. I needed to grow professionally to be successful in this new field. For me, professional development includes a lot of little things.

1.     Videos/Podcasts – During my first couple months on the job, I would spend parts of my day listening to and watching videos and podcasts about technology. I didn’t always understand, but it taught me the language of technology. It forced my brained to think in that sense. YouTube is a great resource because it is filled with information that you can use to grow and learn, regardless of topic.  

2.     Asking Questions – When I talk to tech professionals, I ask lots of questions. And I’m not afraid to mess up or admit I don’t understand. Talk to others in your field – whether it be a manager, mentor, colleague or someone else…force yourself to discuss.

3.     Webinars/Seminars – I find it helpful to sit in on webinars or seminars that go into detail about specific tops. I may not always grasp every aspect of the topic, but the more I attend the better I feel about technology as a whole. Use meetup.com or Google, “free webinars on “Insert Topic” and you will undoubtedly find something.

4.     Hands On Training – As I’ve begun to understand the language and the purpose of certain technologies, I’ve felt it necessary to get my hands dirty. I’m currently taking courses on how to program in .Net development through Microsoft Virtual Academy. I don’t necessarily plan to go into development, but I know it will help me in my recruitment efforts. This requires a bit of research but you can find some training.

5.     Reading – For me, I wait until I have a basic to medium understanding of a topic to begin reading about it. If I can’t wrap my mind around the topic, I’ll read but not comprehend. Recently, I began reading Charles Petzold’s Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software. Your local library has thousands of books that you can check out or download to your phone or e-reader.  

The best part of all of this…it costs me zero dollars to pursue professional development. It does take time, but there are free professional development programs available in almost any career or profession.

Also, if you are employed, look at what professional development opportunities your employer offers.

Many companies offer training or they will subsidize (or fully cover) the cost of a conference or certification course. Take a look at your benefits and see what you’re missing out on!

What resources do you use for professional development?