Do you have the time for professional development? (Photo Credit: ToniVC, Creative Commons/Flickr)
Last week, we shared low-cost professional development opportunities to help you take your career to the next level, without having to break the bank. However, there are other “costs” to consider when pursuing professional development, including time and attention. Caroline Ceniza-Levine recently explored theses hidden costs of professional development over at Forbes:
- Time
The best results from joining a professional association come from regular attendance at events and stepping up to committee work and leadership roles. The dues you pay are a fraction of the investment, compared to the time you’ll spend. Even a one-time conference is a longer-term time investment than most people think because the best results come from following up and expanding on relationships started at the conference. Before you select your next professional development activity, consider the time you will spend overall, not just in the activity itself. Do you have the time to follow through?
We couldn’t agree more with her points! We’re wondering: beyond finance, what do you think about before pursuing a professional development opportunity?
