We're always reading self-help books on topics like love or happiness,
so why not do something different this month and focus on your
professional development?
There's always room for learning, and bettering yourself will give
you more focus and drive towards your job. It's also a chance for you to
revamp your career, feed your brain, and gain confidence.
Click through the slides to find out how to get started today!
1. Check Your Company Budget
First of all, check with your boss or HR to see if your company is
willing to expense your professional development plan. Talk to them
about your ideas and give them specific details such as the class you
want to attend and how much it costs. Explain how this will help with
your performance as an employee.
This story was originally published by SavvySugar.
2. Brainstorm a Game Plan
Decide what professional development means to you and what skills you
feel you can use. Then, give some thought to what the best way to get
there is. Take your own initiative to research potential projects and
talk to friends and co-workers for suggestions.
3. Toasting Your Way to Success
No, this does not involve copious amounts of champagne. Think about joining your local Toastmasters
club to improve your public speaking. Shed your shyness and learn how
to better articulate yourself. It's a great skill to have and applicable
to many situations including presentations and interviews. The meetings
are also a great venue for networking and making friends.
4. Stuff Your Brain
It's cliched, but a good book
really goes a long way. To make it fun for you, pick a topic you're
interested in and a good writer who will make a bland topic seem fun. My
personal favorite is Ramit Sethi's I Will Teach You to Be Rich. You can also update your Google reader with entertaining blogs that cover your field of interest.
5. Pen Your Future
I know you're not an oracle,
but you can certainly map out where you see yourself in five years.
It's a good way of getting the ball rolling with ideas on how to develop
yourself professionally. After writing your future goals, you can
figure out what steps you need to take to get there and what you can do
in the meantime. Whether it's attending professional mixers to network
or taking GMAT classes, taking these initial baby steps is the only way
to achieve your five-year plan!
6. Get Linked
Take a moment to update your profile on Linkedin, Doostang
or any other professional social networking platform you use. It's a
great confidence booster to see your career achievements listed out as
well as recommendations from your boss and colleagues. Get in touch with
people in your industry or old friends that you haven't talked to in a
while. Who knows, a great new job opportunity may pop up!
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