PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Professional development  is the process of improving and increasing

capabilities of staff through access to education and training opportunities in
the workplace, through outside organization, or through watching others
perform the job. Professional development helps build and maintain morale
of staff members, and is thought to attract higher quality staff to an
organization. Also called staff development.

Professional development is learning to earn or maintain

professional credentials such as academic degrees to formal coursework,
attending conferences, and informal learning opportunities situated in
practice.

Professional development opportunities can range from a single workshop to

a semester-long academic course, to services offered by a medley of
different professional development providers and varying widely with respect
to the philosophy, content, and format of the learning experiences.

Some examples of approaches to professional development include:

 Case Study Method – The case method is a teaching approach that

consists in presenting the students with a case, putting them in the role
of a decision maker facing a problem.
 Consultation – to assist an individual or group of individuals to clarify
and address immediate concerns by following a systematic problem-
solving process.
 Coaching – to enhance a person’s competencies in a specific skill area
by providing a process of observation, reflection, and action.
 Communities of Practice – to improve professional practice by
engaging in shared inquiry and learning with people who have a common
goal
 Lesson Study – to solve practical dilemmas related to intervention or
instruction through participation with other professionals in systematically
examining practice
 Mentoring – to promote an individual's awareness and refinement of his
or her own professional development by providing and recommending
structured opportunities for reflection and observation
 Reflective Supervision – to support, develop, and ultimately evaluate
the performance of employees through a process of inquiry that
encourages their understanding and articulation of the rationale for their
own practices
 Technical Assistance – to assist individuals and their organization to
improve by offering resources and information, supporting networking
and change efforts
Ways to Take Charge of Your Professional Development

1. Earn a certificate in your field.

Depending on your industry, there are a number of certificate programs

available to expand your professional skills.

2. Enroll in an online course.

Most online courses are offered on a flexible basis, allowing you to work your
continuing education into your busy life.

3. Speak at a conference or seminar.

To succeed in business, you must learn how to communicate clearly and

compellingly -- to your boss, your subordinates or even a room full of
complete strangers.

4. Expand your scope.

Here’s an idea: Instead of waiting for your boss to challenge you to grow,
ask him or her for a new challenge.

Take on a project outside your standard load. Scare yourself here.

Focus not on what you’ve comfortably done in the past but what you want to
accomplish in the future.

Once you’ve taken on your new project, grab every resource you possibly
can to help you see it through to completion. Read books. Scour the
internet. Reach out to contacts in other organizations. Do whatever you have
to do to learn and grow into your expanded role.
5. Find a mentor.

Formal methods of professional development (online courses, training, etc.)

are important, but there’s something unique about engaging the informal
guidance of a trusted and respected mentor.

Find someone you admire, either in your organization or outside of it.

Choose a leader who embodies the professional qualities you hold dear. Buy
them lunch. Dissect their journey. Get to know the ins and outs of who they
are and how they got to where they are. More than that, build a relationship.
Process decisions with your new mentor. Learn to think like they think and
ask the types of questions they ask.

You can't put a value on this type of professional development. You can't
quantify it. But, with the help of a wise mentor, you'll grow more in your
vocation than you ever could by simply reading a book or taking a course.

The importance of continuing professional development (CDP)

 CPD ensures your capabilities keep pace with the current standards of

others in the same field.
 CPD ensures that you maintain and enhance the knowledge and skills
you need to deliver a professional service to your customers, clients
and the community.
 CPD ensures that you and your knowledge stay relevant and up to
date. You are more aware of the changing trends and directions in
your profession. The pace of change is probably faster than it’s ever
been – and this is a feature of the new normal that we live and work
 in. If you stand still you will get left behind, as the currency of your
knowledge and skills becomes outdated.
 CPD helps you continue to make a meaningful contribution to your
team. You become more effective in the workplace. This assists you to
advance in your career and move into new positions where you can
lead, manage, influence, coach and mentor others.
 CPD helps you to stay interested and interesting.  Experience is a
great teacher, but it does mean that we tend to do what we have done
before.  Focused CPD opens you up to new possibilities, new
knowledge and new skill areas.
 CPD can deliver a deeper understanding of what it means to be a
professional, along with a greater appreciation of the implications and
impacts of your work.
 CPD helps advance the body of knowledge and technology within your
profession
 CPD can lead to increased public confidence in individual professionals
and their profession as a whole
 Depending on the profession – CPD contributes to improved protection
and quality of life, the environment, sustainability, property and the
economy.  This particularly applies to high risk areas, or specialized
practice areas which often prove impractical to monitor on a case by
case basis.
Qualities and Skills Employers are Looking For

1. Technical Competency
Most positions require certain skills that are advertised on the Job Posting. If
you are hired to perform certain tasks then you should have the skills.
Improving your skills along the way is also expected.

