This week’s post over at University Affairs is all about professional development. Here’s the first paragraph:
On Monday I finish a coaching class. This will be the second professional development course I’ve done since getting my PhD in 2012. Back then, I’d never thought I’d see another classroom ever again! And, it’s true, I haven’t: My coaching courses are all over the phone! But still; you understand.
Read the rest of “Why you should continue your professional development.” And then let me know what you think!
Comments
5 responses to “Professional development”
“This isn’t a regulated industry, so I don’t need any credentials to work as a coach. But part of me likes the idea of getting the A-Ok from a recognized institution.”
There is a lot to this comment. It’s easy to focus on education provided by recognized institutions as they do guarantee a certain level of quality (I have 3 degrees so I certainly see the value in that form of education). However, I think our world needs to add creative approaches such as THE ULTIMATE CHEAT SHEET FOR REINVENTING YOURSELF or 50 (Cheap!) Professional Development Classes Anyone Can Take
When you define professional development and education as “getting another degree”, it’s easy to tell yourself that you have no options. Taking an hour or two on an evening to plunge into an online course (free or paid), take a $500 night class, reading 3 books (free at the library): all of these are relatively affordable in time and effort to start learning, yet few people take advantage of these resources.
Keep up the good work of broadening the definition of professional development,
Thanks for sharing Jen!
I’m a grad student working my way towards a PhD in biochemistry.
Last year, I decided to do a certificate program in business administration to have basic business skills and knowledge under my belt.
“I’d never thought I’d see another classroom ever again!”
I felt the same way! Yes, I have to attend seminars throughout grad school, but it’s just not the same as sitting in a classroom and listening to a teacher talk about an entirely different field I am not familiar with (finance, accounting, etc…)
“But part of me likes the idea of getting the A-Ok from a recognized institution.”
Agree with you, and Bruce.
With so much available resources to us online, I think there are lots of people who would rather choose to take free online classes (flexible schedule, no cost) or just read up on their own. The learning environment and the quality of the teaching are very different. And when it comes to putting your credentials on a CV, I see the value of having my credentials from a recognized institution. And I think whoever wants to hire me sees it the same way.
I’m certainly grateful that I found a university that offers a pseudo-mini MBA program for people who have no prior knowledge in business, and are seeking to learn the basics and for professional development.
That’s awesome! You’re thinking ahead! There are so many potentially wonderful commercial applications that can come out of PhD research and/or collaboration with other smart, creative, resourceful people.
Thanks for this post (followed it months later via your Twitter’s “from the archives”. I know I need some professional development to help move my alt-ac life along, but I’m dithering and undetermined about what form that will take (hence signing up with a career coach whom you know well). If I’m going to invest money and time, I want to make sure it’s a well-chosen goal or direction for that development.
Yes! Yay! (I KNOW WHO I BET!) Dithering is just another word for weighing your options :). At some point you’ll probably take a risk… actually, working with a coach is taking a risk! Good.