Continuous professional development is essential for many jobs. This can mean anything from taking regular refresher courses to attending industry seminars and achieving new qualifications. Whether you are a neurologist, an accountant, or a veterinary surgeon, making an effort to learn new skills will benefit you and your career, as well as your employer. Here’s why.
You Can Learn New Skills
Very few industries stay the same. Technology improves, discoveries are made, and new ways of doing things come to pass. Change is inevitable, but if you ignore the benefits or professional development, you will probably be left behind.
Imagine if you are an accountant. Once upon a time, you probably used paper ledger books, but then accounting software was developed and now it’s all done digitally. If you never took the time to learn how to use accounting software, you’d be unemployable by now, even if your basic numeracy skills are amazing.
As in many industries, accountants can benefit from learning new skills and keeping up to date within their specialisms. For example, Online CPE Courses for Accountants are designed to aid accountants in the oil and gas industry, where up-to-the-minute insights are crucial.
Networking Opportunities
Never underestimate the value of making new contacts in your industry. You might not need them immediately, but an extensive list of contacts is very useful when the time comes to move to a new job.
The great thing about many professional development events is that they offer excellent networking opportunities. Attending an annual industry seminar means not only do you learn more about the latest industry developments, but you can also meet new people in your niche and get to know them in a social setting. It’s a win-win.
Move Up the Career Ladder
Employers are more likely to hire someone who has put time and energy into continuous professional development. It shows they are committed to their career and keen to improve their skills. As such, they are a better hire than Joe Bloggs who never attended a course in his life and who has one eye on retirement.
New certifications and credentials look great on your resume. Even if your current employer isn’t interested in paying for you to upskill, consider doing it anyway. You can take those shiny new skills to a different employer, one that appreciates you more.
Build Leadership Skills
Learning new skills is more than staying up to date in your industry. It’s also a great way to boost your confidence and credibility. Focusing on professional development shows employers you are committed and have ambition. For anyone keen to move into a management position or wanting to show off their leadership potential, spending time on professional development is essential. If it does well, you’ll soon be able to flex your new competencies in a leadership position.
Employers can benefit greatly from encouraging employees to devote time and energy to professional development. It shows employees you value their skills and are willing to support their career, plus you gain from their advanced knowledge. What’s not to like about that?