2. Honesty
Employers want accurate and timely information regarding their business
and their employees. Made a mistake? Don’t cover it up, admit it, and learn
not to do it again.

3. Communication Skills
The ability to communicate clearly and effectively in many mediums: by
email, verbally, with lists and phone messages, on the phone, and with body
language. Communication also includes listening skills and the ability to
follow directions and provide feedback.

4. Work Ethic
Be at work on time, do what you were hired to do, meet targets and
deadlines and work to the best of your ability.

5. Flexibility
Employers and their employees need to react quickly to changing business
conditions. Employers need employees who can change gears and adapt as
required.
6. Determination and Persistence
Managers will give employees challenging goals but generally they are
achievable. The key is to be able to work hard and keep moving forward
when you encounter obstacles.

7. Ability to Work in Harmony with Co-Workers

Employers and managers like to have people working with them and for
them who can get along with their colleagues and who can work with others
effectively in different circumstances.

8. Eager and Willing to Add to Their Knowledge Base and Skills

As businesses change, there is often a need to find out new information,
expand knowledge and explore new ways of doing things. People with an
interest in learning, and a willingness to pass it on to others, become
invaluable.

9. Problem-Solving Skills
Companies are looking for people who are motivated to take on challenges
with minimal direction. Employees should see when something needs to be
done and react accordingly.

10. Loyalty
Employers want and need to be able to trust their employees to work
professionally to meet the employer’s best interests. Employers do not want
to hire people who require close scrutiny or who cannot be trusted to
represent the company in public.
11. Critical Thinking

Employers want employees who can solve problems on their own

using creative thinking and thoughtful analysis. Critical thinkers are useful in
every industry, from healthcare and engineering to education.

Problem Solving

Employers value good problem-solvers as they effectively and swiftly make

decisions while largely keeping their emotions at bay. They gather as much
information as they can and let intuition, logic and innovative thinking drive
the best solution. They are also great collaborators and open to the ideas
and opinions of others.

Flexible/Dependable

As two valued qualities that feed off of each other, dependability

and flexibility go hand in hand.

Employers hire candidates who demonstrate reliability, responsibility and are

trustworthy with more responsibilities.

Flexible employees can adapt to change, take on projects outside of their

scope and shift their schedule if necessary. A flexible and dependable
employee is also willing to help on other projects, even when they are in an
unfamiliar focus area.

Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills, also known as people skills, are those related to how
you communicate and interact with those around you. Employers want
employees who can get along well with their employers, their colleagues,
and clients.
 People with interpersonal skills are also more likely to work well in teams.
Displaying such skills will impress your potential employer and could lead to
future opportunities for promotions and raises.

Motivated

Employers seek employees who are positive and passionate about their jobs
and are motivated. These individuals tend to put the most effort into their
work and learn from their mistakes and failures.

How can you let an employer know that you have these qualities
when you are applying for a job?

 Provide a resume that uses the words employers are looking for to get their
attention
 Send a cover letter with your resume that clearly demonstrates you
understand the skills needed for the job and provide examples of where you
have used these skills
 Make sure your references will say good, appropriate things about you on
inquiry
 Volunteer and have your supervisor provide a reference
 Have great letter of reference from a previous employer to give to
prospective employers
 Have good communication skills, on your resume, on the telephone and in
the job interview
 Have examples and stories to tell in the interview of how you learned
something or how you solved a problem at a previous position
List of Personal Skills to Use on Your Resume
You can adapt this verbiage for your resumes, cover letter, and interview
talking points. So, what are these important skills that employers demand of
jobseekers? Check out this list of the top values and skills employers seek
and learn how to include them in your resume:

Personal Skill #1: Professionalism

Professionalism is acting in a responsible and fair manner in all of your

personal and work activities. It’s seen as a sign of maturity and self-
confidence.

