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Choosing the right professional development courses is crucial in today’s workforce, where career opportunities and required skills are constantly changing. Recommendations from peers, employers, and industry associations can help, as can considering your motivation and the curriculum’s relevance to your industry. Up-to-date practices and technologies are essential, especially for careers like teaching, healthcare, engineering, law, and the military.
In previous generations, it was not uncommon for someone to land a job fresh out of school and remain in the same position until retirement, using the same skills throughout their career. Today, however, an increase in the types of career opportunities in the workforce and the skills required has created a need for many people to proactively map out a career path. Some people who find themselves at a crossroads in their career will take professional development courses as a stepping stone from one career to another, while other professionals may simply need to keep up to date on any changes in their industry. Choosing the professional development courses that suit your career goals involves clearly defining what you hope to get out of the course and what your goals are, as well as researching the curriculum for potential courses.
To assemble a set of courses to choose from, first check with associates and peers who have taken professional development courses similar to the type you are pursuing. See if they can make any recommendations or can refer you to someone else they have taken professional development courses with. If your employer supports your decision to pursue professional development, they will also be able to recommend the right courses for your career. Any unions or associations belonging to your industry will also be able to recommend professional development classes.
One of the first steps in choosing the best professional development courses is to consider your motivation for pursuing this type of education. If you are seeking professional development to improve your current performance or seek a promotion, look for a course recommended by your current workplace and teach the specific skills outlined in the job description. If you plan to take a professional development course while working or are already a full-time student, look for a course with minimal housework. If you are a recent graduate or work part-time, you may have more flexibility with regards to what time courses are taught and the portion of time you need to complete assignments.
A curriculum that features the most up-to-date practices and technologies in an industry is crucial in a professional development course, especially since technology is ever-changing and permeates virtually every industry. Some examples of careers that may require ongoing courses in professional development include teachers, health professionals, engineers, lawyers, and the military. It’s important to choose professional development courses that teach you the most up-to-date regulations and techniques in your industry using the most current technology and avoid using soon-to-be obsolete software or hardware.
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