Professional development refers to the continued learning one may choose to pursue which will help them to grow in a professional capacity. This could be something one chooses to do on their own time while in school or looking for a job, or it might be something one does within a job to make sure they’re progressing. In fact, according to LinkedIn Learning research, 94% of employees say they would stay longer at a company if it invested in their career. This is why it’s so important for organizations to have options for training to aid engagement and retention.

How to Plan and Assess Your Professional Development

When pursuing professional development as a training professional, it can be very helpful to have a plan and have thought about ways you can assess your progress. A professional development plan (PDP) can outline the goals you want to achieve, objectives you have in mind, and ways you can measure your skills and competencies after the fact.

You’ll want a baseline to work with, which may involve first completing a self-assessment. This will help to lay out which steps you need to take, and in which areas. Depending on if you’re currently employed or seeking employment, you will want to think about the needs of the organization or the training role you’re applying for as to where there might be gaps in your knowledge or experience. If you are currently employed, you might take this plan to your manager to discuss how your goals can be achieved and how you can be supported along the way. There might be opportunities they can offer or costs they can cover pertaining to courses and training.

Once you start your professional development, whether it be via courses, training or other avenues, it would be helpful to record your progress and take notes along the way. You can write performance logs or ask your mentor to do so if this is applicable. It’s always great to have feedback if your courses are run by coaches or teachers too. The notes you have taken can be a testament to your progress and you can fully evaluate this further by completing another self-assessment and comparing it to your original results.

Evaluating Your Professional Development Options

There are different options you can pursue to best accommodate the skills and knowledge you’re trying to develop, such as:

Online courses and certificates

According to a 2021 LinkedIn Learning report, 57% of learning and development professionals increased their company’s budget for online learning — an increase from 38% in 2020. eLearning has grown in popularity, and there are even short and free courses you can sign up for to improve your skills as a learning professional. There are also many certifications for training professionals available on the market.

Formal education

This includes undergraduate and graduate-level academic programs These often take a lot longer and can be expensive, but you’ll receive a full education and valued qualifications upon graduation.

Coaching and/or mentoring

You might decide to hire and work with a coach of some kind. They can give you hands on, one-on-one advice in an environment that works best for you. When you’re looking for a mentor, consider ones with industry-relevant expertise.

Seminars, conferences, webinars and workshops

These are great for further learning, as you can participate in interactive training and network and connect with other industry professionals. You can find these online and attend them virtually or keep up to date on in-person sessions happening near you.

Key Takeaways

Professional development can be a very enjoyable process as it allows you to feel productive and enthused about your professional future in the training field. Versatility and the desire to learn are becoming very attractive traits for all candidates and current employees.

Continuous development helps equip you with the skills and mindset needed to navigate the challenges and opportunities that may come your way. Take the first step by creating a PDP today and work to stick to your professional development goals.

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