-
7
minutes
On this page
- Embrace continuous growth: unleashing your potential throughout your career
- Embracing lifelong learning
- Benefits of continuous learning
- Leverage organisational opportunities including learning and development resources
- Leverage learning and development resources not necessarily specific to a single organisation
- Build your personal learning network
- Set goals and track progress
- Top tips
Embrace continuous growth: unleashing your potential throughout your career
Congratulations on accomplishing a career goal you’d set / working through the career development navigator / securing a new role or opportunity! This achievement marks an important milestone in your professional journey. However, it is crucial to remember that the journey doesn't end here. In today's rapidly evolving world, where industries transform and new technologies emerge, it is essential to continuously learn and develop your skills to thrive in your career. By embracing continuous growth, you can unlock your full potential and achieve long-term success. In this article, we will explore the significance of ongoing professional learning and development and provide tips on accessing learning opportunities.
Embracing lifelong learning
Securing a new role is an excellent opportunity to assess your skills, identify areas for improvement, and set new goals. By adopting a mindset of lifelong learning, you acknowledge that personal growth doesn't stop with a job offer. Recognise that professional development is a continuous process, and committing to learning will enhance your expertise and employability.
“I feel for my whole life I hadn’t been assessing my career development. Prosper helped me realise that I always have to think about what I want and not only that, but to also make a plan of how I'm going to get there.”
Dr Anzy Miller, Biomedical and Biological Sciences, University of Manchester
Even if you’ve just ‘completed’ the steps outlined in the career navigator, you’ve not finished your career development. By setting and achieving the career goals you set yourself, you’ll have moved forward, be ready to set new goals and approach new career challenges.
Benefits of continuous learning
Investing in your professional development offers numerous benefits. First, it keeps you adaptable and resilient in an ever-changing work environment. Learning new skills and staying up-to-date with industry trends positions you as an invaluable asset to your organization or sector. Continuous learning also fosters personal fulfilment, boosts confidence, and opens doors to new opportunities and career advancement.
Leverage organisational opportunities including learning and development resources
Many organisations recognise the importance of employee development and provide learning opportunities to their staff. Take advantage of these resources to enhance your skills and knowledge. Here are some ways to access learning and development within organisations:
- Training programmes: These may focus on technical skills, leadership development, project management communication, or other areas relevant to your role. Engage with your HR department or learning and development team to explore available options.
- Internal mentoring: Seek out experienced colleagues within your organisation who can guide you and offer valuable insights. Mentoring relationships can provide a wealth of knowledge, industry-specific advice, and help you navigate your new role effectively.
- Temporary assignments or secondments: These opportunities can be a great way to upskill. Read more here.
- Take on new responsibilities
Leverage learning and development resources not necessarily specific to a single organisation
- Online Learning Platforms: Many companies provide access to online learning platforms or subscriptions to educational resources. These platforms offer a wide range of courses, tutorials, and learning materials to enhance your skills at your own pace. LinkedIn learning is a common one.
- Professional Conferences and Events: Keep an eye out, or search on Eventbrite or LinkedIn for conferences, seminars, and events in your sector where you can network with professionals and learn from thought leaders in your field. Some organisations offer funding or support for employees to attend such events.
Build your personal learning network
Beyond organisational resources, building a personal learning network can significantly contribute to your professional growth. Connect with like-minded professionals in your field through online communities, industry forums, or social media platforms. Engaging in discussions, participating in webinars, and sharing knowledge can broaden your perspective and expose you to new ideas.
“My tip for networking is to be scared and do it anyways! I’ve met really great people that I would have otherwise never come in contact with.”
Dr Ashley Gluchowski, Biomedical and Biological Sciences, University of Manchester
Set goals and track progress
To ensure continuous growth, set clear learning goals aligned with your career aspirations. Break these goals into manageable steps and create a timeline for completion. Regularly evaluate your progress and make adjustments as needed. Tools like the Career Navigator can assist you in setting and tracking your learning objectives, providing a structured approach to your ongoing development.
Achieving a career goal / working through the career development navigator / securing a new role is an exciting accomplishment, but it is only a step of your professional journey. Embracing continuous growth by investing in your learning and development ensures that you remain relevant, adaptable, and equipped to seize future opportunities
“The connections with other postdocs and with the coaching group were some of the most valuable things about taking part, and helped me see new possibilities in my career development.”
Dr Marieke van Der Zande, Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, University of Liverpool
So, embrace the challenge, unleash your potential, and become a logged in user of the Prosper portal to access guidance and resources tailored to your professional development needs. By leveraging the tools and features offered by the portal, you can further enhance your continuous growth journey, and stay on track with your career goals. So, don't hesitate to become a logged user and unlock the full potential of your career.
Top tips
- Continue to make time for your career development
- Make new connections with the intention of developing your career, perhaps via a mentor who’s a step or two ahead of you
- Revisit how what you want from a role aligns with your values and what’s currently important to you right now
- Keep your knowledge of desirable skills in your sector up to date. You could do this by checking out job boards or speaking to other professionals
- Take advantage of the learning and development opportunities open to you at your organisation
- Use your annual review process (or whatever routes are available to you) to request or highlight skills or training you’d like to take up
- Use the career development navigator to track your progress
- Log the skills you’re acquiring or new examples of how they are being used in your new role
“A valuable lesson from my coach was the STAR example and I started maintaining a skills inventory. When applying for roles, there’s an immense difference that I can see in the responses that I'm getting back from employers.”
Dr Revathy Krishnamurthi, Biomedical and Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool
Suggested task
Login or register to add these tasks to your personal development plan.
Refine
