Professional Development: Experience

It is true -- some things are better learned through experience. You could read books, take classes, watch countless videos but until you have experience you'll never really know and understand. Professional development is one of those "experience-needed" things. Yes, you may take a class, sit through a seminar, take a few notes but there is so much more to be done. Why do you think while in college they stress to you the importance of having at least one internship or co-op experience on your resume?

"Experience is the best teacher. Always is and always has been. On the job experience in the real world. Getting your hands dirty and your feet wet. Observing how things are done, right or wrong, then trying it on your own. Trial and error. That’s the secret to all learning. It’s also the secret to making it big in this world" (Source: Tobak, 2014).

 

Simple steps to experience!

• Whatever your field of interest is, get a mentor and develop a professional relationship.
• Contact a business that relates to your field and ask for volunteer opportunities.
• Join a club that relates to your field of interest and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. Later advance to an officer/board position (secretary, treasurer, vice president, president).
• Try hard to get internships and/or co-op.

Click this link ---> Take Control of Your Professional Career to read more tips on professional development. A great read and note worthy.

If you already consider yourself a professional, you can always be a better you. If you think it's too late to start now, that is a myth. Take control of your future and take advantage of the unlimited resources that are at your disposal.

We will discuss more with the next post on PROFESSIONALISM!
"You have the POWER to be EXCELLENT in every area of your life. Start TODAY!"

Until next time!