Helping others understand your commitment to lifelong learning is an essential part of personal branding. Yet to stay competitive in the job market today, job seekers need to participate in training and development that is consistent with your goals. I want my clients to know that I am committed to improving my career counseling practice by getting my MBTI and Strong Interest Inventory Certifications. Many factors went into choosing these certifications including time, money, format and relevance. I’m offering the following tips to help you choose which professional development activities are best for your goals.
Deciding which professional development activities are best for you begins with an evaluation of your current career goals. Part of personal branding is defining who you are and what role(s) you want to pursue. The type of training that is best for you will be different for those seeking entrepreneurship, a promotion, a better job within the same industry or a pivot into a different industry. I chose these certifications based on my desire to attract more career counseling clients and seek leadership roles within my field.
Once you have defined your career goals, you will need to research which training opportunities will help you achieve your goals. If you are a job seeker, start by reading the job descriptions of positions that interest you. Make a list of the education, certifications and training requirements that are repeatedly appearing in the job descriptions. If you are starting a business read the web sites of the businesses that offer similar products and services. Usually you can see their qualifications in their “About Us” page or you can learn more about their training by looking at their LinkedIn profile. When I researched more than 20 leadership roles in my field, I noticed three certifications on many job descriptions. The three certifications were MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory and National Career Development Association (NCDA) Career Counseling Certification. My plan is to obtain all three by 2024. If you are unable to determine which trainings will help you reach your goal, then doing informational interviews with people who are in the role is helpful. Before my supervisor decided to apply for a leadership position, they interviewed all of the supervisors at their current job. This activity helped them decide if they wanted the role and what type of skills and training they needed to be successful in the role.
The next factor in determining your professional development endeavors is cost. Before you pay for a training, it is very important to speak with hiring managers and professionals in the industry to determine which trainings are important and which institutions are accredited to offer the training. If the opportunities you are seeking require a college degree in a related field, a certificate may not help you get an entry level position. There are lots of online classes offered by LinkedIn Learning, Udemy and Coursera, so determining which courses are respected in your industry is a great way to help you choose your class. If you need to upskill for a specific job find out if your local public library offers free online courses. I am very fortunate that my employer paid for the MBTI Certification, but I am paying for the Strong Interest Inventory Certification. The company was offering a discount for taking both certifications, so that helped me determine when I would take the second certification. When I apply for leadership roles, I know that I will be competing with professionals who have a master’s level certificate in career counseling, but paying $20K for graduate school is not an option for me at this time. I believe that my decade of career counseling experience combined with these certifications will make me just as competitive.
Upskilling also requires an investment of time and energy. Before choosing a training make sure you have researched the course length and amount of studying that is required each week. Consider how much time you need to commit to other work and life roles. The eight-week MBTI certification is self-paced, but it requires at least five hours of reading, writing and studying each week. I am doing this while working a full-time job and managing a side hustle. I have accepted that I have less time for friends, cooking, surfing and the gym, but I plan on taking a weekend trip before I start the second certification. If I don’t reward myself with a break, I might experience burn out.
My last tip for choosing a professional development opportunity is to understand your learning style. Some people learn best by talking, reading, writing or by applying the knowledge. Determine if you prefer to learn in a classroom with a lecturer, by studying with a group or if you thrive in a self-paced, online environment. I learn best in structured environments like a class with a syllabus, assignments and deadlines. The format of the NCDA certification is challenging for me because there is currently no class available that prepares applicants for the required essay exams. NCDA offers a study guide and a list of five books to study. Because this certification is important to my professional growth, I have been meeting with my coworker each week to discuss a few chapters. I am able to apply the content to my current job, so that keeps me motivated and interested.
Keep in mind that professional development opportunities like conferences, webinars and service learning are also great for networking. When I learn about free webinars I share them with my network on LinkedIn and I attend state conferences more for the chance to see former classmates and co-workers. I met my current supervisor at a conference, so don’t forget to talk to workshop presenters and attendees, and follow up with new contacts you meet.
If you would like more information about personal branding and researching training opportunities schedule a free consultation.
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