The Professional Development 411 series is a compilation of tips and tricks about career growth and development. These tidbits have been posted for information and awareness, and are occasionally used on social media for general engagement and conversation.
- You and only you own your #career; have a #vision and a #plan to achieve your #career goals; do not wait for others to do it for you!
- Think of 2-3 things besides #compensation that are important to you; what is your plan to achieve them now or in the future?
- What do you value the most in life? How do you prioritize work and career against other things in your life? #KnowYourself
- What are your 'go-to' personality traits and communication style? What is your default response to dealing with stress? Be #SelfAware
- What do you believe is your biggest weakness? Be aware of it, validate it with coworkers, acknowledge it, and have a plan to improve upon it
- Be comfortable with being uncomfortable; don't become complacent and stagnant in a role - seek challenges to remain engaged and relevant
- Take accountability for your mistakes, acknowledge, and show intent, and plan to rectify them in the future
- Share options and alternate solutions to surfaced problems, rather than just highlighting them
- Pursue lifelong learning, and proactively network with others to learn from their experiences and perspectives
- Don't let a failure or mistake slow down your pace; turn it into a learning opportunity and seek opportunities to turn a similar situation into a success
- Be open and receptive to opportunities around you, whether it is a new career opportunity, a new project, or a move within the organization
- Spend time crafting your resume, and keep it updated regardless of your employment status; it is powerful and reflective to document your accomplishments
- Network with other professionals in your industry and discipline at work and outside work to learn and grow; consider joining some professional associations
- Look to expand your horizons by seeking job shadowing opportunities to learn about other business functions and skillsets
- Give back to the community, by volunteering to be a mentor or helping your organization with various outreach events
- Take the time to document your development plan; think about a short-term and a long-term horizon - where do you see yourself? how can you get there?
- Share your development plan with your leader, ask for input and evolve; obtain your leader's support and buy-in, and have them become your advocate
- Seek feedback from your leader and peers often to track your progress against the professional development plan; take corrective action as needed
- Consider pursuing professional credentials and formal education to elevate skills, boost your portfolio and stay on top of your subject matter
- Be creative in getting your name out there to people in your profession, whether it is through social media interactions or professional networking
- Build a strong personal brand and leverage social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) and digital channels (such as website, YouTube) to market it
- Seek 360 feedback from your leaders, peers, customers, and direct reports regularly to understand how you are perceived by these stakeholder groups
- Find a mentor who can help you with your career growth by providing his/her experiential perspective, coaching, and advice
- Don't limit yourself to a single role or technology; be fluid in learning interesting roles and technologies to keep yourself relevant
- Strike a work-life balance to be able to enjoy a healthy personal life while prospering at work; an imbalance could have serious long-term consequences
- Be proactive and take initiative; don't wait for the perfect opportunity to land at your doorstep - create these opportunities!
- Ask questions and be curious - seek to understand and don't let anyone or any perception stop you from being inquisitive and interested
- Create value in whatever you pursue; it is easy to get carried away in self-development - don't forget to generate value for your organization and community!
