It doesn't matter if we've reached the pinnacle of our profession/trade or just considering one, we all need to be constantly learning about what's happening in our chosen/desired professions/careers.
Here are a few important questions to consider:
- Will the profession I’ve chosen (or are thinking of choosing) be in demand in the next five (5) years?...What certifications and training courses do I need, in order to qualify for my profession and to remain marketable?
- Is there an industry association that I can join to get the latest information related to my profession and to meet,network and exchange knowledge/ideas with other professionals in my industry?
The best ways to keep abreast of what’s happening in our chosen professions is to:
- Join industry associations…if there are none, then form one:)
- Read industry-related magazines and journals and magazines dealing with Business and World Affairs like Business Week, Newsweek, Time, The Wall Street Journal and The Economist. (There are always offline and online versions of these magazines that you can subscribe to).
- Participate in industry-related Usenet groups, Online Communities and weblogs on the Internet. Yahoo Groups and Google Groups are quite popular Online Communities.
- Speak with other professionals in your industry. You need to keep abreast of what’s happening, just in case you need to make that all-important career move.
- Look out for trends and stay abreast of them.
- Always be willing to learn. Realize that learning is a process and you must be patient with yourself in order to learn effectively.
Well, that’s all I have to say for now concerning professional growth, your comments are welcome.
