Professional development
Advances in technology, knowledge and practice mean that continued learning and professional development is a necessity of many occupations, particularly if career progression is your aim.
It’s important to stay on top of developments in your particular field by maintaining and continually updating your professional knowledge and skills. In some professions the constant advances in technology and knowledge can mean that it’s easy to fall behind the eight ball. For other occupations it is necessary to satisfy professional development requirements in order to achieve and maintain professional status or the right to practise.
Types of professional development:
- Formal learning: you may enrol in a course of study run by an external party such as a university or TAFE institute. This means you will gain a formal qualification or statement of completion that you can add to your CV.
- Self-directed learning: this might take the form of an online course run by your organisation, or attending lectures or seminars relevant to your job role.
Professional associations run professional development activities, so it's a good idea to look into memberships and the benefits they offer. Read more about professional membership here .
Professional development gives you the opportunity to:
- keep up-to-date with changes in your industry
- strengthen your knowledge and skills
- formally demonstrate your commitment to professional development and career progression
- gain professional recognition and accreditation within your field
- improve your career prospects and your appeal to potential employers.
Most organisations are happy for their staff to pursue educational opportunities outside of the office. Studies have shown that Generation Y employees are looking for more of a work-life balance, which includes life-long learning opportunities and the chance to upgrade their skills. Talk to your employer and find out what they can offer you: they might pay for the course, or offer flexible hours so you can attend class and have time off for study. Read more about Generation Y here .
These days it’s becoming increasingly common for people to change jobs and even careers multiple times in their lifetime, so it is also important for graduates to continually develop and hone general skills as well as the skills and knowledge specific to their particular profession. Communication skills, initiative and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team are attributes likely to be valued by employees in all professions and industries.
Take advantage of any training opportunities offered by your employer but also use your initiative and seek out relevant training courses and programs that will be beneficial to both your skills development and marketability.
For more information about professional development opportunities that may be useful to you it’s a good idea to contact the relevant professional association(s) for your profession or industry.