How to describe this skill on your resume: Conscientious go-getter who is

highly organized, dedicated, and committed to professionalism.

Personal Skill #2: Honesty and Integrity

Employers probably respect personal integrity more than any other value,
especially in light of the corporate scandals that have become so
commonplace.

How to describe this skill on your resume: Seasoned professional whose

honesty and integrity create effective leadership and optimal business
relationships.

Personal Skill #3: Adaptability

Adaptability deals with openness to new ideas and concepts, to working

independently or as part of a team. It also refers to the ability to pivot
between assignments and carry out multiple tasks or projects.
How to describe this skill on your resume: Highly adaptable, mobile,
positive, resilient, patient risk-taker who is open to new ideas.

Personal Skill #4: Problem-solving

Employers look for jobseekers who love what they do and will keep at it until
they solve the problem and get the job done.

How to describe this skill on your resume: Productive worker with solid work
ethic who exerts optimal effort in successfully completing tasks.

Personal Skill #5: Dependability

There’s no question that all employers desire employees who will arrive to
work every day on time and ready to work, and who will take responsibility
for their actions.

How to describe this skill on your resume: Dependable, responsible

contributor committed to excellence and success.

Personal Skill #6: Loyalty

Employers want employees who will have a strong devotion to the company
(even when the company is not necessarily loyal to its employees).

How to describe this skill on your resume: Loyal and dedicated manager

with an excellent work record.

Personal Skill #7: Positive Attitude

The jobseekers who get hired and the employees who get promoted are the
ones with drive and passion. They demonstrate this enthusiasm through
their words and actions.

How to describe this skill on your resume: Energetic performer consistently

cited for unbridled passion for work, sunny disposition, and upbeat, positive
attitude.

Personal Skill #8: Self-Confidence

Self-confidence is very important to landing a job. Look at it this way: if you

don’t believe in yourself, in your unique mix of skills, education, and
abilities, why should a prospective employer? Be confident in yourself and
what you can offer employers.

The best news is that once you understand the unique skills and
characteristics that most employers seek, you can tailor your job-search
communication — your resume, cover letter and elevator pitch — to
showcase how well your background aligns with common employer
requirements.

How to describe this skill on your resume: Confident, hard-working

employee who is committed to achieving excellence.

Personal Skill #9: Self-Motivated

While teamwork is always mentioned as an important skill, so is the ability

to work independently, with minimal supervision. Show your future hiring
manager that you’re self-motivated.

How to describe this skill on your resume: Highly motivated self-starter who

takes initiative with minimal supervision.
Personal Skill #10: Willingness to Learn

No matter what your age, and no matter how much experience you have,
you should always be willing to learn a new skill or technique. Jobs are
constantly changing and evolving, and you must show an openness to grow
and learn with that change.

How to describe this skill on your resume: Enthusiastic, knowledge-hungry

learner, eager to meet challenges and quickly assimilate new concepts.

Personal Skill #11: Leadership

While there is some debate about whether leadership is something people

are born with, this skill deals with your ability to take charge and manage
your co-workers.

How to describe this skill on your resume: Goal-driven leader who maintains

a productive climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes, and coaches
employees to meet high-performance standards.

Personal Skill #12: Multicultural Sensitivity

There is possibly no bigger issue in the workplace than diversity, and

jobseekers must demonstrate a sensitivity and awareness to other people
and cultures.

How to describe this skill on your resume: Personable professional whose

strengths include cultural sensitivity and an ability to build rapport with a
diverse workforce in multicultural settings.

Personal Skill #13: Planning and Organization

This skill deals with your ability to design, plan, organize, and implement
projects and tasks within an allotted timeframe.

How to describe this skill on your resume: Results-driven achiever with

exemplary planning and organizational skills, along with a high degree of
detail orientation.

Personal Skill #14: Teamwork

Because so many jobs involve working in one or more work-groups, you

must have the ability to work with others in a professional manner while
working to achieve a common goal.